French Revolution's Aftermath: Convention, Directory, Consulate Eras

The National Convention (1792-1795)

This new parliament came into existence to address the ongoing war. Initially, the Girondins held sway within the parliament.

War and Royal Fate

The pressure from the coalition army was immense; they even invaded France. In September 1792, the decisive Battle of Valmy took place. Despite being a weaker army, France defeated the coalition forces.

In 1792, King Louis XVI attempted to escape but was captured near Paris, in Varennes, and subsequently taken back to Paris and imprisoned. The discovery of the King's correspondence with the enemy led to his trial and eventual execution in 1793.

Economic Hardship and the Reign of Terror

While the war was progressing favorably for France, prices increased significantly, and resources became severely limited.

Approximately 20,000 sans-culottes surrounded the parliament, demanding their rights. Inside, the Montagnards expelled the Girondins from parliament and executed them. Furthermore, people on the streets killed anyone they deemed suspicious. This brutal period is known as the Reign of Terror (1793-1794).

Around 1794, the power of the most radical Montagnards was curbed, violence began to decrease, and a new phase emerged.

The Directory (1795-1799)

The Directory marked a return to order and a more conservative ideology. Those who controlled this government were survivors of the Terror and individuals who had been hiding from its excesses.

The executive power was held by five main directors, respected elder statesmen.

In 1799, a coup d'état occurred, primarily orchestrated by Napoleon Bonaparte, Sieyès, and Napoleon's army.

The Consulate (1799-1804)

Initially, there were three main consuls, including Sieyès and Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon, a member of the bourgeoisie middle class, possessed two distinct characteristics:

• He was a highly skilled strategist on the battlefield and in politics.
• He was a highly ambitious individual, aiming to spread his ideas across Europe.

Napoleon aimed to maintain order in France while implementing changes that would continue to reflect the Revolution's principles.

Napoleon's Rise to Power

His first significant achievement was becoming Consul for Life in 1802. By 1804, he had managed to consolidate power as the sole Consul and was subsequently crowned Emperor by the Pope in France.

Major Reforms Under the Consulate

During these five years, Napoleon enacted significant changes in France:

• Established the first public school network.
• Created independent judicial positions, separating them from politics.
• Published a comprehensive code of laws, which served as an inspirational model for other European countries (the Napoleonic Code).
• Signed an agreement (the Concordat of 1801) with the Pope, effectively separating church and state.
• Reformed the army, which was still largely populated by nobility, to create a merit-based system where ability made the difference.