Tag: French Revolution

The Termidor Reaction is the name given to the period of the French Revolution that begins on July 27, 1794, with the fall of Robespierre, and ends on October 26, 1795, when the Constitution of the Year III establishes the French Directory. It takes its name from the National Convention, the name of the parliament at that time, and follows the Mountain Convention, the period of the French First Republic dominated by the Jacobins.

The name “Thermidor” comes from one of the summer months in the republican calendar and refers to 9 Thermidor Year II (July 27, 1794), the date of Robespierre’s fall, which led to the dominance of the conservative republicans, precisely called Thermidorians.

Also: Law of Suspects: How It Shaped the French Revolution

Causes of the Thermidorian Convention

The Thermidorian Convention resulted from a combination of factors that created an atmosphere of discontent and distrust towards Maximilien Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety, who had wielded dictatorial power since the onset of the Reign of Terror in September 1793. Among these factors are:

Public weariness of the violence and repression of the Reign of Terror, which claimed thousands of lives, especially among moderates, Girondins, Hebertists, Dantonists, Sans-culottes, refractory priests, nobles, and royalists. The Reign of Terror also imposed unpopular economic and social measures such as the Law of the Maximum, which regulated prices and wages, and dechristianization, an attempt to replace Catholic worship with the Cult of the Supreme Being.

Diminished external threats as a result of French military successes against European coalitions. The victory at Fleurus on June 26, 1794, pushed Austrian and Prussian forces out of French territory and led to the reconquest of Belgium. This reduced the need for a government for public safety and encouraged aspirations for peace and stability.

Internal divisions within the National Convention pitted the Montagnards (Robespierre’s supporters) against the Thermidorians, which included moderates, former Girondins, former Dantonists, and members of the Committee of General Security who feared for their lives. The Thermidorians accused Robespierre of authoritarianism, fanaticism, isolation, and personal ambition. They also charged him with betraying the ideals of the Revolution and seeking to establish a dictatorship.

Key Figures in the Thermidorian Convention

The Thermidorians orchestrated a coup d’état that led to the Thermidorian Convention. They took advantage of a session of the National Convention on 9 Thermidor, Year II (July 27, 1794), to denounce Robespierre and his supporters and have them arrested. Key figures in the Thermidorian Convention include:

• Paul Barras, a member of the Committee of Public Safety, led Convention troops in suppressing Robespierre’s supporters barricaded at Paris City Hall. Barras played a decisive role in capturing and executing Robespierre and his allies on 10 Thermidor, Year II (July 28, 1794). He later became one of the five members of the Directory, the new regime established in 1795.
• Jean-Lambert Tallien, a deputy in the National Convention, who was one of the first to speak out against Robespierre during the July 9 session. He accused Robespierre of being a tyrant and called for his arrest. Tallien also participated in the storming of Paris City Hall and was one of the signatories to the accusation against Robespierre. He was a leader of the moderate faction and supported the Directory.
• Joseph Fouché, a deputy in the National Convention, played a significant role in orchestrating the July 9 coup d’état. He mobilized the Paris sections, which favored Robespierre’s downfall, and contributed to the desertion of the Commune’s troops, who remained loyal to Robespierre. Fouché also participated in the attack on Paris City Hall and was one of the signatories to the accusation against Robespierre. He was a leader of the moderate faction and later served as Minister of Police under the Directory.

Consequences of the Thermidorian Convention

The Thermidorian Convention marked the end of the Reign of Terror and the beginning of a new phase in the French Revolution characterized by a return to a more moderate and liberal regime. Consequences of the Thermidorian Convention include:

• The End of Mass Executions and the Release of Political Prisoners: The Revolutionary Tribunal, the primary instrument of the Reign of Terror, was abolished, and its judges were removed from office. Survivors of factions eliminated during the Reign of Terror, such as the Girondins, Hebertists, or Dantonists, were rehabilitated and allowed to resume their positions in the National Convention.
• The End of Radical Economic and Social Measures and a Return to a Capitalist System: The Law of the Maximum, which regulated prices and wages, was repealed, and the market was liberalized. Dechristianization, an attempt to replace Catholic worship with the Cult of the Supreme Being, was abandoned, and freedom of religion was reinstated. National properties were confiscated from the Church and emigrants were auctioned off, benefiting the bourgeoisie.
• The Decline of Montagnard Influence and the Strengthening of Moderate Power: The National Convention was purged of Robespierre’s supporters, and the Thermidorians took control of key committees. The Sans-Culottes, supporters of direct democracy, and the people were repressed and lost their political influence. The Constitution of the Year III, adopted in 1795, established the Directory, a regime based on census suffrage that excluded the working class from voting.

Conclusion

The Thermidorian Convention was a major event in the French Revolution, ending the Reign of Terror and paving the way for a more moderate and liberal regime. It resulted from a coup d’état led by the Thermidorians, who ousted Robespierre and his supporters, taking power in the National Convention. This event brought about political, economic, and social changes that marked a departure from the previous period and set the stage for the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, who overthrew the Directory in 1799 and established the Consulate and later the Empire.

The French Revolution, which erupted in 1789, was a period of profound social and political upheaval in France. It was characterized by the overthrow of the monarchy, the Reign of Terror, and the rise of radical political factions. The Law of Suspects, a significant legislative measure, emerged during this turbulent era. The Law of Suspects, enacted in 1793, played a pivotal role in the radicalization of the Revolution.

Origins and Implementation of the Law

To understand the genesis of the Law of Suspects, it is imperative to examine the creation of the Committee of Public Safety. Created in April 1793, the Committee was designed to centralize power in a time of crisis. It was charged with the responsibility of protecting the Revolution and combating both internal and external enemies. Led by figures such as Maximilien Robespierre, it wielded enormous authority in revolutionary France.

The Law of Suspects emerged as a response to growing political tensions and perceived threats to the Revolution. It was introduced on September 17, 1793 as a legal measure to identify and eliminate potential enemies of the Revolution. It expanded the powers of the Revolutionary Court and authorized the arrest and prosecution of persons suspected of counterrevolutionary activities.

The implementation of the Law of Suspects was followed by a wave of arrests and trials. Accused individuals faced courts that often favored revolutionary zeal over due process. Suspects were subjected to a range of criteria, including their political affiliations, activities and expressions of loyalty to the Republic. The Reign of Terror, characterized by a climate of fear and political repression, resulted from the implementation of the law and caused significant social upheaval.

The Fundamental Provisions of the Law

The Law of Suspects provided a broad and somewhat vague definition of who could be considered a suspect. This definition encompassed individuals who displayed signs of not supporting the Revolution, failing to provide sufficient support for revolutionary principles, or being perceived as enemies of the Republic. This inclusive definition left room for interpretation and contributed to the widespread enforcement of the law.

Another significant aspect of the law was the establishment of Surveillance Committees. These committees were tasked with identifying and reporting suspects within their communities. The role of these committees played a crucial part in the enforcement of the law and the arrest and trial of individuals accused of counter-revolutionary activities.

The Law of Suspects outlined the main legal procedures for the arrest and trial of suspects. However, these procedures were often rushed and provided limited legal protection for the accused. The punishments imposed on suspects ranged from imprisonment to execution, with the severity of the punishment generally dependent on the perceived threat the suspect posed to the revolutionary government. The provisions of the law, particularly those related to punishments, reflected the radical nature of the French Revolution during that period.

Role in the Fall of Robespierre

Although the Law of Suspects was designed to weed out counter-revolutionaries, it faced significant criticism and opposition. Many within the revolutionary government believed that the law’s criteria for suspicion were too broad and open to abuse.

Maximilien Robespierre, a key figure in the Committee of Public Safety, staunchly defended the Law of Suspects. His support for the law stemmed from his belief that it was a necessary tool to protect the Revolution from internal and external enemies.

Ironically, the law Robespierre supported would play a role in his downfall. The Law of Suspects contributed to the atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia in Revolutionary France. Robespierre himself would eventually become a target of the law and would be arrested and executed during the Thermidorian Reaction.

With the fall of Robespierre and the Jacobins, the excessive fervor of the French Revolution subsided. The Law of Suspects in particular came under scrutiny for its role in the excesses of the Reign of Terror. In late 1794, the law was repealed and its application gradually declined. However, the scars of this turbulent period remained and France faced the challenge of rebuilding a stable society.

The Law of Suspects is a grim reminder of the extremes to which political ideologies can be carried in times of revolution. It highlights the dangers of using general accusations and collective punishment as a means of political control. Although the law was eventually repealed, its legacy has continued to influence the course of French history and provides valuable lessons about the importance of protecting individual rights and the rule of law in times of political turmoil.

Articles of the Law of Suspects

The law is divided into ten articles. Article 1 orders the arrest of all suspicious individuals who are present on the territory of the Republic. Article 2 defines, in a very broad sense, who is to be considered suspicious:

• Persons who, due to their behavior, expressions, or personal connections, have proven themselves “as supporters of the tyrants, federalism” (referring to the Girondins), “or as enemies of liberty.”
• Persons who cannot prove the origin of their income or the fulfillment of their civic duties—referring to speculators
• Persons who have been denied citizenship.
• Suspended or deposed officials of the Ancien Régime.
• Former nobles, unless they have constantly demonstrated their allegiance to the Revolution.
• Returned emigrants.

