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Execution of Robespierre and the Thermidorian Reaction
There was a great popular outburst of delight and relief when Robespierre was executed. Those who helped overthrow Robespierre were known as the Thermidorians (after the month of Thermidor when the coup occured). The Thermidorians were a mixed group, including members from the two great committees (the CPS and the CGS), ex-terrorists and deputies of the Plain. The Plain now emerged from obscurity to take control. -
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Ending the Terror (by the Convention)
In this time, the Convention:- Abolished the Revolutionary Tribunal, following the execution of a further 63 people, including some who had been leading terrorists
- Released all suspects from prison
- Repealed the law of Prarial (see page 125) and closed the Jacobic Club
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Law of 22 Prarial repealed, government reorganised.
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State ends financial support of the Church
The Convention will no longer pay clerical salaries. -
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Major Economic Depression
The assignat was worth only 4% of its 1790 value. This, and a bad harvest in 1794, led to massive increases in the price of bread. The winter of 1794-5 was very severe; rivers froze and factories shut down. There was massive famine, starvation and suicide. -
Jacobin Club closed
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End of economic price controls
The Thermidorians wanted to get rid of price controls, partly because they supported a free market an partly because they couldn't enforce it. This led to massive inflation, and the value of the assignat dropped. The government had to equip it's army at market prices. -
Formal seperation of Church and State
Government Restored Freedom of Worship for all Religions. This ends the persecution of religions brought on by the terror. State recognition of the Cult of the Supreme Being ended. -
Germinal
"Germinal" was a demonstration, not an uprising. 10,000 unarmed people marched on the Convention. Many gained access to the main hall and disrupted debates with demand for bread, and the Constitution of 1793. When national guards appeared, the people left without resisting. The repression that followed Germinal was very light. -
Prarial Uprising, 3 days
Prarial was much more serious than Germinal. It was an armed rising of housewives, workers and some National Guards, who demanded bread. The armies gathered up, but neither side was prepared to fire. The crisis was resolved when the convention started a petition and created a food commission. -
Prarial turns hostile
The convention takes the offensive. 20,000 troops surround the gathering and disarm them. 6000 were arrested and 36 were executed. Prarial marked the end of the Sans-culottes as a political and military force. Prarial failed because:
- The parisians were divided
- No institution to coordinate them
- They were politically inexperienced
- Loss of support from radical bourgeoisie.
- The use of the army -
Verona Declaration
To support royalists, King Louis XVI's brother crowned himself King Louis XVIII, in a statement called the Verona Declaration. He promised to return France to how it was before, and to restore the church and "stolen properties". This antagonized all those who benefited from no tithes, and unintentionally boosted the Republic. -
Constitution of Year III
Thermidorians wanted a new constitution.
It said:
- All males over 21 who payed taxes could vote in primary assemblies to choose electors
- Real power was held by the electors who chose deputies. Electors had to pay 150-200 days labour in taxes. This was so high that elector numbes fell from 50,000 to 30,000. This meant all electors were very rich.
- To prevent a dictatorship, they seperated the legislature from the executive. -
Government makeup of Year III Constitution.
The Legislature was split into 2 chambers:
- The council of 500, all over 30, initiates legislation and passes it onto the Council of Ancients.
- The council of Ancients, 250 men over 40, who would approve or object to bills but could not change them. The executive was comprised of a "Directory of Five", chosen by the Ancients from a list by the 500. The five would hold office for 5 years, and one to be replaced each year. Powers were limited. In charge of diplomacy, military and law enorcement -
Weaknesses in the New Constitution
-Annual elections promoted instability
-No means of resolving conflict between legislature and executive
- Councils could paralyse the Directory by refusing to pass laws the government required
- The directors couldn't dissolve the Councils or veto laws passed bt them
- The Directory could only be replaced by one person each year. The "Two Thirds Rule" meant that two thirds of government members had to be elected from current members, to try and contain the royalists. -
Vendemiaire Uprising, Bonaparte appointed commander of the Army of the Interior
A large royalist crowd of 25,000 gathered to march on the convention and take back power. They outnumbered the 7800 troops of the convention, but the latter had cannons. Under the Command of General Bonaparte, the defence stood, and parisians didn't question or intimidate an elected assembly until 1830. In essence, it failed miserably. -
Directory Established
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Financial Failiure
The assignats were worthless, so they were discontinued. A new currency, mandats territoriaux, was created, but they quickly became worthless and followed the same fate. Metal coins were the only valid currency, and half had gone out of circulation since 1789. This caused deflation, which caused people to lower prices to encourage spending. This was unpopular with buisnessmen, because it meant lower profits. -
Bonaparte appointed to command the army in Italy
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Coup d'etat of Fructidor
The elections of 1797 reveald a growing support of manarchists. People were tired of war and religious conflict at home, and like the idea of a constitutional monarchy. They wanted peace and stability. The monarchists had 330 members in the councils. This didn't give them a majority, but it meant the Directory didn't either. All they had to do was wait and probably get a majority. -
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Post-Fructidor Terror
Limited terror following Fructidor. Many royalists were executed or deported. Clergy had to take an oath to not support royalty. -
Coup d'etat of Fructidor
2 directors and 53 deputies who supported the monarchists were arrested and removed from power. This was the end of the constitution of year III. The monarchists were dealt a blow. -
Budget Balanced for first time since before the Revolution
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Law of 22 Floreal
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Decreasing the National Debt
The government payed off 2/3 of the debt instantly by selling land. This drastically reduced the interest the government had to pay. It was a partial declaration of state bankruptcy. Debt-holders were unhappy, but the "bankruptcy of two thirds" stabilized the French finances for a while. -
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Increasing Revenue
Taxes were introduced:
- On trading liscences
- On land
- On mavable property
- On doors and windows These measures lasted until 1914.- Central control for tax collection
- The octrois was reintroduced, to tax things moving into towns and cities.
- Money was made plundering Italy and Germany.
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Coup d'etat of Prairial
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Coup d'etat of Brumaire, Bonaparte overthrows the Directory, 2 days
In the late summer of 1799, the military situation improved. The russians were driven out of Switzerland in September. Sieyes, a Director, saw this as an opportunity to stage a coup. He wanted to strengthen the executive, but knew the Council of 500 wouldn't agree. Therefore the army was necessary, and so was a general who could be trusted. Enter Napoleon. Bonaparte was very popular, and agreed to join the coup on the condition that a provisional government would draft a new constitution. -
Coup d'etat of Brumaire Part 2: Napoleon addresses the Councils
The councils found out about the plot, so Napoleon addressed the councils, who called him a traitor. He was attacked by Jacobin deputies and rescued by his officers. Napoleon's brother told the soldiers that their general was being attacked, and they left the council. Later, a group of councilors who supported the plot abolished the directory, and created an executive comittee with three members: Sieyes, Roger Ducos and Napoleon. -
Napoleon's Proclamation to the French Nation
Explained that he had taken power in order to improve the political situation. Paris was relatively peaceful in response. -
Constitution of Year VIII
Made by Napoleon. Said it was "founded on the true principles of representative government, on the sacred right of property, equality and liberty." The republican phase of the Revolution ended, and the Rise of the Napoleonic Empire begun.