Thermidorian Reaction

• The Thermidorian Reaction begins with the fall of Maximilien Robespierre.
• Robespierre and his allies are arrested by the National Convention.
• Robespierre is executed without trial along with several of his followers.
• The political climate in France shifts as the leaders of the National Convention seek to stabilize the government.
• The Jacobin Club is disbanded as a result of the Thermidorian Reaction.
• The moderate phase of the French Revolution commences, leading to a period known as the Thermidorian regime.

The Thermidorian Reaction (1794) marked a significant shift in the dynamics of the French Revolution. This period followed the overthrow of Maximilien Robespierre, a key figure in the Reign of Terror. On 27-28 July 1794 (9-10 Thermidor Year II in the French Revolutionary Calendar), Robespierre and his allies were arrested by members of the National Convention. This drastic action was driven by fears within the Convention of Robespierre's growing influence and the escalating executions.

The fall of Robespierre set off a series of events aimed at reversing aspects of the radical policies of the Jacobins. The Committee of Public Safety (which had been instrumental in directing the Reign of Terror) saw its powers significantly reduced. The revolutionary tribunals, known for their swift and brutal judgments, were curtailed. Mass executions subsided, and many political prisoners were released. This shift indicated a desire to move away from the extreme violence that had come to characterize the revolutionary government.

Socially and politically, the Thermidorian Reaction resulted in the reassertion of the bourgeoisie's control. The Girondins, previously ousted and persecuted by the Jacobins, were allowed to return to the Convention. As a result, the political atmosphere became less radical, with a new focus on stabilizing the country. Measures were taken to dismantle the more extreme economic controls (such as the Law of the Maximum, which had implemented price controls and rationing). This led to economic liberalization and benefited the commercial and manufacturing interests.

Culturally, the reaction led to a loosening of the stringent regulations and restrictions imposed during the Reign of Terror. The Cult of the Supreme Being (introduced by Robespierre as a state-sponsored religion) was abandoned, allowing for more religious and secular freedoms. Influence from the Enlightenment principles began to re-emerge, emphasizing reason and scientific thought over dogma.

The Thermidorian Reaction culminated in the drafting and adoption of the Constitution of Year III (1795), which established the Directory (a new executive body consisting of five directors). This governance structure aimed to prevent any single individual or group from gaining overwhelming power, contrasting sharply with the preceding period of Jacobin dominance.

In summary, the Thermidorian Reaction represents a critical phase in the French Revolution where political, social, and cultural aspects transitioned from radical extremism towards moderate political stabilization and liberalism. Through these developments, France progressed towards a different phase of its revolutionary journey, influencing the subsequent phases of the Revolution.

• The Thermidorian Reaction (which began on 9 Thermidor Year II in the revolutionary calendar, or 27 July 1794) marked a significant backlash against the radical policies of the Reign of Terror; it led to the downfall of Maximilien Robespierre, a principal architect of those policies.
• One lesser-known aspect of the Thermidorian Reaction is that it wasn't just a political shift; it embodied a cultural reaction as well, leading to a temporary revival of the arts and a relaxation of the stringent censorship imposed during the Terror.
• Many of the leaders who emerged during the Thermidorian Reaction were former supporters of the radical revolution; they had previously embraced violence and extremism, only to later turn on Robespierre when they feared for their own safety.
• Following the Thermidorian Reaction, France experienced a period known as the 'Thermidorian Leftover' where former revolutionaries, now moderates, struggled to govern effectively due to internal conflicts and the lingering fear of revolutionary reprisals.
• The aftermath of the Thermidorian Reaction saw the weakening of the Jacobin club, which had dominated revolutionary politics; by 1795, the club was officially disbanded, marking the decline of radical Jacobin influence in France.