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FRENCH REVOLUTION
Junzhe Nan
SS201
December 8, 2022
Thermidorian Reaction in The French Revolution
Introduction
The French Revolution dramatically radicalized French social, economic, and political reforms. The French Revolution began on July 14, 1789 and was over by 1799. One of the leading causes of the French Revolution was the Thermidorian Reaction. Thermidorian Reaction’s role in the French Revolution is therefore examined in this essay. The Thermidorian Reaction was a significant turning point in the progression of the French Revolution. This event marked the end of the Reign of Terror, which had ended more than a year earlier, and the fall of Maximilien Robespierre, one of the most infamous figures of the Revolution. Following the assassination of Maximilien Robespierre, an “evil” leader of the ruling party-the Committee of Public Safety, the Thermidorian Reaction ended the dictatorship. The development of the Reign of Terror in France, which promoted people’s democratic rights, was another consequence of the Thermidorian Reaction.
Moreover, last, it gave French militants like Jean-Lambert Tallien, Louis de Saint-Just, Georges Couthon, and Louis Fréron the confidence and inspiration to start and lead the Revolution. Furthermore, the Jacobin Club leaders who controlled the Committee of Public Safety were the targets of the Thermidorian Reaction, a coup d’état during the French Revolution. Last but not least, the Thermidorian Reaction strengthened the National Convention’s mission to free the French people from oppressive customs and norms, fuelling the development of a liberating constitution.
Body
What Does Thermidorian Reaction Mean?
The French were devastated before the Thermidorian Reaction. The Committee for Public Safety members directed the French populace. The party’s attempt to end the feudal system failed. The feudal system oppressed the underprivileged to benefit the wealthy (Hallman, 2022). Additionally, the feudal system prohibited the elite bourgeoisie—professionals, merchants, and manufacturers—from running for political office. It also violated the rights of the peasants, who were denied access to adequate education and land ownership. Additionally, feudal rulers threatened rebels or revolutionary militants with the death penalty. Therefore, the Thermidorian Reaction was a revolutionary sign that the French people wanted changes to free them from social, political, and economic limitations.
The Thermidorian Reaction greatly aided the French Revolution. On July 27, 1794, day nine of Thermidor in Henry II’s second year, a parliamentary rebellion occurred (Hallman, 2022). Maximilien Robespierre’s comments elicited unfavorable reactions from members of the public, activists, and National Convention Party legislators. On July 26, Maximilien Robespierre delivered a speech jam-packed with threats to kill rebels vying for civic rights. Surprisingly, he was housed in the Hôtel de Ville along with his brother Augustin, Georges Couthon, Francois Hanriot, and Louis de Saint-Just. These evil commanders on 9 Thermidor oversaw the execution of 149 anti-Robespierrists before their capture and execution. Maximilien Robespierre’s authority ended due to the Thermidorian Reaction, which also led to the founding of the French Reign of Terror, empowering French activists, and drafting a constitution with humane principles. A specific ideology did not characterize the faction. Even others who had previously backed Robespierre and the Terror found it unnerving how quickly he was collecting up and beheading those he considered his “enemies.” The intimate associates of Robespierre feared that they would be the next victims of the guillotine’s blade.
Contribution of Thermidorian Reaction to The French Revolution
End of Dictatorship Rule.
The French were liberated from despotism by the Thermidorian Reaction. French citizens were motivated by the Thermidorian Reaction to oppose authoritarian policies in the future (Grinin, 2022). Political autocrats like Maximilien Robespierre persecuted the French people before the Thermidorian Reaction. During the French Revolution, Maximilien Robespierre was the mastermind behind the Reign of Terror. He had previously assisted citizens in overthrowing the monarchy. Robespierre was therefore appointed to the Committee of Public Safety on July 27, 1793, with the duty of directing the formulation of revolutionary changes (Grinin, 2022).
On the other hand, Maximilien Robespierre developed egotistical rules to safeguard authority against potential revolutionary leaders due to his obsession with power. The accused may put his adversaries to death since he has a right to a public trial. The Thermidorian Reaction occurred on July 27, 1794, when Maximilien Robespierre was successfully ousted from office (Grinin, 2022). A democratic leader currently rules France, including the people, in creating revolutionary social, political, and economic reforms. President Emmanuel Macron, representing the Renaissance/Liberty Political Party, is now in charge of France. President Emmanuel Macron is known for empowering women and advancing equality. He is a democratic leader who rejects tyranny.
