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24 Cards in this Set
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Reforms, CCC, Constituion Local Gov- decrees Dec 1789, Feb & May 1790 France divided into 83 departments, 547 districts, 43,360 communes (split into cantons). Paris in 48 Sections. All run by elected councils. Dec 1789 right to vote -> 'active' vs 'passive distinction. 25+ men w/ 3 days labour (4.3m) = active. Actives w/ 10 days labour = electors. Elector w/ 54 days labour = National Assembly. 61% had right to partake in some election (vs 4% in England) 1978-99 1m elected to council. South= bourgeoisie, north=labourers -- most couldn't read or write => performed duties badly Taxation & Finance 2 Nov 1789 sale of Church land & assignats: provide money for State and guarantee success of Rev. 25% sold by 1799 (Bourgeosie 48% peasants 52%- smallholders ^by 1m by 1810) Taxes: indirect taxes, State monopoly and tax farming ABOLISHED Jan 1791- contribution fanciere (land tax no1 exempt), contribution mobiliere (moveable goods), patente (commercial profit) However, no land survey began until 1807 = new system didn't work Nevertheless, tax burden now fell on producers not consumers- fairer system lasted until C19TH Economy Laissez-faire. 1789 Aug free trade + no tax controls, 1790 Oct no internal tarrifs, 1791 guilds abolished, Chapelier Law (no trade unions) , poor relief committee found 2m had to beg for life, but nothing was done |
Legal System16 Aug 1790 Constituent Assembly new structure: no- difference in north v south, diff types of court, lettres de cachet, torture/mutilation- JPs in each canton, judges had to be 5yr lawyers, Court of Appeal, guillotine approved by Legislative Assembly Church Aug 1789: tithes+plurality ABOLISHED. CCC conflict: 135->83 bishoprics, had to elected & not absent 15+ consecutive days. Less clergy + priests also to be elected. Many offices abolished. National Assembly decreed to force clergy's oaths7 bishops + 55% clergy took it, but Pope condemned it 1 April (-retracted)-->destroyed Rev consensus. Church split constitutional vs Non-juring- counter-rev gained support, Assembly deported refractory priests = villagers felt betrayed. Disaffection w/ Rev --> open revolt Vendee 1793. also led to flight to v Constitution agreed 14 Sept 1791. Louis constraints: suspensive veto (not finance matters), needed Assembly's consent b4 war, his office subordinate 2 law |
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Revolutionary clubs & radicalisation in power vacuum (no political parties), these supported popular movement, kept public informed, pressured deputies in Assembly. set up April&May 1789 JACOBIN Moderately radical, wanted centralised power. Rejected monarchy, opposed religious autonomy. Leader= Robespierre. High entrance fee, 1200 members July 1790 -> 2000+ clubs by 1793.1790-99 2%of popultion. Cordeliers More radical. Objected 'active' vs 'passive' distinction, supported working class, wanted direct democracy and right to insurrection. Leaders= Danton and Desmoulin. No entrance fee. 1791 formed federation w/ elected central committee |
Popular discontent disillusion w/ Rev bc/ feudal dues not outright abolished. Rural revolution 1790 Brittany, central France & south-east until 1792. Sans-cullottes = urban workers.1791 wave of strikes bc/ falling value of wages. Grain prices ^ by 50% --> riots & chateaux attacked. Popular societies linked this to demand for republic w/ directly elected representatives. |
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Flight to Varennes Louis felt constricted by Constituent Assembly & CCC --> fled to Lorraine for protection of military commander 20 June 1791. 21-22 reached Varennes, spotted by postmaster Drouet, brought back. * Credibilty for Constituent Assembly undermined, support for republic gov. Louis lost remaining support: 24 June 30,000 marched to National Assembly in support for Cordeliers' petition for King's dismissal. 16 July Assembly voted to suspend him until completed Constitution |
