The “Thermidorian Reaction”The “Thermidorian Reaction”

• Begins July 1794..consisted of the destruction of the instruments of Terror, and the institution of a new constitutional regime.

• WHY?• Widespread belief that the revolution had

become too radical• weariness of the Terror• fear the sans culottes were exerting far too

much political influence The sans culottes will be replaced by wealthy

middle class and professional individuals

The “Thermidorian The “Thermidorian Reaction”Reaction”

V Curtailed the power of the Committee for Public Safety.Curtailed the power of the Committee for Public Safety.

V Girondists allowed to take seats (appeared from hiding or Girondists allowed to take seats (appeared from hiding or prison)prison)

V Some ..but by no means all of those individuals responsible Some ..but by no means all of those individuals responsible for the Terror were removed from public lifefor the Terror were removed from public life

V Paris Commune outlawedParis Commune outlawed

V Closed the Paris Jacobin Club. And Jacobin clubs in the Closed the Paris Jacobin Club. And Jacobin clubs in the provinces forbidden to communicate with each otherprovinces forbidden to communicate with each other

V Repealed Law of 22 PrairialRepealed Law of 22 Prairial

V Churches were reopened.Churches were reopened.

1795 1795 freedom of worship for all cults was granted. freedom of worship for all cults was granted.

V Economic restrictions were lifted in favor of laissez-faire Economic restrictions were lifted in favor of laissez-faire policies.policies.

V August, 1795 August, 1795 a new Constitution is written a new Constitution is written

more conservative republicanism.more conservative republicanism.

Characteristics of Characteristics of theThermidortheThermidorV Individuals associated with or involved in the Individuals associated with or involved in the

original Terror were attacked often murdered original Terror were attacked often murdered no more due process than beforeno more due process than before “White” “White” TerrorTerror

V ““Bands of Jesus” gangs of youth with Bands of Jesus” gangs of youth with aristocratic connections who avoided aristocratic connections who avoided service in the army roamed streets …like service in the army roamed streets …like Sept. Massacres of 1792.Sept. Massacres of 1792.

V Republic of Virtue replaced by “republic Republic of Virtue replaced by “republic of vice”of vice”

V Self-indulgence Self-indulgence frivolous culture; salons return; wild frivolous culture; salons return; wild fashions.fashions. Prostitution in Paris. New plays. Wild Prostitution in Paris. New plays. Wild partiesparties

V Return family life to before revolution (No more Return family life to before revolution (No more social or political change)social or political change)

V Repeal of divorce laws. No improvement of Repeal of divorce laws. No improvement of women’s educationwomen’s education

V Revival of Catholicism but the Convention Revival of Catholicism but the Convention continued to favor the Cult of the Supreme continued to favor the Cult of the Supreme BeingBeing

Establishment of the Establishment of the Directory Directory

V Constitution of 1793 abandonedConstitution of 1793 abandoned

V Constitution of Year III initiated…constitutional monarchy and Constitution of Year III initiated…constitutional monarchy and democracy reflecteddemocracy reflected

V Legislature.Legislature.

Council of EldersCouncil of Elders [250 members] [250 members] husbands or widowers over 40 husbands or widowers over 40 years of ageyears of age

Council of 500Council of 500 men of at least 30 either married of single…. men of at least 30 either married of single…. initiates legislation.initiates legislation.

V Executive.Executive.

5-man executive committee or 5-man executive committee or oligarchy oligarchy [to avoid a dictatorship].[to avoid a dictatorship].

o They accepted or rejected the legislation.They accepted or rejected the legislation.

Both houses elected by electors who owned or rented property Both houses elected by electors who owned or rented property worth 100-200 days’ labor [limited to 30,000 voters]. The worth 100-200 days’ labor [limited to 30,000 voters]. The electors were elected by all males over 21 who were electors were elected by all males over 21 who were taxpayers… taxpayers… Or were soldiers..no property neededOr were soldiers..no property needed

Thermidor…has come to be associated with political reaction• If Fr.Rev had originated in pol. conflicts

characteristic of 18th cent.

• BY 1795

• It had become something very different

• A pol. structure based on rank and birth had given away to a pol system based on equality and social status based on property ownership

Now what? The Fr. Rev. gives rise to questions of property

distribution and economic regulations.Those qualifications Can not be ignored !

Representation had been established as a principle of politics!

In the levée en masse the French demonstrated to Europe the power of the secular ideal of nationhood!

Throughout Europe which new groups will gain representation and HOW?

Who were the BIG winners?Why?

Political Instability: Political Instability: 1795-17961795-1796 May 20, 1795 May 20, 1795 Revolt of Prairial [Year III]Revolt of Prairial [Year III]

October 5,-13 1795 : VOctober 5,-13 1795 : Vendémire—sections of Paris endémire—sections of Paris revolt led by royalists against the Conventionrevolt led by royalists against the Convention

Winter 1794-1795 Winter 1794-1795 Worst food shortages of the Worst food shortages of the period= Inflation; bread riots. Convention put down period= Inflation; bread riots. Convention put down with force…end of with force…end of sans-culottessans-culottes

Military suppressed them with a general Military suppressed them with a general (Nappy) and “a whiff of grapeshot”(Nappy) and “a whiff of grapeshot”

Treaties of Basel in March and June 1795 peace Treaties of Basel in March and June 1795 peace with Prussia and Spainwith Prussia and Spain

Fear of both radicals and royalists in upcoming Fear of both radicals and royalists in upcoming electionselections

Directory formed ..social unrest…..Directory formed ..social unrest…..

May, 1796 May, 1796 First “communist” revolt First “communist” revolt

Gracchus BabeufGracchus Babeuf and and the the Conspiracy of Equals”Conspiracy of Equals”

18 Brumaire 18 Brumaire (Nov. 9, 1799)(Nov. 9, 1799)

Coup d’Coup d’éétattat by Napoleon.by Napoleon.

Approved by a Approved by a plebiscite in plebiscite in December.December.

Abbe Sieyès: Abbe Sieyès: Confidence Confidence from below; from below; authority authority from above.from above.

A British Cartoon A British Cartoon about Napoleon’s about Napoleon’s

Coup in 1799Coup in 1799