France between Robespierre and Napoleon1793-1799

The Fall of RobespierreJuly, 1794

With everyone in France hating Robespierre and his “Republic of Virtue”, Robespierre made a fatal mistake…he began calling for the arrest and public beheading of Jacobin leaders who questioned his decisions.

On the afternoon of July 28, 1794, (or, the 10th of Thermidor, Year III according to the new calendar) members of the government fearing their necks would be next, called for the execution of Robespierre.

Robespierre was arrested, and guillotined the next day.

The Directory1794-1799

With the nation hating the Sans-Culottes thanks to their support of Robespierre, the poor were shut out of the new government and no longer allowed to vote. Fearing one-man rule, the government was led by a five-man council known as the Directory.

Since so many former Nobles were either dead or living out of the country, the government was almost entirely in the hands of the bourgeoisie. (Upper class and rich commoners)

The Counter-Terror1794-1795

Revenge killings began almost immediately after the fall of Robespierre’s Jacobins.

Especially in the countryside, anyone who had openly supported Robespierre or who participated in the Reign of Terror were fair game for revenge killings that almost always went unpunished.

Recent historians that more people may have been murdered in the Counter-Terror (or “White Terror”) than in Robespierre’s Reign of Terror itself.

The Thermidorian Reaction: Intro 1794-1799The period in which the Directory ruled is often called the Thermidorian Reaction, named for the revolutionary calendar month in which Robespierre was beheaded, and “reaction” meaning going back to old beliefs.

Society tried to go back to how France was in the Moderate Stage of the Revolution, but tended to overdo it.

The Thermidorian Reaction:Religion One outcome of the Church being banned

for a couple of years is that the French—especially the peasants—returned to the Church in great numbers and became more religious than ever.

However, the Vatican still hoped for the return of the French Monarchy, and did not officially welcome the French back into the Church.

Besides, after Robespierre, there were very few priests left that were still considered Catholic by the Church.

Thermidorian Reaction: Economy

The Directory immediately did away with the Law of the Maximum and other forms of support for the poor. Prices shot up dramatically, and food distribution was difficult with so many having died, fled the country, or dragooned into the army. Furthermore, peasants hoarded grain out of either economic uncertainty or a desire to punish the city-folk who had created so much misery.

Pockets of France faced starvation.

Thermidorian Reaction: Corruption

The Directory and the rest of the government was hopelessly corrupt, as the primary goal of government appeared to be the rich people in the government finding ingenious ways to get their hands on France’s remaining wealth.

This made the government very unpopular, but since pretty much only the bourgeoisie could vote, France was stuck with them.

Thermidorian Reaction: Society

High Society ReturnsEither because they were overcompensating for having to live like the Sans-Culottes for years or because they wanted to rub their wealth in their faces, ostentatious displays of wealth became more fashionable than ever.

Fashions became outrageous, as the rich tried to show off their wealth as much as possible. Basically, the highest hairdo won.

Predictably, the sans-Culottes became angrier than ever.

Thermidorian Reaction:Violence

The army stayed loyal to the Directory and put down three rebellions, two by royalists hoping to recreate the monarchy and put Louis XVI’s small son on the throne.

The other was by the Sans-Culottes hoping to restore their rights and economic aid, but for the first my time in the Revolution the police and army did not stand by and let the Sans-Culottes riot. They were finally silenced.

The Rise of NapoleonWith France not really prospering and a stalemate in the war:

“Demoralized by a decade of political instability, economic distress…violence, and war, most of the French welcomed the leadership of a strong man.” (Perry)

The Bourgeoisie knew they were unpopular, and feared another Revolution. They trusted the popular military hero and shameless self-promoter Napoleon Bonparte to both be acceptable to the French populace and protect private property and the economic gains of the Bourgeoisie.

Napoleon Takes Power 1799: Becomes “First Consul” of a three-

man ruling group created by the new Constitution of 1799.

1802: In a rigged election, (that he undoubtedly would have won anyway) was named “First Consul for Life” with the right to choose his successor.

1804: In a magnificent ceremony in Notre Dame Cathedral with the Pope looking on, Napoleon crowns himself “Emperor of the French” and becomes a military dictator.

France is ecstatic.

three st opposition: