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1793: Reign of Terror launched in France. The revolutionary government in France is controlled by the Committee of Public Safety, which launches a program of widespread arrests and executions of perceived enemies of the revolution. For a year, known as "the Terror," violence is a tool used by the government to combat its enemies. This period later gives its name to terrorism, the use of violence to achieve political ends.

March, 1811: Luddites attack factories. Skilled textile workers thrown out of work by new machinery stage their first raids against a factory. They are called Luddites after the name of their supposed leader, Ned Ludd.

1869: Catechism of a Revolutionary published. First edition of an anarchist manual, Catechism of a Revolutionary, is published by Sergei Nechayev. He was an advocate of assassination and terrorism as a means of overthrowing strong central governments.