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Jacobin divisions, Champ de Mars Massacre Radicals appalled Louis not dethroned/on trial. Claimed Constituent Assembly didn't represent the people. Cordeliers persuaded them to join petition to depose King. Those who didn't agree (most deputies) formed Feuillants. Champ de Mars 17 July 1791 50,000 flocked to sign 'alter of the fatherland'= demonstration by poorer sections of Paris. Commune, under pressure from Assembly, declared martial law: Lafayette & National Guard fired on peaceful crowd -> 50 killed. Moderates won support. Popular leaders arrested, Danton, Hebert, Marat in hiding. Took 1yr for popular movement to recover |
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Legislative Assembly 13 Sept 1791 Louis accepted Constitution. 1 Oct 1st Legislative meeting. Robespierre proposed self-denying ordinance so political opponents from Constituent Assembly couldn't dominate next Assembly. Elections 29 Aug- 5 Sept less than 1/4 citizens proposed. Assembly of 745 almost wholly bourgeoisie, 23 clergy, 0 peasants. 136 Jacobin & Girondin, 345 Independents, 264 Feuillants |
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Counter Revolutionary growth Non-juring clergy, 6000 emigres by 1791= 60% of all officers, 1200 officers that joined emigres worried the deputies. Nov 2 laws: -all non jurors were suspects, -all emigres that didn't return 1 Jan 1792 had to forfeit property & were regarded as traitors. King vetoed these laws= unpopularity & appeared to undermine Rev |
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Outbreak of War Declaration of Pillnitz 17 Aug 1791 Austria & Prussia stated French situation was common interest to all sovereigns of Europe, and would be willing to restore King of France. It heightened rumours of an emigre invasion backed by foreign powers. However, it was a show of monarchical solidarity rather than a serious threat. Support for war Louis & wife wanted war to defeat France so he could recover old power Army commanders wanted short war to increase prestige Brissotins (Brissot 1st politician supporting republic) wanted to force King to show true sympathies and expose traitors 130/745 assembly were Girondins got support of Lafayette=followers -successful conflict would rouse revolutionary enthusiasm and extend it abroad, w/ support from enemy's repressed subjects -European powers unlikely to unite against France (However, Robespierre and others opposed bc scared people like Lafayette would use military success to mislead the public) |
Declaration of war Austria and Prussia alliance 7 Feb 1792 weak, with internal division, loss of officers and bankruptcy. Austrian threats and Girodin attacks on 'Austrian Committee' --> Louis replaced Feulliants with Girodins. Now majority wanted war. Declared it 20 April 1792 only 7 deputies against it. Revolutionary War lasted 10 years til Treaty of Amiens 1802, 1.4m French loss, altered direction of Rev. Military defeat=tension+fear in Paris. Suspicion over Louis commitment to victory -> political opponents more determined to overthrow monarchy. |
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Overthrow of the monarchy Military crisis desertion + revolutionary propaganda= discipline of reg army destroyed. 1/2+ had emigrated, volunteers poorly trained&equipped. Army panicked in Austrian Netherlands, retreated & murdered commander. Whole units deserted, all 3 commanders advised peace be made asap. Royal vetoes 27 May law for deportation of refractory priests. law disbaded Kind's Guard and set up 20,000 National Guard (federes) from provinces to protect Paris from invasion/King from coup by generals Louis refused and dismissed Girondin ministers 13 June. 19 June he vetoed them. Rise of sans-culottes Tuileres armed demonstration 20 June 'bonnet rouge' 80,000 sans culottes and Cordelier leaders. Aim of getting King to withdraw vetoes &rehire Girondins failed. However, it showed weakness of King & Assembly +growing power of Sections. 11 July Assembly declared state of emergency and asked Frenchmen to fight but this meant they had to grant them better democracy: agreed to demand of 'passive citizens' being in sectional assemblies and National Guard. Federes militant revolutionaries, a powerful pressure group in radical sections of Paris, calling for removal of the King. Fearing violent uprising, Girondins offered to prevent it if King would recall ministers, but he refused. Robespierre put forward proposals: abandon 1791 constitution, overthrow monarchy, establish National Convention, universal male suffrage. Petitions pouring in from federes |
