FRUCTIDOR

• When was the coup of Fructidor?

  4th September 1797
• BACKGROUND TO THE FRUCTIDOR COUP?

  • April 1797, constitutional monarchists doing well in elections.
  • More than a third of the deputies had royalist sympathies.
  • Directors feared elections would bring royalists into the chambers
• On the 18th Fructidor (4th September) - Directors such as Barras and Rewbell hatched a plot.
• The motivations behind the Fructidor coup were to consolidate power, eliminate political rivals, and maintain control of the French government.
• What did Barras and Rewbell do? WHAT WAS THEIR PLOT?

  • Produced evidence of Pichegru (500 council president) contacting emigres in 1795.
  • Accused Pichegru and 500 council of acting against the revolution.
  • Military force of Hoche and Augereau seized strongpoints in Paris, 177 royalist deputies arrested.
  • Two new directors elected to serve to replace moderates, council spots left vacant.
  • Undermined 1795 constitution, lack of confidence in elections.
• What legislation followed the director's plot?

  • Former members of second estate declared as foreigners - had to apply for naturalisation papers to regain citizen rights.
  • Returned emigres given 2 weeks to leave, if they didn't leave they were prosecuted by military tribunals.
  • Refractory priests persecuted, many deported or imprisoned.