Rights of Democracy
The French were given democratic rights through the Thermidorian Reaction. The French had the right to democratic liberties because the Thermidorian Reaction led to the Reign of Terror (FAIRFAXCHOLMELEY, 2019). The National Convention Party specifically suggested the Reign of Terror’s involvement. Few persons who opposed the construction of a revolutionary government run by the people for the people came under the brutal treatment of a Reign of Terror. 300,000 Revolution suspects were reportedly detained during the Reign of Terror. At least 10,000 of those detained died in custody. Even worse, 17,000 detained revolution opponents were formally executed after being released. Nobles, hoarders, and priests were the majority of the Reign of Terror victims because they were the primary opponents of the foundation of a revolutionary government.
The French government has consistently upheld citizens’ rights since The Thermidorian Reaction. As a result, the French people have the right to choose their government freely, possess their property, and enjoy their freedoms (FAIRFAXCHOLMELEY, 2019). Fundamental liberties that French citizens are entitled to include the rights to equality, freedom of speech, and due process. If the Thermidorian Reaction had not happened, it would have taken much longer for French citizens to be freed from oppressive laws preventing them from exercising their rights to vote, own property, and express themselves freely. Currently, France is regarded as one of the nations that uphold the democratic rights of its residents.
The Inspirational and Driving Force Behind French Activists
The Thermidorian Reaction tremendously stimulated and galvanized French activists. An activist motivated by and energized by the Thermidorian Reaction is Louis Antoine Léon de Saint-Just. He was a French revolutionary, philosopher, politician, and club leader for the Jacobins prior to the Thermidorian Reaction (FAIRFAXCHOLMELEY, 2019). He was also a legislature member and the military commissar under Maximilien Robespierre’s rule. He made it clear by the Thermidorian Reaction activities that he did not like Maximilien Robespierre as the leader. He significantly contributed to the collection of critical reports that resulted in Robespierre’s capture and execution (FAIRFAXCHOLMELEY, 2019). From that point forward, Louis Antoine led the French in the detention of opponents of the Revolution and implemented broad-based social, economic, and political reforms. Louis Antoine Léon de Saint-Just earned the moniker “Archangel of the Terror” because he opposed the killing of revolutionaries more often than not and backed the imprisonment of a select group of honorable individuals who opposed the establishment of a revolutionary government. After the Thermidorian Reaction passed, secondary material markers indicated French revolutionary leaders’ involvement. In addition to Saint-Just, revolutionary leaders in France have included Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande, and Emmanuel Macron (Alcoforado, 2022). Since the Thermidorian Reaction era until now, these activists have served as President of France. For instance, from 2007 to 2012 and from 2012 to 2017, respectively, Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande served as activists and presidents of France. At the same time, Emmanuel Macron has been the President and activist of France since 2017. Before the Thermidorian Reaction, ruling monarchs like Louis XV and Louis XVI and presidents like Maximilien Robespierre planned to apprehend and execute threatening revolutionaries (Alcoforado, 2022). A prime example of a French revolutionary leader assassinated on July 13, 1793, under Maximilien Robespierre’s rule, was Jean-Paul Marat. The present French activist Marion Anne Perrine occasionally questions Emmanuel Macron’s leadership, although the French government applauds his revolutionary statements.
The Creation of a Liberating Constitution
The Thermidorian Reaction played a crucial part in pushing for the drafting of a constitution. In order to shield the next generation from oppressive political organizations like Jacobin, the French people, led by activists, set out to draft a constitution. A political organization called Jacobin was founded in 1788 and existed until 1799. (Alcoforado, 2022). It was made up of egotistical individuals, including Maximilien Robespierre, the then-French President elected on the Committee for Public Safety party platform. Because Jacobin was composed of tyrants and aristocrats, it favored the creation of reforms that would preserve their authority, such as one that would have restricted citizens’ freedom of expression. French, therefore, drafted a freeing constitution in 1795 under the direction of the National Convention Party (Alcoforado, 2022). A committee with the grave responsibility of drafting the French constitution of 1795 was appointed by the National Convention Party under the leadership of President Jean-Marie. Pierre-Claude-François Daunou, the chief author of the French constitution of 1795, served as chairman of the appointed committee. French statesman Pierre-Claude-François Daunou was also a historian and liberalism theorist. Pierre-Claude-François Daunou used his perspectives and experiences as a statesman, historian, and thinker of liberalism to assist France in establishing its constitution.