Article 3 assigns surveillance committees to issue arrest warrants for the mentioned individuals, which the military commanders must execute under the penalty of removal. Article 4 stipulates that the committees could decide on arrests only with the majority of at least seven present members. According to Article 5, the detainees were to be initially brought to an investigative prison. If there was not enough space, they were placed under house arrest instead. Article 6 stipulates that they must transfer to one of the prisons set up by the departmental administrations no later than one week.

According to Article 7, they were allowed to bring their own necessary furniture there. The end of the detention period was set as the date of the peace treaty, of which no one knew yet. Article 8 specifies that the detainees have to bear the costs of their detention equally. Article 9 obliges the surveillance committees to report all arrests to the Security Committee. Article 10 authorizes civil and criminal courts to send individuals to the new detention facilities as suspects who have been exempt from prosecution for an offense or have been acquitted.

Some three hundred representatives of the Third Estate, but also of the aristocracy and the clergy, took the oath of the Jeu de Paume (Tennis Court) on June 20, 1789, swearing not to separate until a new French Constitution was completed. The agreement is purely symbolic in nature and has no legal weight. It was a crucial moment in the establishment of the French Republic. It was on the strength of this oath that a National Constituent Assembly was established. It will create a Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and put an end to special treatment.

When and Why Did the Tennis Court Oath Take Place?

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Popular unrest has plagued the French monarchy since its economic and financial crises began in 1788. On May 5th, 1789, King Louis XVI convened the Estates General in an effort to ease tensions. The church, the nobles, and the Third Estate all sent representatives to the Versailles conference. However, both the talks and the expectations of the cahiers de doléances (or simply cahiers) were challenging.

As soon as the Third Estate deputies realized their numbers had doubled, the first thing they asked for was the ability to vote with their heads instead of following orders. On June 17, unauthorized by Louis XVI, they convened as a National Assembly with the help of certain obstinate members of the aristocracy and church. The latter had their meeting room closed to put an end to this affront. The famous oath was taken on June 20, 1789, in the gymnasium of the “Jeu de Paume.”

What Was the Text of the Tennis Court Oath?

A common quote from the Jeu de Paume oath goes like this: “(The National Assembly) decides that all the members of this assembly will take a solemn oath to never separate and to gather wherever circumstances require, until the Constitution of the kingdom is established and consolidated on solid foundations.” On the very first pages of the newspaper that would come to be considered “the voice of the Republic,” the oath was printed.

• The text of the Tennis Court Oath (Jeu de Paume oath)

The National Assembly, considering that it is called to fix the Constitution of the Kingdom, to operate the regeneration of public order, and to maintain the true principles of the Monarchy, nothing can prevent it from continuing its deliberations in some place that it is forced to establish itself, and that finally, wherever its members are gathered, there is the National Assembly; decides that all the members of this assembly shall immediately take a solemn oath never to separate and to gather wherever circumstances require until the Constitution of the kingdom is established and consolidated on solid foundations; and that the said oath being taken, all the members, and each one of them in particular, shall confirm by their signature this unshakeable resolution.

What Were the Implications of This Oath?

The parliamentarians fulfilled their word and were joined by members of the aristocracy and the clergy, despite King Louis XVI’s efforts to subvert the Jeu de Paume pledge. The Count of Mirabeau famously said on June 23, 1789, “We are here by the desire of the people and we will only get away by the power of bayonets.” So as not to seem weak, Louis XVI acknowledged the National Assembly on June 27. On July 9, the deputies established the National Constituent Assembly.

Separation of powers, national sovereignty, elimination of privileges, etc., are all essential concepts that will be spelled out in this one, just as they were in the Constitution of 1791. The Enlightenment provided the impetus for the creation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen .

How Should We Analyze David’s Painting?

Due to the political unrest of the moment, Jacques-Louis David was unable to complete his painting of the Jeu de Paume Oath, which he had begun sketching in 1791 and 1792. While the players’ clothing is just as drawn, their exquisite physique lends them a heroic air. Like actors in a play, the deputies have been divided up into sections based on a made-up line.

The focus is on Jean Bailly, the president of the Third State, who confronts the king’s representative. In the lower middle, a monk, an abbot, and a Protestant pastor stand together for the greater good of their country. The wind pushing the drapes in the upper left corner of the painting is a metaphor for the energy of the protesters who are blowing on the assembly. It’s like a revolutionary breeze from France (France Revolution).