The aftermath of the Terror

Question 1

How did the Thermidorian’s dismantle the machinery of the Terror throughout 1794 and 1795 ?

Answer 1

• July 1794 : Moderates filled the spaces on the CPS and CGS
• August : The law of Prairial was repealed, reduction in powers of the Paris Commune and central government (Law on revolutionary government)
• Nov : The Jacobin club was shut down
• Dec : Law of general Maximum repealed
• Feb 1795 : restrictions on catholic practice still existed
• April/May : Representatives en mission and revolutionary tribunal were abolished
• Oct : Law of suspects was appealed
• Nov : Paris commune abolished

Question 2

The White Terror (who, what, where, when and results)

Answer 2

• The thermidorians took action against the former proponents of the terror (supported by the muscardins)
• Violent action was taken by victims of the Terror towards Jacobins peasants were particularly active in the Vendee and Lyons
• Lyon : May 1795, Jacobin prisoners were taken out of their cells and slaughtered
• Successful in destroying the Jacobin club
• Never as bloody as the great Terror

Question 3

Royalist/reactionary threat caused by the White Terror

Answer 3

• 1794/5 : Emigrees returned to France and demanded the return of their property and the restoration of monarchy
• Verona declaration 1795 : Promised the restoration of French monarchy
• Thermidorians diminished the threat through signing treaties, using military action and focusing on domestic affairs
• Quiberon bay rising resulted in 700 emigrees being executed

Question 4

The Paris 1795 risings dates and names

Answer 4

1. Rising of Germinal (1st April 1795)
2. Rising of Prairial (20/21st May 1795)
3. Rising of Vendemiaire (5th Oct 1795)

Question 5

Rising of germinal (causes, reaction and results)

Answer 5

• Bread rations and fallen to 60g a day in Paris and they demanded the 1793 constitution
• 10,000 unarmed marched to the convention and disrupted debates (demonstration rather than rising)
• Paris was placed under marital law and the insurgents withdrew without resist
• Resulted in an order for disarming in Paris and the Provinces

Question 6

Rising of Prairial

Answer 6

• Larger amount of SC women and some armed men marched to the convention and killed a deputy
• Demanded 1793 constitution and new food controls
• Mood became increasingly hostile and forces gathered to confront the crowd although a petition was agreed and signed
• Military forces were called in and 6,000 militants were disarmed and arrested
• Marked the end of the SC being a political force and the army was used against citizens for the first time since the revillon riots (April 1789)

Question 7

Rising of Vendemiare

Answer 7

• Royalist rising
• In response to the food shortages and two-thirds law
• 25,000 marched to the convention in order to seize power
• Government troops had and used a cannon and 300 royalist were killed (one of the bloodiest revolutionary journees)
• People of Paris didn’t attempt to intimidate an elected assembly until 1830