French RevolutionStage 3
Thermidorian Reaction
Conservative1795 - 1799
Year new constitution was written - year of Napoleon’s coup
Thermidorian Reaction• Paris Commune was dismantled
• Thermidor was month Committee of Public Safety was overthrown
• People involved in the original Terror were now attacked - “White” Terror
• Rule by rich bourgeoisie liberals
• Revival of Catholicism
New government: The Directory
Government:
only men of property voted a smaller amount than in republic or stage 1
Two-house legislature
Constitution of 1795 or Constitution of the Year III
Both houses elect the Directorate
Council of 500proposed legislation
Council of Ancients250 member
voted on legislation
The economy was liberalizedHarsh 1795 winter = prices shot up.
Economy
Attempts to overthrow The Directory:
Francois-Neol BabeufConspiracy of the Equals
1796“communist” revolt
Royalist attempt an insurrection in Paris
1795
Next . . .1797 elections bring royalists to the Council of 500
Meanwhile . . . France still at war with Austria.
Meanwhile . . . Napoleon Bonaparte is fighting for the French and
Second Coalition is formed: Britain, Russia and Austria
The 18th Brumaire coupNovember 9, 1799
Emmanuel Sieyes invited Napoleon to lead the coup d’etat
on the Directory
New government: the Consulat
3 consuls replaced the 5 directorsConstitution of 1799 or Constitution of the Year VIII
• notables (only ones able to hold office) elected by universal male suffrage• A Senate appointed by the consuls• A Tribunate chosen by the Senate• Constitution approved through a plebiscite (yes/no)• France divided into districts (departements) with prefect to oversee it - rational planning of government - Enlightenment
plebiscite - “authority from above, confidence from below”Napoleon will censor the presswill reduce the number of newspapers in Paris from 73 to 13
Is Napoleon upholding or betraying the values of the revolution?
The Catholic Church•Concordat of 1801
• Declared Catholicism “the religion of the majority of citizens”
• state paid clerical salaries
• Pope appointed bishops but Napoleon had to recommend them
• Church could not reclaim land that had been confiscated and sold
• Gregorian calendar replaced
• freedom of worship for Protestants and Jews granted
• Organic Articles - places church under state control, creates a “minister of religion”
Napoleon’s Empire
1802
1804
1801
1803
1805
1806
Haiti proclaims independence
“Consul for Life”Restores control of Haiti
Crowned emperornew constitution
Louisiana Territory sold
The Third Coalition: Russia, Austria and Britain
Holy Roman Empire replaced by Confederation of the Rhine
1807 Treaty of Tilsit
Civil Code of 1804 or the Napoleonic Code
The Continental System
1812invasion of Russia
1808 - 1813
Peninsular War
1814abdicated, exiled to Elba,
1815 100 days, abdicates again, exiled to Saint Helena
1821Napoleon dies - Happy Winter
Break!
Goya’s Third of May
After Napoleon . . .Congress of Vienna
1815