Why did the Law of 22 Prairial increase opposition to Maximilien Robespierre?

The Law of 22 Prairial, passed on June 10, 1794, significantly increased opposition to Maximilien Robespierre by drastically intensifying the violence of the Reign of Terror. By suspending the right to a public trial and legal assistance, the law left juries with only two possible verdicts: acquittal or death.12

This legislation turned the Revolutionary Tribunal into an instrument of "Great Terror," resulting in approximately 1,400 executions in just 49 days. This escalation alienated many, particularly représentants en mission who felt personally threatened by Robespierre’s unchecked power. Furthermore, the law exacerbated tensions within the government; the Committee of General Security grew increasingly hostile toward Robespierre, and his influence within the Committee of Public Safety began to wane. Ultimately, the law’s brutal efficiency and the fear it instilled in his colleagues provided the momentum for the Thermidorian Reaction, which led to Robespierre’s downfall and execution.1342