‘Political instability was the most significant problem facing France during the Thermidorian Reaction and the Directory, in the years 1794 to 1799.’ Assess the validity of this view.
Level
A Level
Year Examined
2021
Topic
France in Revolution
👑Complete Model Essay
‘Political instability was the most significant problem facing France during the Thermidorian Reaction and the Directory, in the years 1794 to 1799.’ Assess the validity of this view.
Political Instability: The Most Significant Problem Facing France (1794-1799)?
The period following the Reign of Terror, encompassing the Thermidorian Reaction and the Directory (1794-1799), was a tumultuous time for France. While political instability undoubtedly plagued the nation, arguing it was the most significant problem requires a nuanced examination of concurrent challenges, particularly the crippling economic crisis. This essay will argue that while political instability was a major concern, the economic woes ultimately held greater significance, ultimately undermining the Directory and paving the way for Napoleon's rise.
Political Instability: A Legacy of Revolution
France in 1794 was inherently unstable. The Thermidorians inherited a nation reeling from the Terror, with deep political divisions and a legacy of violence. Their attempts to dismantle the Terror's apparatus, such as closing the Jacobin Club and repealing oppressive laws, were necessary steps but further fueled instability. The White Terror, a reactionary wave of violence, erupted, highlighting the fragility of peace. Popular uprisings, a recurring theme throughout the Revolution, continued to challenge authority, as seen in the Germinal and Prairial uprisings.
The Directory faced threats from both ends of the political spectrum. Royalist resurgence, fueled by returning émigrés and fueled by discontent, necessitated actions like the Coup of Fructidor. Simultaneously, the persistent threat from the left, evident in Babeuf's Conspiracy of Equals and Jacobin electoral successes, culminated in the Coup of Floréal. The very structure of the Directory, lacking mechanisms for resolving disputes between branches of government, fostered unconstitutional actions and coups, further illustrating the pervasive instability.
Economic Crisis: A Deeper Malaise
However, overshadowing these political tremors was a profound economic crisis. France had inherited a depleted treasury and a disrupted economy from the revolution. The disastrous harvest of 1794, coupled with a harsh winter, exacerbated existing problems. The abolition of price controls (the Maximum) and the introduction of paper currency triggered rampant inflation, rendering the assignat almost worthless. By 1795, its value plummeted to a tenth of its original worth, leading to food shortages and starvation, vividly illustrated by the sans-culottes' desperate uprisings.
The Directory's attempts to stabilize the economy, such as issuing the mandat, ultimately backfired. The new currency rapidly depreciated, forcing its withdrawal and leaving only metal coins in circulation. This triggered deflation, further hindering trade and economic recovery. The desperate measure of repudiating two-thirds of the national debt, while providing temporary relief, alienated crucial segments of the bourgeoisie, the very class upon whose support the Directory relied.
War and its Consequences
Furthermore, the ongoing war effort, while generally successful for France, placed a significant strain on the already burdened economy. Despite military victories, the need for high taxation to fund the war fueled popular discontent. The bourgeoisie, increasingly disillusioned by the Directory's inability to manage the economy and bring stability, began to see the government as incompetent, ultimately contributing to its downfall.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while France undoubtedly grappled with persistent political instability during the Thermidorian Reaction and the Directory, it was the economic crisis that held greater significance. The combination of inflation, deflation, food shortages, and the government's inability to provide effective solutions had a devastating impact on the daily lives of French citizens. This economic turmoil eroded public trust, alienated key supporters, and ultimately created an environment ripe for change. It was this economic despair, rather than political instability alone, that paved the way for Napoleon Bonaparte and the end of the Directory in 1799.
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Essay Plan: The Thermidorian Reaction and the Directory
This essay will assess the validity of the statement: 'Political instability was the most significant problem facing France during the Thermidorian Reaction and the Directory, in the years 1794 to 1799.'
Arguments Supporting the View of Political Instability as the Most Significant Problem
Argument 1: The Thermidorian Reaction marked a period of intense political volatility, with factions vying for power. The closure of the Jacobin Club, the repeal of repressive laws, and the rise of the White Terror all highlight the instability.
Argument 2: Uprisings against the government, like those of Germinal, Prairial, and Vendémiaire, highlight the fragility of the regime and the deep social unrest.
