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The Thermidorian Reaction: Transition to The Directory Era

The Thermidorian Reaction marked the end of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, leading to the establishment of The Directory in 1795. This transition shifted power back to the middle-class bourgeoisie and allowed for the return of moderate Girondin influence. The Directory faced challenges from various uprisings, embracing military intervention for stability. Economic reforms and governmental changes characterized this era, eventually paving the way for Napoleon's rise to power with the Coup d'Etat Brumaire in 1799.

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The Thermidorian Reaction: Transition to The Directory Era

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  1. Chapter 21Part 5 The French Revolution

  2. The Thermidorian Reaction 1794 • Ended the Reign of Terror • Resulted in a big swing to the right (conservatism) • Respectable Bourgeoisie middle class lawyers and professionals WHO HAD LED THE REVOLUTION IN 1789 reasserted their authority • Allowed the Girondins to return

  3. Thermidorean Reaction, cont. Revolutionary Tribunals disbanded Public Safety Committee: Powers taken away Priests baptize and celebrate mass (pushed for by women—esp. in countryside) Press/theatre recover freedom of expression Jacobin Club closed Price/wage controls, etc. removed Use of army against Parisians signal end of Rev.

  4. The Directory 1795-99 • 1795 A new Republican Constitution was written • A new Assembly chose a 5-member executive to govern: The Directory • Almost all adult males could vote…but they could only vote for “electors” • Office-holding was reserved for property owners

  5. Middle Class Controlled the Government • They only represented a small segment of French society • Was the Directory’s major weakness • All economic controls were ended • So…the influence of the Sans-culottes

  6. The Economy under the Directory • More paper money was printed • Caused rising prices • Middle class wanted peace and stability • Wanted a society where money and property determined prestige and power

  7. The Directory • Encouraged women to leave the workplace and tend to their homes

  8. Threats to the Directory • October 1795…A Royalist Uprising! • Was a reaction to a provision in the new Constitution: 2/3 of those elected to the assembly (legislature) had to have been ex-members of the original National Convention of 1789-91

  9. The Royalist Uprising • Was snuffed out with help from Napoleon Bonaparte who was in Paris with his troops at the time (his famous: “whiff of grapeshot”) • SO…The new government: (the constitutional republic) was made dependent on military protection from the start

  10. The Sans-culottes • Continual criticism of the constitutional republic but posed no real threat

  11. The Conspiracy of Equals • Led by “Gracchus” Babeuf • Wanted to overthrow the Directory and replace it with a dictatorial “democratic” government which would abolish private property and enforce equality • (communism?) • The Directory crushed this conspiracy without the aid of the military and Babeuf was guillotined

  12. Trouble for the Government • Growing inflation, corruption • People unhappy: were impoverished • Inflation was killing the peasants and the government was unwilling to institute controls

  13. Legislative Elections April of 1797 • Increase in Royalist victories • But results were annulled by the Directory • The Directory gave up on establishing a republic was abandoned • Directory became a dictatorship

  14. The Directory • Remained in power to 1799 • Due to military success of the French Army • By 1797 First Coalition was defeated • England had removed its army from the Continent • 1798 The French defeated the English army at the Battle of the Pyramids • BUT the English navy destroyed Napoleon’s navy at the Battle of the Nile…also 1798

  15. The Last of the Directory • Another conspiracy: Coup d’EtatBrumaire (November 1799) • To save the revolution and prevent Royalist return to power • Abbe Sieyes (What is the 3rd Estate?)led the conspiracy offered Napoleon an opportunity (he had raced back to France after the naval defeat to do damage control) • “Confidence from below, authority from above”

  16. Coup d’Etat Brumaire • Napoleon was invited to overthrow the Directory • He did and also drove the legislators from the Legislative Assembly • A new constitution established the start of the Consulate Era

  17. A Plebiscite (general referendum) • Overwhelmingly approved Napoleon’s actions: • 3,011,007 to 1,562

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