Thermidor: A period of moderation? A period of regression? A period of bourgeois revolution?

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Thermidor A period of moderation? A period of
regression? A period of bourgeois revolution?

• Review and recall events of The Terror
• Explain the Coup of Thermidor 1794
• to explain how the terror came to an end and how
  the period of Thermidor began

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What percentage of each Estate were guillotined
during The Terror?
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The Coup of Thermidor

• The end execution of Robespierre signified a
  rejection of government by terror. These events
  are known as the Coup of Thermidor as these
  events happened on 27th July, under the new
  revolutionary calendar July had been named
  Thermidor.
• There was a popular outburst of relief when
  Robespierre was executed People were hugging
  each other in the street and at places of
  entertainment and they were so surprised to find
  themselves still alive and their joy almost
  turned into a frenzy.

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Who were the Thermidorians?

• Those who had helped overthrow Robespierre were a
  mixed group members of the committees,
  ex-terrorists and deputies of the Plain.
• The Plain now rose to take control. However, they
  did not want to see the return of the monarchy,
  not even a constitutional one.
• They also dislike the Jacobins who had given too
  much power the sans-culottes and who had
  interfered with the free market through price
  maximums. They were also joined by many
  Montagnards.

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The Risings of Germinal and Prairial

• The Thermidorians wanted to get rid of price
  controls and so in December 1794 they were
  abolished. However, this led to a drop in the
  value of the assignat and massive inflation.
• The situation was made worse by a poor harvest
  which led to grain shortages. Added to this was
  an unprecedented severe winter which meant that
  rivers froze and factories closed down.
• The problem was that there was no corn as farmers
  refused to sell it for paper money.

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Who were the Plain and what were their
policies during the Thermidorian Reaction?
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The White Terror

• The White Terror was an attack on ex-terrorists
  who had done well out of the Revolution by those
  who had suffered under it. On the whole it was a
  revenge attack on all those who had been members
  of the popular societies and watch committees

• What forms did the White Terror take?
• How dangerous were the White Terrorists?
• Why did the White Terror pose so little threat
• to the Republic?

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Constitution of the Year III of the Republic
(1795)

• With the foreign invaders vanquished and the
  Reign of Terror at an end, the Convention was
  finally able to inaugurate its new constitution
• Constitution of the Year III of the Republic
  (1795) created the Directory

What were the key features of the Constitution
of the Year III (1795)? on p141
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Government under the Directory
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The Legislature
The Executive
The Govt make the decisions do the work
Make the laws debate Check the Executive
behave
The Council of Five Hundred, all of whom had to
be over 30. This council could initiate
legislation and then pass it on to the Council of
Ancients
The Executive was to be a Directory of 5 men.
Chosen by the Council of Ancients from a list
drawn up by the Council of Five Hundred. The
five Directors would all hold office for five
years, although one chosen at random would have
to retire each year. They could not initiate or
veto laws nor could they declare war. But they
had considerable authority as they were in charge
of diplomacy, military affairs and law
enforcement.
The Council of Ancients, 250 men over the ages of
40 who would approve or reject bills, but could
not introduce them or change them.
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Other Parting ReformsPassed by the Convention
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Directory (1795-1799)
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R E V I E W

1. What was the impact of the economic crisis?
2. What was the significance of the rising of
   Prairial?
3. What was the motivation behind the White Terror?
4. What did the Thermidorians hope to achieve in a
   new constitution?