THE CONVALESCENCE:THE THERMIDORIAN REACTION

& THE DIRECTORY, 1794-1799

THERMIDORIAN REACTION & THE DIRECTORY (1794-99)

Spring 1794, Robespierre & CPS: The Great Terror

9 Thermidor (July 27) Conspiracy

THERMIDORIAN REACTION & THE DIRECTORY (1794-99)

“Thermidorian Reaction” MC reasserts authority NC abolished price controls, print more cash, prices soar Restrict power of political organizations

Problems in 1795 Sans Culotte Bread Riots Royalist Uprising (13 Vendémiaire)

THERMIDORIAN REACTION & THE DIRECTORY (1794-99)

“Thermidorian Reaction” (cont’d) Return of Religion — Catholic women in provinces New Constitution (1795)

Voting = men of “substantial means” 5 man Directory... constitutional oligarchy

Elections of 1797 — Peace at any price Directory nullifies elections Revisionists

NAPOLEON’S RISE TO POWERBackground

Became dedicated patriot & revolutionary

Fought for Corsican indep. Lt. in French Artillery, 1785

Nat’l hero b/c of Italian Campaign Josephine — set his “blood on fire” Egyptian quagmire

NAPOLEON’S RISE TO POWEREarly Successes:

New strategy Italian Constitution = Protector Evaded Nelson’s fleet Subdued the Knights of Malta Battle of the Pyramids = 29 to 11,000

Quagmire in Egypt: Nelson destroys fleet! Plague! BUT... propaganda value

NAPOLEON’S RISE TO POWERConspiracy against the Directory

Idealism of 1789? Emmanuel Sieyes (1789) “What is the Third Estate” Emmanuel Sieyes (1799) motto = “Confidence from below, authority from above.”

18 Brumaire (Nov 9) Nap. = First Consul Dec 1799 New Const. solidifies authority

#ThirdEstateRevolution’s been rough,

Bro.

DOMESTIC POLICY

Civil Code of 1804 (Code Napoleon) Equality of all male citizens Absolute security of wealth & private property Banks of France Reconfirmed gains of peasants & MC Centralized Bureaucracy Concordat of 1801 (Pope Pius VII)

Catholics - right to practice freely France - govt. nominates bishops, pays clergy = influence (“moral prefects”)

Costs of Order Re-est’d “Family Monarch” Press = organ of propaganda Police state — Joseph Fouche

Is Napoleon a child or betrayer of the Revolution?