1- The Thermidorian reaction and White Terror Flashcards
What was the Thermidorian Reaction?
The 15 month period from the fall of Robespierre to the creation of the directory (July 1594- November 1795)
The term was first used in 1798.
Its two main aims were to dismantle to terror and take revenge on those associated with it.
What happened to the CPS and CGS?
On 31st July 1794, vacancies created by the latest round of guillotining were mostly filled by moderate Dantonists and members of the ‘Plain’.
What happened to the Law of 22 Prairial?
On 1st August 1794, it was repealed and many held under its terms were released from the gaols.
What happened to the Revolutionary Tribunal?
On 10th August, it was reorganised and the number of guillotinings significantly decreased.
What was The Law on Revolutionary Government?
Introduced on 24th August 1794.
Provided for the complete reorganisation of government and administration away from the highly centralised structure of terror.
What was introduced in the The Law on Revolutionary Government?
Revolutionary committees were reduced to one per departement and 12 in Paris- this broke the power of the sans-culottes.
16 committees took on many of the responsibilities of the CPS and CGS whose powers were limited to diplomacy and military operations.
New representants-en-mission were dispatched to the provinces to ensure the Jacobins were removed from positions of authority.
What happened to the Paris Commune?
On 31st August 1794, their powers were reduced.
What happened to the Church?
On 18th September 1794, The Church and state were separated.
The state stopped paying clerical salaries which ended the ‘Constitutional Church’ which acted as a branch of Government.
What happened to the Jacobin Club?
12th November 1794, it was closed down and all its associates were disbanded.
What happened to the Law of Maximum?
24th December 1794, it was repealed.
What further measures were introduced in 1795?
February- Toleration of all religions was proclaimed.
April- Representants-en-mission were abolished.
May- The Revolutionary Tribunal was abolished.
October- The Law of Suspects was officially repealed.
Who was Jean-Lambert Tallien?
Had been a Montagnard in the National Convention and a member of the CGS.
Supported the coup de Thermidor and became a leader in the Thermidorian reaction.
Helped the suppression of the revolutionary tribunals.
Became a member of the Council of Five Hundred and accompanied Bonaparte to Egypt in 1798.
Who was Joseph Fouché?
Served in government from 1792 to 1815.
Became a representant-en-mission, taking responsibility for mass shootings in Lyons in 1793.
He helped to secure the fall of Robespierre in July 1794.
He supported Napoleon’s coup d’etat and organised the secret police.
Made count of the empire in 1808 and duc d’Otrante in 1809.
Who was Paul Barras?
A nobleman.
Welcomed revolution.
Joined Jacobin Club.
Sat in legislative assembly & National convention.
Helped in the recapture of Toulon.
He remained in the Plain during Terror.
Served as a representant-en-mission.
Helped organise overthrow of Robespierre.
From 1794-95, held high-level positions in Convention & CPS.
Fell from power in Napoleon’s coup of Brumaire 1799 and spent time in exile thereafter.
Who was Louis Freron?
Radical journalist
Elected to the National Convention
Served with Barras as a representant-en-mission and became infamous for ruthless action to enforce the Terror
His newspaper L’Orateur du Peuple became the mouthpiece of anti-Jacobins inciting the Muscadins to attack the Sans Culottes with clubs.
