How stable was the Thermidorian regime?
Paragraph 1: Regime was stable reversing process of
centralisation and political reform
Reversing process of centralisation
o Membership of CPS and CGS to be changed frequently
o New committees to share government responsibilities
o Revolutionary Tribunal re-organised
o Repealed the Law of Prairal
o Released political prisoners
o Suspended Paris Commune
o Closed Jacobin club
o Guillotined Robespierre, Couthon, Saint-Just and supporters
In their first month, the Thermidorians watered down the power of
the Committee of Public Safety, leaving it in charge of the war effort
but reallocating its other responsibilities to several new committees
o Wary that these committees might again accumulate power,
the Convention decreed that one-quarter of committee
positions would be turned over each month.
The Thermidorians supported these changes with a campaign of
purges and retaliation against the Jacobins.
o The first year of the Thermidorian Convention was dubbed the
White Terror, as those connected with the Jacobins or their
government were harassed, attacked, driven into exile or
murdered.
Some of the killings of the White Terror were carried out with legal
approval. The National Convention kept the Revolutionary Tribunal in
operation until the end of May 1795.
o During this time, it was charged, tried and dispatched dozens
of Jacobin terrorists, albeit with fairer legal processes than the
Jacobins had employed themselves.
Paragraph 2: Regime was stable religion
The Thermidorians remained hostile to religion but wisely decided to
disentangle religion from government.
o The Thermidorian Convention quickly repealed Robespierre’s
decree on the Supreme Being.
o In September 1794, the deputies moved that the state was no
longer responsible for paying the salaries of clergymen, a
move that effectively ended the Constitutional Church.
On February 21st 1795, the Thermidorian Convention voted to allow
freedom of religion and worship, though this came with strict
conditions.
o Religious dress, symbols, processions and bell-ringing were all
banned, while any religious gathering was deemed to
be “subject to the surveillance of the authorities”.
Paragraph 1: Regime was stable reversing process of
centralisation and political reform
Reversing process of centralisation
o Membership of CPS and CGS to be changed frequently
o New committees to share government responsibilities
o Revolutionary Tribunal re-organised
o Repealed the Law of Prairal
o Released political prisoners
o Suspended Paris Commune
o Closed Jacobin club
o Guillotined Robespierre, Couthon, Saint-Just and supporters
In their first month, the Thermidorians watered down the power of
the Committee of Public Safety, leaving it in charge of the war effort
but reallocating its other responsibilities to several new committees
o Wary that these committees might again accumulate power,
the Convention decreed that one-quarter of committee
positions would be turned over each month.
The Thermidorians supported these changes with a campaign of
purges and retaliation against the Jacobins.
o The first year of the Thermidorian Convention was dubbed the
White Terror, as those connected with the Jacobins or their
government were harassed, attacked, driven into exile or
murdered.
Some of the killings of the White Terror were carried out with legal
approval. The National Convention kept the Revolutionary Tribunal in
operation until the end of May 1795.
o During this time, it was charged, tried and dispatched dozens
of Jacobin terrorists, albeit with fairer legal processes than the
Jacobins had employed themselves.
Paragraph 2: Regime was stable religion
The Thermidorians remained hostile to religion but wisely decided to
disentangle religion from government.
o The Thermidorian Convention quickly repealed Robespierre’s
decree on the Supreme Being.
o In September 1794, the deputies moved that the state was no
longer responsible for paying the salaries of clergymen, a
move that effectively ended the Constitutional Church.
On February 21st 1795, the Thermidorian Convention voted to allow
freedom of religion and worship, though this came with strict
conditions.
o Religious dress, symbols, processions and bell-ringing were all
banned, while any religious gathering was deemed to
be “subject to the surveillance of the authorities”.
