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Why was the Committee of Public Safety created in 1793?

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Eighteenth-century painted portrait of Maximilien de Robespierre wearing a brown striped coat, high collar, and white cravat, set against a plain background. — Maximilien Robespierre One of the leading figures of the French Revolution, Maximilien Robespierre.

The Committee of Public Safety was established by the National Convention on April 6, 1793, to address a period of severe crisis during the French Revolution.1

At the time of its creation, France was facing existential threats from both foreign wars and internal civil war. The committee was specifically tasked with two primary objectives:1

National Defense: To provide for the defense of the nation against enemies, both foreign and domestic.1
Executive Oversight: To oversee and coordinate the existing organs of the executive government.1

While the committee initially pursued a policy of moderation, it was later reorganized in July 1793 to include more radical figures, such as Maximilien Robespierre. Under this new leadership, the body gained virtual dictatorial control, placing the French economy on a wartime footing and implementing mass conscription to secure the survival of the Revolution during the Reign of Terror.12