Brunswick manifesto 1 August 1792 issued by commander-in-chief of Austria-Prussia armies: -restore liberty of Louis+fam, Paris should release him, 'exemplary vengeance' if Tuileries attacked. Frenchmen infuriated at foreign interference, and previous supporters of monarchy turned against it. 3 August Mayor on behalf of 47/48 sections demanded abolition of monarchy but Legislative Assembly refused. Attack on Tuileres 9 August Sans-culottes (Hebert) took over Hotel de Ville, expelled city council + set up revolutionary Commune. 10 Aug thousands of National Guard + 2000 federes marched on Tuileries vs 3000 troops. The 2000 National Guardsmen among the troops joined the crowd. The Swiss mercenaries fired but Louis ordered them to cease --> 600 Swiss massacred(90 federes and 300 parisians killed)BLOODIEST JOURNEE. Invaders forced Assembly to recognise revolutionary Commune, who imprisoned King in the Temple. They agreed to universal male suffrage and National Convention.Commune now in charge of Paris. |
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Proclamation of the Republic 22 sept 92 Following overthrow of Louis, constitutional monarchists (2/3 of deputies) didn't feel safe--> went into hiding. Assembly then passed radical measures: Refractory priests who didn't want to leave France to be deported to Guiana. Abolition of feudal dues w/out compensation. House-to-house searches for arms and suspect. National Convention met for 1st time 20 Sept '92 & deposed King 21-22 after amore de fer confirmed his betrayal (his links w/ France's enemies) Girondins vs Jacobin Results for 749-seat Convention distorted by fear+intimidation. Those with royal sympathies disenfranchised so 24 members for Paris were Jacobins. 300 Jacobins vs 180 Girondins. They needed to gain support of 250 Plain |
Trial of Louis XVI Jacobins insisted on this bc if he's alive its easier for royalists to plot. Sans culottes held him responsible for Tuileries. (Girondin tried to prevent trial and proposed reprieve, rejected by 380 votes to 310.) 2 factors sealed his fate: amoire de fer and appel nominal by Marat (deputies to declare their decision = 0 declared him innocent, 693 that he was guilty). 387 voted for death penalty, 288 for imprisonment.)Execution 21 Jan 1793- 1st Jacobin victory= factions more hostile bc/ Montagnards branded Girondins as royalists |
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The Republic at War 1792-3 Situation desperate- Lafayette had defected to Austrians 17 Aug and Verdun, last major fortress on road to Paris, about to surrender. September Massacres against background of panic, and thousands under arm to defend the capital, a rumour spread that overcrowded prisons of counter revs were plotting to escape and kill --> Marat called for conspirators to be killed. 2-7 Sept massacre of 1400 of 2600 prisoners. only 1/4 priests+nobles, the rest common criminals. Killers were sans-culottes. Commune didn't stop them- deputies of provinces shocked and joined Girondins. Hatred of Montagnards+sans culottes intensified. Battle of Valmy 20 Sept 1st republican forces victory. 52,000 troops defeated 34,000 Prussians. (sig: if P won Paris would've fallen+ Rev ended). New forces summoned 11 July 1792 v effective. France pushed them back to bank of Rhine. Gov claimed expanded frontiers to Rhine, Alps and Pyrenees Jan 1793. Nov 92 Savoy added, Jan 93 Nice added. Nov 1793 Decree of Fraternity=extended Rev to other states bc it offered support to them. |
War of First Coalition (britain, netherlands, spain, portugal) France's annexiations threatened European monarchs. 1 Feb 1793 Convention unanimously declared war on Britain+Netherlands, later Spain and soon most of Europe. Britain was driving force behind Coalition which emerged March-Sept '93. 93 campaign = Vendee Rebellion Vendee was anti-rev .Expansion of war + conscription (Feb 1793 levy 300,000)= uprisings (11 March 93 vendee militaire). Peasants in this area resented increase in land tax, CCC, sale of Church land (bourgeoisie raised rents). New local officials, constitutional priests and National Guards massacred. May 300,000 troops removed from front to deal w/ rising. overall executions in vendee was 53% of total in Terror. Economic issues more assignats printed to pay for war --> by Feb 1793 had fallen by 50%. Bread was scarce-- widespread riots against grain stores. Republic saved- allied army broke in two in a blunder which saved France. |
