14. The Establishment of the Directory Flashcards
Revise
What was the basic structure of the Constitution of Year III?
5.5 million entitled to vote.
Those paying a certain amount of tax were eligible to sit in the assemblies.
Elections would take place annually with a 3rd of deputies stepping down each year.
Council of Five Hundred proposed and drew up all legislation but didn’t vote.
Council of Ancients examined and approved legislation.
Directory of Five were chosen by the Council of Ancients. One member would retire each year and couldn’t also sit on any of the Councils.
Who were the notable members of the Directory?
Carnot, an ex-member of the Committee of Public Safety.
Sieyes, elected 1795 but refused to serve until 1799.
Ducos, a moderate.
Barras, responsible for brutal suppression of counter-revolution during the terror.
What were the early issues with this form of Governance?
Had no prominent leaders.
Difference of political views led to schisms in its first year.
No mechanisms to resolve disputes between executive Directors and legislative councils.
What economic and financial issues were facing the Directory?
Beset by acute inflation in 1795.
Inherited a badly balanced budget, with costs of war and issues with tax collection.
Another poor harvest 1795.
Trade was compromised by war and British Navy.
How did the Directory attempt to address the financial issues?
Tried to introduce mandats, similar to assignats, but were soon counterfeited and were worth nothing. Soon only metal currency was legal which hindered inflation but halted trade.
1795, a universal weights and measures system was finally introduced.
Taxation system was reorganised, introducing new property tax. Txed goods entering towns. While this ultimately helped balance the sheets, it alienated creditors who bought mandats and the bourgeoises.
What was the royalist uprising that threatened the Directory?
The rising of the Vendemiaire in October 1795, a few days before the new Constitution. Also called upon General Hoche to crush royalists in the Vendee and the West.
What was the coup of Fructidor?
Directors, including Barras, hatched a plot to frame the royalist leader of the Council of Five Hundred that he was contacting with royalist emigres. Arrested 177 royalist deputies and shut down 42 opposition newspapers. Brought in two new directors but left Councils vacant.
What was the coup of Floreal?
Directory passed an electoral law to restrict the royalist gains. However Jacobins had huge gains and the new Law purged 127 deputies before anyone took their seats.
What was the coup of Prairial?
Both Councils criticised the Directory’s conduct and illegal election of Director Jean-Baptist. Seiyes chose to demand some directors step down, and used General Joubert to enforce this.
What were the problems with all the coups?
Directory became more about increasing divisions than healing them.
What were some criticisms of the Directory?
It was tolerated more than supported. Had inward corruption and was lacking a clear vision for the future.
What were some strengths of the Directory?
Represented an attempt to return to moderation. The ‘corruption’ was a poor attempt to stall extremism. It had strong economic reforms and had success in the war.
