By: Susan M. PojerBy: Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley H. S. Horace Greeley H. S.

Chappaqua, NYChappaqua, NY

The “Thermidorian The “Thermidorian Reaction”Reaction”V Curtailed the power of the Committee Curtailed the power of the Committee

for Public Safety.for Public Safety.

V Closed the Jacobin Clubs.Closed the Jacobin Clubs.

V Churches were reopened.Churches were reopened.

1795 1795 freedom of worship for all cults freedom of worship for all cults was granted.was granted.

V Economic restrictions were lifted in Economic restrictions were lifted in favor of laissez-faire policies.favor of laissez-faire policies.

V August, 1795 August, 1795 a new Constitution is a new Constitution is writtenwritten

more conservative republicanism.more conservative republicanism.

Characteristics of the DirectoryCharacteristics of the DirectoryV The Paris Commune was outlawed.The Paris Commune was outlawed.

V The Law of 22 Prairial was revoked.The Law of 22 Prairial was revoked.

V People involved in the original Terror People involved in the original Terror were now attacked were now attacked “White” “White” TerrorTerror

V Inflation continues.Inflation continues.

V Rule by rich bourgeois liberals.Rule by rich bourgeois liberals.

V Self-indulgence Self-indulgence frivolous culture; frivolous culture;salons return; wild fashions.salons return; wild fashions.

V Political corruption.Political corruption.

V Revival of Catholicism.Revival of Catholicism.

The Government Structure The Government Structure of the of the

New DirectoryNew DirectoryV 5-man executive committee or 5-man executive committee or oligarchy oligarchy [to [to avoid a dictatorship].avoid a dictatorship].

V Tried to avoid the dangers of a one-house Tried to avoid the dangers of a one-house legislature.legislature.

Council of 500Council of 500 initiates legislation. initiates legislation.

Council of EldersCouncil of Elders [250 members] [250 members] married or married or widowed males over 40 years of age.widowed males over 40 years of age.

o They accepted or rejected the legislation.They accepted or rejected the legislation.

Both houses elected by electors who owned or Both houses elected by electors who owned or rented property worth 100-200 days’ labor rented property worth 100-200 days’ labor [limited to 30,000 voters].[limited to 30,000 voters].

The electors were elected by all males over 21 The electors were elected by all males over 21 who were taxpayers.who were taxpayers.

Political Instability: Political Instability: 1795-17961795-1796

April, 1795 April, 1795 Inflation; bread riots. Inflation; bread riots.

May 20, 1795 May 20, 1795 Revolt of Prairial [Year Revolt of Prairial [Year III]III]

October, 1795 :October, 1795 :

VVendéeendée and Brittany and Brittany revolted.revolted.

Military suppressed Military suppressed them.them.

May, 1796 May, 1796 First First “communist” revolt“communist” revolt

Gracchus BabeufGracchus Babeuf and and the the Conspiracy of Equals”Conspiracy of Equals”

18 Brumaire 18 Brumaire (Nov. 9, 1799)(Nov. 9, 1799)

Coup d’Coup d’éétattat by Napoleon.by Napoleon.

Approved by a Approved by a plebiscite in plebiscite in December.December.

Abbe Sieyès: Abbe Sieyès: Confidence Confidence from below; from below; authority authority from above.from above.

A British Cartoon A British Cartoon about Napoleon’s about Napoleon’s

Coup in 1799Coup in 1799

Read More About the RevolutionRead More About the Revolution

Bibliographic ResourcesBibliographic Resources

““Hist210—Europe in the Age of Hist210—Europe in the Age of Revolutions.”Revolutions.”http://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/courses/europe1/chron/rch5.htm

“ “Liberty, Fraternity, Equality: Liberty, Fraternity, Equality: Exploring the French Revolution.”Exploring the French Revolution.” http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/

Matthews, Andrew. Matthews, Andrew. Revolution and Revolution and Reaction: Europe, 1789-1849Reaction: Europe, 1789-1849. . CambridgeCambridgeUniversity Press, 2001.University Press, 2001.

“ “The Napoleonic Guide.” The Napoleonic Guide.” http://www.napoleonguide.com/index.htm