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The Terror 1793-94 Emerged because of need to organise the Republic against internal & external threats. Also to provide concessions to sans culottes and bc Robespierre wanted to defeat personal threats Machinery of the Terror CGS- 10 March 1793 to try counter-revs & prevent massacres like sept 92. Representative on mission sent to reassert central control with unlimited power. Comites de surveillance set up in all communes, provided victims for trial. Summary execution decree=trial&execution in 24 hrs of armed rebels. Emigre harsh laws-confiscated properties & execution on return CPS- 6 April 93 to superivse members, made up of Plain members Overthrow of Girondins Danton+montagnards asked Girondins (Robespierre sided with Gs) to stop attacking sans-culottes. 2 June 80,000 National Guard surrounded Convention w/ aimed cannons and demanded expulsion of Girondin -> 1st time armed force used against elected assembly. Arrest of 29 Girondins. |
Federal revolt Montagnards turned on Girondins as military crisis worsened & blamed them for federalism. Many rebelled centralised power e.g. Marseille and Lyon 30 May and anti-Jacobin supporters took controls of many towns. Jacobin Club even closed in Toulon- Gov then cut off supplies so British troops entered 28 Aug to prevent starvation--> serious blow to republic. However, federal forces pitifully small so gov could pick off rebels. New CPS- 1st Strong Gov since rev began, w/ Robespierre who linked them with sans-culottes |
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Dominance of the sans-culottes From Storming of Bastille 14 July 1789 and October Days to 'passive citizens' put in National Guard July 1792, no one could control Paris w/out their suport until Spring 1794. Characteristics- hatred of aristocracy+wealthy, egalitarianism, bonnets rouges (originially symbol of free slaves), anti-clericalism, direct democracy. Believed people should have right to change/control elected representatives @ any time, Assembly meetings should be open. Paris Sections- Administrative units of Parisian local gov Controlled National Guard, assisted reps-on-mission, issued certificates of citizenship. 454 members 1793-4, 65% shopkeepers/craftsmen, only 8% wage earners. |
Concessions to sans-culottes (from Jacobins) 24 June 1793 new constitution and Declaration of Rights (right of insurrection, education, work, direct elections), economically: anti-hoarding laws, fix prices. Levee en masse 23 Aug (=total war, 500k conscripts, Gov control of economy, remarkably successful) |
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Impact of the Terror Firmness of Jacobins ensured survival of Republic in medium term. However eco position worsening --> terror more radical. Aug 93 assignat 1/3 of face value, drought reduced grains supply by 3/4. Enrages (=extreme revolutionary group) Enrages and leader, priest Roux, demanded change bc not enough done for poor people, nothing done = he denounced Convention. Demanded execution of hoarders + purge of ex-nobles in army. Roux arrested and suicide Feb 1 Armee Revolutionaire 5 sept 4 Sept crowd gathered Hotel deVille demanding bread + higher wages. Next day marched on Convention. Convention authorised formation of Parisian armee revolutionaire of sans-culottes spread over 25 departments (to confront counter-revs, ensure food supplies, establish rev 'justice' in places of lil enthusiasm, involved in dechristianisation) 56 other unauthorised armies in provinces Sept-Dec 93. Successful in helping rev last bc/ providing of food, but didn't last long bc numbers small & hostility from rural population- they created opposition to Rev bc of heavy-handed methods. |
