20. Thermidorian Reaction Flashcards
Who were the people who overthrew Robespierre called?
Thermidorians
What groups made up the Thermidorians?
CPS, CGS and deputies of the plain
How did the Convention go about the dismantling of the Terror?
abolished the revolutionary tribunal
released all of the suspects from prison
When was the commune abolished?
1795
What was the Separation of the church and state?
republic legally committed religious neutrality
Why did the Thermidorians want to remove price controls?
they favoured the free market
When was the maximum abolished?
1794
Which winter was severe in terms of famine and poor harvest?
1794-5
What was Germinal?
demonstration April 1795 w/ people demanding bread
What was Prairial?
Large uprising in Paris - again demanding bread
How was the demonstration resolved?
when the convention accepted the petition and set up food committees
What did Prairial mark?
the end of the sans-culottes as political and military power
2 reasons why Prairial failed?
Workers in Paris were divided
Politically inexperienced
What was the White Terror?
attack on ex-terrorists and all who had benefitted from the revolution by those who suffered from it
Who were the ‘Whites’ classified as?
victims of the revolutionary tribunals
Who were the Whites fighting against?
Jacobins and sans-culottes
What was the Chouan?
Guerrilla groups operating in the Vendee
What constitution did the Thermidorians want?
main features of the 1789 - freedom
When was the new constitution agreed?
1795
2 main features of the new constitution?
men over 21 who paid direct taxation could vote
separated legislature and executive
2 ways the legislature was divided?
Council of 5 hundred - initiate legislation
Council of Ancients - approve legislation
What was the executive meant to be?
Directory of 5
What 2 weaknesses did the new constitution have?
yearly elections = stability
no way to resolve conflict
When was the new constitution of Year III agreed?
1795
