The Thermidorian Reaction: End of the Terror and Establishment of the Directory

• Thermidorian Reaction began in July 1794 and was a "tempering" of the revolution
• Wealthy middle-class and professional people replaced the peasants of the sans-culottes
• Many who were responsible for the "Terror" were removed from public life
• The Jacobin Club was closed

• The Thermidorian Constitution of the year III was a conservative document that provided for a bicameral (two branches) legislative government who favored property owners
• The executive body, having a five-person Directory, was elected by the upper legislative house

• Thermidorians repealed the ceiling on prices
• resulted in food riots during the winter of 1794-1795
• these food riots were "put down" by Convention
• October 5, 1795: Paris rebelled
• Napoleon blindly fired to clear the food riot crowds