Economic Terror popular pressure --> death penalty for grain hoarders, fixed price of bread, 29 Sept 93 General Max Price. This was often below cost of production = conflict among common people (sans culottes liked, peasants didnt) and farmers stopped sowing. However in short run successful bc assignat rose 22-48% Aug-Dec 93. Political Terror OCt 93 it was decree 'gov of France revolutionary until peace=>official Terror w/ CGS+CPS, Terror areas of federal revolt, Terror in other parts. Up to Sept 93 Tribunal heard 260 cases w/ 25% death penalty (66). Provincial repression- By end of 93 federal revolt supressed. 72% of 12000 executions in Terror were in these rebel areas. Troops shot every peasant they met, burnt farms, raped+mutilated women. 2000 near Angers alone shot w/out trial. Vendee became depopulated wasteland, Lyon destroyed 12 Sept 93. Reps on mission= worst atrocities- Carrier drowned 1800 people in barges. Law of Suspects Sept 93- Mass arrests of suspects, 500k w/ 10k died in prison. local rev committees had more power. Could also purge local administrations , remove moderates. They were permanent institution of Terror in countryside. Overall- minimum 16,000 executions, 53% Vendee, 59% peasants & urban workers, nobles 8% |
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Religious Terror: Dechristianisation sans-culottes, reps-on-mission, rev armies hated Catholicism, Convention drawn along with it. 1792-94 Republic used resources o State to destroy Christianity-> churches closed, destruction of crosses, bells and silver removed. Notre Dame (Paris' cathedral) became Temple of Reason. Spring 94 most closed. Priests formed to renounce priesthood (up to 20,000). Villages deeply resented this process Revolutionary calendar 5 Oct 1793 from 22 sept 1792 when republic was proclaimed.emphasise break from from past and & remove surviving traces of ancien regime. Ignored Sundays & festivals of church. |
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Dictatorship of CPS Problems overcame by end 0f 92: federal revolts crushed, food supplies moving to towns + cities, assignat rising, war doing well. Convention could now claw back power that passed to sans-culottes. Sept 93 general assemblies of Sections only to meet 2ice a week and Law of Frimaire 4 Dec gave 2 committees full executive powers- CGS for internal security, CPS for foreign policy. Revolutionary armies disbanded. => end of anarchy, breaking power of sans-culottes, strong gov. However it reversed decentralisation, elections to all posts and separation of powers. Robespierre: dictatorship necessary until enemies destroyed. |
Opposition to gov: Hebert left-wing, demanded more persecution of hoarders and property redistributed. Supporters in Coreliers Club, Commune, Paris rev army. Leading part in dechristianisation. Guillotines on 24 March 1794 for wanting military dictatorship which would lead to restoration of monarchy. CPS then disbanded Paris rev army, Cordeliers, all popular societies, purged Commune. Opposition to gov: Danton supporters= Indulgents. They wanted to halt Terror and centralisation and end war. Danton accused of bribery + corruption. He had large following in Convention unlike Hebert. CPS scared and brought him to Revolutionary Tribunal and executed 2 April 94.. Their falls stifled criticism of the CPS |
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The Great Terror & Law of Prarial 10 June- 27 July 93. All enemies of Republic to be brought to Paris. 23 May Law of Prairial= broad definitions so anyone could be convicted. No witnesses or defence counsel allowed. Conscience of jurors to either acquit or sentence to death. More people sentenced to death in this time than in prev 14 months. |
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Overthrow of Robespierre Catholics New religion Cult of Supreme Being to unite Frenchmen 7 May 94, with festival on 8th. Catholics distressed bc it ignored Catholic doctrine, ceremonies + Pope. Anti-clericals (most of CGS) opposed it bc thought it was step to reintroducing Catholicism , with Robespierre as high priest. Sans-culottes Execution of Hebertists, Dissolution of pop societies, end of direct democracy in Sections, Maximum on wages reduced them by as much as half (majority of sans-culottes wage-earners). The Great Terrors sickened them- it wasn't necessary now internal enemies were defeated. |
