Thermidorians

The Thermidorians were a group of moderate revolutionaries who came to power in France following the downfall of Maximilien Robespierre on 27 July 1794 (9 Thermidor Year II in the revolutionary calendar). This political faction emerged in response to the extreme measures of the Reign of Terror, seeking to stabilize the revolutionary government and move away from radical policies. Composed mainly of members from the National Convention, the Thermidorians included former allies of Robespierre who had become disillusioned with his leadership, as well as Girondins and members of the Plain (a centrist political group).

Upon assuming power, the Thermidorians sought to dismantle the mechanisms of the Terror. The Revolutionary Tribunal, which had been responsible for a significant number of executions, was restructured and its activities greatly diminished. The Law of 22 Prairial, which allowed for expedited trials and contributed to the high number of guillotine victims, was repealed. Many political prisoners were released, and the general atmosphere of repression began to ease, marking a shift towards what was perceived as a more moderate phase of the Revolution.

Economically, the Thermidorians faced the challenge of inflation and financial crisis. The wartime economy had led to widespread shortages and rampant inflation. They attempted to implement reforms to stabilize the financial situation, with mixed results. The assignats (paper currency issued during the Revolution) continued to depreciate, causing significant hardship for the French populace.

In terms of social policy, the Thermidorians sought to curtail the influence of the sans-culottes (working-class militants), who had been a driving force behind the more radical policies of the Revolution. This was done through measures such as the disbanding of the revolutionary societies and the enforcement of property qualifications for voting, which limited political participation to the more affluent classes. The period also saw the White Terror, a counter-revolutionary movement marked by violent reprisals against former Jacobins and supporters of the Terror.

The Thermidorian Reaction also led to significant changes in the French government. The Constitution of Year III, adopted on 22 August 1795, established the Directory as the new executive authority. This constitution aimed to prevent the rise of another authoritarian figure like Robespierre by creating a collective leadership and implementing a separation of powers. The Directory, which ruled until the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, was characterized by corruption and political instability; however, it marked a definitive end to the most radical phase of the French Revolution.

While the Thermidorians succeeded in bringing some stability to France and curtailing the extreme violence of the Terror, their policies also alienated many who had hoped for more egalitarian reforms. The discontent among various social and political groups set the stage for future upheavals, including the rise of Napoleon.

• The Thermidorians derived their name from the month of Thermidor in the revolutionary calendar, specifically the period following the fall of Maximilien Robespierre on 9 Thermidor Year II (27 July 1794).
• Many Thermidorians were former allies of Robespierre who quickly distanced themselves from his increasingly radical policies once he fell from power; this political maneuvering demonstrated the volatile nature of revolutionary alliances.
• Under the Thermidorians, the National Convention initiated the relaxation of the harsh policies of the Reign of Terror, aiming to restore stability and economic order in France—fueling a debate over the balance between liberty and security.
• Thermidorian policies led to the eventual emergence of the 'Thermidorian Reaction,' a period characterized by a backlash against radicalism, as the revolution began shifting towards a more moderate phase known for its political purges and censorship.
• One surprising outcome of Thermidor was the diminishing influence of the Jacobins (the revolutionary political club associated with Robespierre)—their meetings were banned, and their members faced persecution, paving the way for a new political landscape in France.