Thermidorian Reaction and the Directory (1794-9)
Chapter 6
Overthrow of Jacobins & Robespierre called “Coup of
Thermidor”. (Thermidor is a French month).
Next in power were the “Thermidorians”. They were
conservative revolutionaries. So against the extremist
Jacobins, and against the sans-culottes. Some Thermidorians
were Cordeliers/Girodins.
July 1794- May 1975 – Terror was ended:
Revolutionary Tribunal was abolished
Jacobin Club was closed
‘Constitutional Church’ was renounced. So no longer any
attempts by the State to control the Church. The Church
was made completely independent of the State.
May 1795 – ‘Prairal Uprising’ in Paris
Government uses army to crush a sans-culottes uprising
in Paris.
Marks the end of the power of the sans-culottes.
Marks the beginning of army involvement in domestic
French politics. Shows the growing power of the army.
October 1795 – Royalist uprising. Crushed by the army, led by
a new Army General of the Interior Napoleon Bonaparte.
Demonstrates the growing power of the army.
From 1795 onwards, the National Convention elected a small
number of Directors to run the country – the “Directory”.
Rise of Napoleon
The ‘Revolutionary Wars’ are continuing during the time of
the Directory.
But France is now successful in war. It is making
‘consolidated’ (ie permanent) conquests.
e.g. General Napoleon (he is an example of a new breed of
young talented officer) heavily defeated Austria in Italy in
March 1796. Most of Italy was now controlled by France!
Napoleon now grew very powerful – he even made his own
foreign policy. Napoleon’s conquests were now funding the
Directory (through plunder). So the Directory was dependent
on Napoleon.
Napoleon also very popular.
Napoleon invades Egypt in May 1798. But in 1799 he returns
to Paris when he hears about a possible coup against the
Directory. He wants to join in!
Nov 1799 – Coup of Brumaire – ‘Triumvirate’ overthrow the
Directory: Abbe Sieyes, Roger Ducois, Napoleon
They rule together as the three ‘provisional consuls’, but
Napoleon was the most popular and powerful. So Napoleon
was appointed ‘First Consul’ – i.e. the true dictator of France.
From 1799 onwards (until his defeat in 1814) Napoleon was
the sole ruler of France. In 1804 he crowned himself
Emperor!
Napoleon’s Consolidation of Power
Constitution – 1799
Gave significant power to Napoleon.
Other elected bodies relatively powerless.
Created two new bodies with little power: ‘Legislature’ and
the ‘Tribunate’. They were filled with newly landed elite.
These were chosen out of 6,000 elected ‘Notables’.
These new organisations were created in order to ‘bind’ the
rich class to Napoleon. Napoleon gave them positions of
power, and in return they supported him.
Patronage and Bribery
Rich are given positions in government assemblies. Country
estates were given to all Senate members.
‘Legion of Honour’ conferred onto Napoleon’s strongest
supporters.
Napoleon created a new ‘imperial nobility’ in 1808 with its
own hierarchy of titles.
Created a new elite education system for the sons of the
notables (e.g. L’Ecole Polytechnic)
Financial Stability
He brought financial stability to France which allowed him to
rule in peace.
Massive income from conquests.
Excellent financial management:
He appointed able Ministers of Finance
Reorganised taxation and finance.
Created a Bank of France to manage currency
1803 – introduced a new currency ‘Franc de Germinal’.
This was then the most stable currency in Europe!
Greater efficiency.
But his ‘Napoleonic Wars’ put a greater burden on finances.
He even had to increase indirect taxes, including
reintroducing a salt tax.
Bureaucratic Repression
Created a strong government with strong rule.
Created a strong legal system. This was far reaching and
efficient and effective. Called ‘Napoleonic Code’. Napoleon
spread his Code all over Europe.
Created an effective Police System – much more than Louis
XVI!
Introduced direct rule through appointed ‘Prefects’ - much
more than Louis XVI!
Effective censorship of the press - much more than Louis XVI!
Concordat
1801 signed an agreement (‘Concordat’) with the Pope in
Rome.
Napoleon recognised the right of the Pope to be leader of the
French church.
In return, the Pope allowed the French church to be formally
controlled by the French state.