CPS and CGS (Their dictatorship was unchallengeable until April- CPS set up own police bureau w/ Robespierre as head to prosecute dishonest officials, & CGS resented interference --> became rivals. Conflict within CPS bc some disliked Laws of Ventose 26 Feb 94 (properties of enemies of Rev distributed among poor).) 2 of their members Billaud+Collot attached to Hebert so threatened by Robespierre. Many became suspicious of him bc of CoSB, former allies supporting him less. Coup of Thermidor Robespierre took a month away, no speeches 18 June- 26 July (8 Thermidor) --> addressed Convention & attacked those who were plotting against Gov, but didn't name them. Moderates like Carnot, terrorists like Collot and Fouche felts threatened --> conspired to plot b4 he could order their arrest. 27 July shouted down & Convention voted for his arrest. Him & colleagues released & ordered National Guard of Sections to mobilise. However, Convention also called them and much confusion. Robespierre did not act, Barere then declared them outlaws bc they 'escaped' = executed w/out trial. 28 July r + 28 others executed. Coup of Thermidor = rejection of gov by Terror |
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The end of Terror Jacobin dictatorship ensured defeat of Republic enemies which created highly motivated citizen army (laid foundations for future conquests in Europe). However, massive loss of life and devastation in Vendee + areas of federal revolt. Catholics and bourgeoisie alienated by extremist CPS + CGS. Even sans-culottes became disillusioned. Thermidorian Reaction Journalist Lacretelle 'joy almost turned to frenzy'. Overthrowers known as Thermidorians- mix of CPS, CGS, ex-terrorists deputies of Plain. Plain took control. Regicides so against any form of monarchy but also disliked Jacobins bc too much power to sans-culottes. Joined by Montagnards. |
Ending the terror Convention July 94- 31 May 95: Abolished Revolutionary Tribunal, released all suspects from prison, repealed Law of Prairial, closed Jacobin club, abolished Commune. 25% of CGS and CPS changed each month, and they were taken over by 16 committees of the Convention, and CPS confined to running war + diplomacy. Constitutional Church and CofSB abolished. No longer payed clerical salaries= separation of Church and State. 21 Feb 95 freedom of worship restored= end of dechristianistion. |
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Uprisings in Germinal and Prairial December 1794 Thermidorians abolished price controls--> fall in value of assignat, massive inflation. Gov printed more to buy war matrials--> printed more, assignat became 34% of 1790 value, April 95 8%, 4% May. 94 bad harvest -- grain shortages, winter 94-5 severe-- rivers froze. suicide, malnutrition, famine. Germinal 1 April 95- 10 000 unarmed people marched to Convention & demanded bread + release Collot + Billaud. Expected Montagnard support but none. National Guard appeared- withdrew w/out resistance. Convention deported Collot + Billaud to Devil's Island. 1 Prairial (20 May) Crowd of housewives, workers + some NG units marched on the Convention to demand bread. A deputy killed, Convention's loyal forces aimed cannon-- crisis resolved when Convention agreed petition for food comission. 3 Prairial (22 May) 20 000 troops of regular army 1st time used against citizen since Revellion riots spring 1789) surrounded rebel suburbs & forced them to give up arms and cannons. 40 Montagnards arrested, 6 executed, 36 condemned to death, 6000 militants disarmed & arrested. = Prairial was end to sans culottes as political+military force- marked end of radical revolution. They failed bc: workers divided, no institution like Paris Commune 1792, politically inexperienced. |
