Thermidorian Reaction

The Thermidorian Reaction was a pivotal era in the French Revolution. It describes a period of intense political change in France. This era lasted from July 1794 until November 1795. The name comes from the French Republican calendar month of Thermidor. It began when the National Convention ousted Maximilien Robespierre. Robespierre was a leader who had dominated the Committee of Public Safety. His removal signaled the end of the Reign of Terror.

The mechanism of this reaction involved a major shift in government power. The National Convention moved to decentralize executive authority. They took power away from the Committee of Public Safety. This committee had previously held highly centralized control over France. The government also moved away from radical Jacobin policies. These policies were championed by the Montagnard faction of the Convention. The new leaders sought a more moderate and stable political order. They wanted a system that would have the approval of the plurality of citizens.

This period can be seen as a reaction against radicalism. It involved several distinct political and social shifts. First, the government abandoned dechristianization and extreme populism. Second, it removed many harsh wartime measures used during the Terror. Third, the regime actively suppressed the political left. This suppression included the disbanding of the Jacobin Club.

It also involved the dispersal of the sans-culottes, who were radical supporters of the revolution.

The history of this era began with a coup on 9 Thermidor II. This date is July 27, 1794, in the Gregorian calendar. During a session of the National Convention, Jean-Lambert Tallien attacked Robespierre. Tallien denounced the tyranny of Robespierre's leadership. Other leaders like Jacques Nicolas Billaud-Varenne joined the outcry. The Convention ordered the arrest of Robespierre and his followers.

On July 28, 1794, Robespierre and 21 associates were executed. This included figures like Georges Couthon and Saint-Just. The Convention declared them outlaws, allowing execution without a trial.

The significance of the Thermidorian period is seen in its violence and economic effects. The era saw the First White Terror, where the political left was targeted. This included the massacre of 70 members of the Paris Commune. This was the largest mass execution in the history of Paris. However, the scale was smaller than the previous Reign of Terror. The Terror had killed over 40,000 people. In 1794, the government abolished the Maximum, which controlled prices and wages. This decision caused rampant inflation as the government issued more assignats.

Notable examples of the era's instability include various rebellions. In May 1795, an insurrectionist mob invaded the Convention. The government responded by using troops under Pichegru to force a surrender. Another revolt occurred in October 1795, led by Royalists. This revolt was suppressed by General Napoleon Bonaparte using grapeshot. These events showed how fragile the new political order remained. The regime struggled to balance moderate rule with constant threats of uprising.

Ultimately, the Thermidorian Reaction connected to the broader evolution of French governance. The era ended when the National Convention was replaced. On November 2, 1795, the Directory took power. The Directory was an executive body made of five men. This change followed the adoption of the Constitution of the Year III. This new constitution established a bicameral legislature and an electoral college. Historians now use the term "Thermidor" to describe similar shifts in other revolutions. It refers to when radical leadership is replaced by more conservative regimes.