The French constitution of 1795 served as an official declaration that the nation had undergone a complete revolution. There were hints that the French were separate from the old-fashioned repressive political measures. The constitution promoted legal equality, collective ownership of property rights, and bicameral government to safeguard the French people from institutions that would create discriminatory laws (Alcoforado, 2022). A bicameral legislature led to the development of a modern legislative structure used by the civilized French government. In particular, the French Constitution of 1795 proposed the establishment of the Senate and the National Assembly as two legislative bodies. According to the French constitution of 1795, the Senate’s principal duty was to oversee and assess the National Assembly Parliament’s proposed and accepted policies (Alcoforado, 2022). The French Constitution of 1795 stipulated that a bicameral legislature was necessary to safeguard the populace from constrictive governmental initiatives. The French National Assembly Parliament passed rules and regulations protecting the current government before starting the bicameral session. Finally, the constitution forbade political gatherings meant to create a conspiracy. The French have frequently established stable governments by prohibiting political gatherings from committing conspiracies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Thermidorian Reaction was crucial to French culture. First, it freed the French people from political dictatorships. Since that time, democratic governments have been in charge of France, with Maximilien Robespierre serving as the last “selfish” President. Second, the Thermidorian Reaction also strengthened the French people to fight for their democratic rights moving forward. The French people at that time carried out a Reign of Terror that led to the imprisonment and execution of many people, primarily nobles, who disagreed with their democratic leaders. Finally, Thermidorian Reaction gave the French activists the tools they needed to fight for the rights of the people. Since the Thermidorian Reaction, campaigners Jean-Lambert Tallien, Louis de Saint-Just, Georges Couthon, and Louis Fréron have fought for human rights in France. Finally, Thermidorian Reaction started the process of drafting a constitution in 1795. By advocating the establishment of a bicameral legislature, the French people were freed from the ruling class’s oppression under the 1795 constitution.
Bibliography/References
Alcoforado, F. (2022). THE GREAT FRENCH REVOLUTION THAT CHANGED THE WORLD. https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/68093025/THE_GREAT_FRENCH_REVOLUTION_THAT_CHANGED_THE_WORLD-with-cover-page-v2.pdf?Expires=1670246335&Signature=eRYEQU7Uy7dw8UHPACYrpsMIenynOEU-lm3PZ2bhJaNO0HKmvfo4h53YpJUFJ0Ev85bOo8ktoeY–BdMO9L8u55ITezTPv077AExYuHocth488IgoLgwfQQX86QCCWE2pHeb3-6X6nVOVvUHn1uz204ZPXJTg2HhMzHzzpSp4E84sBsXYw6LE6cPMIudZaZPFrJEUvlCnlxREsegKtJ~oKynDvUyvXYwddWKuznwWpCOP8nPDkuU7RuT6hBEBq0R6UVXeQl3sQm3y5FoIpoNbfn9OQnnJnoXulFT2buLLZmcLBZzLnsKHmoA0qyhgpQMfXTXcqhhi57K9hhxwhmCfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
FAIRFAX‐CHOLMELEY, A. L. E. X. (2019). Reliving the Terror: Victims and Print Culture during the Thermidorian Reaction in France, 1794–1795. History, 104(362), 606-629. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1468-229X.12870
Grinin, L. (2022). On revolutionary situations, stages of revolution, and some other aspects of the theory of revolution. In Handbook of Revolutions in the 21st Century (pp. 69-104). Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-86468-2_3
Hallman, J. (2022). The” Inexplicable Vendée:” State Terror and Civil War as Products of Nationalism in the French Revolution 1793-1796 (No. THESIS). University of Chicago. https://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/4102