The White Terror attack on ex-terrorists who had done well out of the rev (purchasers of state land, constitutional priests, gov officials, popular societies) by those who suffered from it (royalists (white was colour of Borbouns), returning emigres and non-juring priests, victims of rev tribunal). Paris Jeunesse doree/muscadins (middle class youths dressed extravagantly as reaction to restrictions of terror) formed gangs to intiimidate and beat up Jacobins + sans culottes. Not on same scale as Terror violence. Vendee Guerilla warfare revived. in spring Chouan movement opposed conscription began in Brittany under Cottereau. Groups of 50-100 men threatened law and order by attacked grain convoys & destabilised local gov by murdering officials. Summer 94-spring 95 Chouans controlled most of Brittany and joined 3000 emigre troops landing at Quiberon bay June 95. Total rebel force = 22,000. Genral Hoche sealed them off with 10,000 troops and compelled them to surrender --> 6,000 prsioners, 1000 emigres, 640 shot. Biggest disaster suffered by emigre forces. Hoche sent with 140,000 to wipe out Chouan, Summer 96 gov authority restored. South Murder gangs not considered serious threat so little effort to crush them --> allowed them to become established and spread rapidly--> killed as many as 2000 '95. Killing continued 96 and much of following year. |
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Constitution of Year III, 22 Aug '95 Thermidorians wanted this to guarantee main features of rev: abolition of privelege, freedom of the individual, elected assembly, impossible for another dictatorship or popular sovereignty like sans-culottes. Agreed: 21+ men who paid direct tax could vote for electors. Electors paid 150-200 days labour --> 50,000 1790-92 to 30,000 1795. Rich and suffered from Rev 93-94. Legislature --> Council of 500, age 30+, initiate legislation. Council of Ancients, 250 men age 40+, approved or rejected bills. Executive --> Directory of 5, list drawn up by 500 and chosen by Ancients. Directors would hold office for 5 years except one had to retire each yer. Not allowed to be members of either council. Could not initiate or veto laws/declare war/control treasury. In charge of diplomacy, military affairs, law enforcement. Gov ministers responsible to directors. Weaknesses Despite checks and balances: - yearly elections promoted instability bc majorities could be quickly overturned -no means of resolving conflicts between legislative and executive. -Councils could paralyse Directory by refusing laws. -Directors couldnt dissolve councils. Convention feared royalist majority --> decreed 2/3s of deputies to new councils must be chosen from existing deputies in Convention. Plebiscite: 1,057,390 in favour, 49,978 opposed it. 4m didn't vote. 2/3 only accepted by 205,000 to 108,000. |
Verona Declaration 24 June '95 reactionary statement issued by Louis XVI's brother, after XVI's son died, to proclaim himself Louis XVIII promise the reverse of many gains from Rev. It antagonised all those who bought biens nationaux bc he wanted to restore them to Church => turned out to boost to those who favoured Republic. Vendemaire uprising 5 Oct '95 Reasons= against 2/3 decree and economic origins (Convention unable to deal with food shortages and inflation). 25,000 royalist crowd marched on Convention and outnumbered 7800 gov troops but latter had cannon--> rebellion crushed and 300 killed = one of bloodiest revolutionary journees (but only 2 executed). people of paris would not again attempt to intimidate an elected assembly until 1830. 2nd time in 6 months the army had saved Thermidorian Republic. National Guard put under Napol |
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The Directory wanted to provide stable and liberal gov maintaining gain of revs and restore rule of law. Conventionnels elected 1/3 after Vendemiere mainly royalists to prevent royalist restoration (threatened by Verona Declaration). Royalists divided anyway- between extremists and constitutionals. Key opponents discredited (Jacobins and absolutists). Public apathy helped them survive. Most significantly, army supported them bc they didnt want end to war (opp for promotion) Babeuf Plot 1796 radical pamphleeter, disliked constitution bc it gave power to wealthy. Planned coup called Conspiracy of Equals (small group rather than mass movement), but didn't get any support and arrested May. (conspirator betrayed him --> executed). However, Marxist called him first communist w/ extremely influential ideas (communal management of property, abolish private possession). |
