Chapter 21 Part 5 The French Revolution

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

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

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

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

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

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

Threats to the Directory October 1795…A Royalist Uprising! 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 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

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”) 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 SO…The new government: (the constitutional republic) was made dependent on military protection from the start

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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