Revolutionary terror , also known as '' " Red Terror " '' , was often used by revolutionary governments to suppress counterrevolutionaries . The first example was the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution in 1794 . Other notable examples include the '' Red Terror '' in Soviet Russia in 1918 – 1922 , as well as simultaneous campaigns in the Hungarian Soviet Republic and in Finland . In China Red Terror in 1966 and 1967 started the Cultural revolution . Counter-revolutionary terror is usually referred to as '' " White Terror " '' . Notable examples are the terror campaigns in France ( 1794 – 1795 ) , in Russia ( 1917 – 20 ) , in Hungary ( 1919 – 1921 ) , and in Spain . Modern examples of counter-revolutionary terror include Operation Condor in South America
in Spain
White Terror (Spain)
Terror (politics)