Argument 3: The threat of royalist resurgence, exemplified by the émigrés' return and the attempted coups, underlined the precariousness of the revolutionary government.
Argument 4: The Jacobins, despite their suppression, remained a potent force. The Conspiracy of Equals and their electoral successes demonstrate their ongoing influence and the Directory's ongoing concern.
Argument 5: The lack of effective mechanisms to resolve political differences led to unconstitutional actions like the coups of Fructidor, Floréal, and Prairial, further exacerbating political instability.
Arguments Challenging the View of Political Instability as the Most Significant Problem
Argument 1: The economic crisis, characterized by inflation, food shortages, and currency devaluation, had a profound impact on the lives of ordinary people.
Argument 2: The economic hardship led to widespread discontent, culminating in uprisings like those of Germinal and Prairial, indicating that economic hardship was a major factor in the instability.
Argument 3: The Directory's attempts to address the economic crisis through measures like issuing mandates proved ineffective and exacerbated existing problems.
Argument 4: The constant warfare, while generally successful, placed a strain on the economy and finances, leading to resentment among the bourgeoisie and contributing to the Directory's downfall.
Conclusion
While political instability was undoubtedly a major challenge during the Thermidorian Reaction and the Directory, the economic crisis had a more profound and immediate impact on the lives of the French people. The Directory's inability to stabilize the economy ultimately undermined its legitimacy and paved the way for Napoleon's rise to power.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
Arguments supporting the view that political instability was the most significant problem facing France during the Thermidorian Reaction and the Directory, in the years 1794 to 1799 might include:
• The Thermidorians took over in a situation of extreme political instability and immediately tried to deal with it by such measures as closing the Jacobin Club and its branches, repealing the Laws of 22 Prairial and the Law of Suspects. They also had to deal with the outbreak of the White Terror which threatened stability across France.
• Risings against the government by ordinary people had been a source of instability throughout the revolution and the Thermidorians faced further such threats with the risings of Germinal, Prairial and Vendémiaire.
• Royalists posed a threat. For example, some of the movements behind the White Terror were directed by royalists, and at the same time large numbers of émigrés were returning to France who hoped to see the power of the Church restored. The comte de Provenance and the comte d’Artois also made attempts to take back power although neither proved a genuine threat. Even so, the coup of Fructidor in 1797 was a reaction to fears of the growing popularity of royalists.
• Jacobins were also a threat in this period, despite their club being closed by the Thermidorians, with the attempted Conspiracy of Equals by Babeuf and their success in elections in 1798 leading to the Coup of Floréal, suggesting that the Directory considered them to be a major problem.
• The Directory also struggled to deal with political instability because there were no mechanisms to resolve differences between Directors and the legislative councils. This encouraged unconstitutional behaviour such as the coups of Fructidor, Floréal, Prairial and the final Coup of Brumaire, all of which illustrate the political instability of this period.
Arguments challenging the view that political instability was the most significant problem facing France during the Thermidorian Reaction and the Directory, in the years 1794 to 1799 might include:
• The economy was the major problem facing France. The economy was already in a poor state and the combination of a bad harvest in 1794 followed by a freezing winter, along with the ending of the Maximum and introduction of paper currency, led to high inflation and extreme hardship.
• By April 1795, the assignat was worth only a tenth of its original value and farmers refused to sell grain for paper money. As a result, hundreds of Parisians starved to death and sans-culottes rose up in the risings of Germinal and Prairial.
• The Directory tried to overcome currency problems by issuing mandates in February 1796, but within a year their worth had devalued to such an extent that they had to be withdrawn. The metal coins, which were then the only legal currency, led to deflation which hindered trade in this period.
• Furthermore, the issuing of the mandats involved writing off two thirds of government debt which they could not afford to pay. Although this improved the financial position of the government, it was at the cost of alienating some of their core support.
• The constant war, although generally going well, caused discontent, particularly as it exacerbated problems with the economy and required high taxation to fund it. This increased the fears of the bourgeoisie that the Directory was not competent to rule France. In the end, this contributed to the fall of the Directory.
Overall, political instability was certainly a major problem throughout this period, which was not surprising given the situation they inherited. However, the economic problems had a greater impact on the lives of the people and their decision to declare the bankruptcy of the two thirds, and later the forced loans, convinced the all-important bourgeoisie that a more stable government was required if the economy was to thrive.