French Revolution Great Fear (Late 18th Century)

At the start of the French Revolution, a general panic struck peasants in the countryside, fueled by rumors of a supposed aristocratic plot to use marauders to plunder their villages and fields. Peasants, driven by paranoia, formed armed militias to defend themselves, leading to confusion and attacks on innocent parties. The realization that there was no aristocratic conspiracy ultimately calmed the peasants, but the repercussions of the Great Fear prompted the ruling class to enact reforms, marking a significant shift in France's social order and influencing global perspectives.