Coup d'etat of Fructidor 1797 Monarchists won 180/260 seats - totalled 330. If voting followed same pattern they would obtain majority and be able to restore monarchy legally. Powerful positions: Barthelemy president of 500, Carnot president of Ancients. Republicans sought help from army: 3-4 Sept (17-18 Fructidor) '97, troops seized strong points in Pairs and surrounded council chambers. Arrested B and C and 53 deputies. Decree passed to remove 177 deputies (Normandy, Brittany, Paris). Decree passed to deport Carnot to Guiana. Executive won important victory- end of parliamentary gov. Terror Emigre hunted down and sentenced to death over next few months . Clergy took oath rejecting royalty or deported to Guiana. 1400 non juring priests deported. Successful in short term but alienated Catholic opinion and provided more opponents for Directory |
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Financial reform Mandats territoriaux= new paper currency March '96 but then worth only 1% of in Feb '97. Only a billion livres in circulation '97 vs 2.5b '89- Deflation = Directory unpopular with businessmen. Bankruptcy of two thirds- 2/3 written off, reduced national debt 240m-> 80m and helped stabilise French finances. However, bonds fell in value by 60% and it was a partial declaration of state bankruptcy. Increase rev w/ cut expenditure and '98 4 basic direct taxes (trading, land, moveables, doors and windows)->long lasting achievement(til 1914) Unpopular practice of angien regime- indirect taxes, e.g octrois tax on goods entering towns. Reduced military expenditure when peace made w/ Austria Oct '97. Balanced budget for 1st time since Rev began!!! |
War 74-9 Battle of Fleurus in Austrian Netherlands June 94 first of a series of successes--> all members of 1st coalition knocked out except Britain. Defeat of Austria a main goal- Jourdan and Moreau given 140,000 in main attack, Napoleon's success making Italy a battleground against them, Austrians defeated at Lodi in May. Britain isolated, but British 2 victories '97 destroyed Spanish fleet and Dutch fleet. Spring '98 France had degree of hegemony. Satellite States: Batvian Republic Jan 95 Helvetic Republic in Switz Jan '98, Roman, Cisalpine, Ligurian Republic. 2ND Coalition Encouraged after Napoleon's fleet destroyed at Battle of Aboukir Bay. Early successes followed by series of defeats- pushed back to Rhine by Austrians, Russia forces them to withdraw from Italy. Immediate danger only over bc Austria did not help Russia in Switzerland so France could move on the offensive there. |
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Coup of Brumaire and overthrow of Directory Jourdan's Law June '99 males age 20-25 conscripted bc army only 270,00 strong: met w/ widespread resistance, Austrian netherlands' revolt took 2months to subdue. Meant to raise 402,000 troops but only 248,000 Forced loan meant to raise 100m livres but only raised 10m. Law of Hostages12 July meant to arrest emigres, nobles or rebels but hardly ever applied bc opposition from local officials. '99 collapse of gov administration in provinces bc Directory couldn't persuade local notables to accept office/ local authorities taken over by royalists --> brigandage. |
coup d'etat of Brumaire military situation improved --> Sieyes (director) wanted to coup to strengthen the executive. Bonaporte agreed to join if provisional gov of 3 consuls set up to draft new constitution. 500 moved to Saint-cloud but they found out about coup- Napoleon had to address them but they physically attacked him. N brother Lucius got army to clear the hall! Small group of councillors passed decree to abolish Directory- consuls Sieyes, Ducos and Napoleon. |
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Failure of Directory Instability of annual elections, no provision for settling disputes. Directors interferred w/ elections Fructidor 97 and Floreal 98. Increasing reliance on army to settle political disputes (Prairial, Vendemiere) = army takeover bigger possibility. Only supporters (owners of biens) alienated by policies such as forced loans. Few defended Directory and enthusiasm for war long gone. However, financial reforms and tax system contributed to economic recovery and stimulated industrial and agricultural expansion. |
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