Chapter 14 Flashcards
What financial problem did the Directory have?
Inflation
Assignats paper currency
More printed for war
Worthless by 1796
How did the Directory combat inflation?
Assignat discontinued
Mandat territoriaux introduced - didn’t last
Metal coins became only legal tender
Too few in circulation
Deflation; as prices fall, businesses are hit & economy worsens
Why did the Directory plunder foreign states?
To avoid bankruptcy
Possible bc of current successes in war
How did Ramel (financial minister) help the Directory avoid bankruptcy?
Wrote off 2/3 of National debt
Those who bought bonds (bourgeois, lent money to gov hoping to collect interest) lost their money
Why did the Directory increase revenue?
Why?
To avoid bankruptcy
Restored indirect tax: octrois (food entering towns)
Direct taxation: land tax on doors & windows etc (creates enemies as richer people have more - B targetted)
When did France conquer:
Netherlands (Belgium)
United Provinces (Holland)
1794
1795
In 1796, where did napoleon score no. of successes?
What treaty does he conclude with?
Against Austria in Italy
Favourable peace treaty, Campo Formio 1797
How did Napoleon undermine the Directory?
As a result, what do they let him do?
Campo Formio w/o consulting Directory
Attack Britain through Egypt (1798-99) - agree to get him away
How popular was the Directory?
Not very
What was the Babeuf Plot?
1796
Against Directory
Elements of communism (not invented yet tho):
Favoured abolition of private property
Rev comes through dictatorship able to make change
Undermined rev cause
How did the Babeuf Plot fail?
Not popular
Not supp by sans-culottes
Babeuf arrested 1796, guillotined 1797
What caused the Coup of Fructidor (Sep)?
1797 - monarchists won half seats on the council
Only 2/5 Directors Republicans
What was the significance of the Coup of Fructidor?
End of Parliamentary democracy
Sort-of-Terror against emigres & refractory priests
Alienated Cath
Increased opp to Directory
What was the Coup of Fructidor?
The 2 Republican Directors used Paris troops to prevent royalist restoration
Army surrounded the Councils
55 deputies & 2 Directors exiled, rest frightened & cancel election results in 49 departements
What was the Coup of Floreal (May)?
1798 - Jacobins do well in elections
Directory annul elections & choose Jacobin replacements
Why did the Coup of Floreal cause the Directory to lose all legitimacy?
Not much justification as republic was safe
Only shows fear of potential power of Jacobins
What was Jourdan’s law?
1799
Conscription for war with Britain
Reluctance as don’t supp Directory; 248/402,000 join
What was the forced loan?
Loan on France’s rich of up to 75% of income
For war w/ Britain
Made Directory more unpopular
What was the Law of Hostages?
July 1799
Relatives of challengers to Republic authority (Directory) imprisoned & property seized
Potential return to arbitrary arrests
Why was there a need for the Coup of Brumaire?
Virtual collapse of local gov
No-one willing to fulfil gov decrees
Directors decided way to save R wat to create strong gov by forcing change in electoral system
How was Lucien Bonaparte elected as president of the Council of 500?
Why?
Both council members bribed
Position to control events
Why were the 2 councils moved to St Cloud?
So crowd couldn’t defend Directory
Tricked through rumours of foreign inspired plot, moved for safety
When Napoleon addressed the 2 councils during the coup, what did he say?
Need to set up new provisional gov
Why are soldiers sent to ‘calm’ the 500 during the coup?
Napoleon received badly
Cries of ‘outlaw the dictator’
What are the 2 councils forced to agree to during the coup?
Abolition of Directory
Creation of new gov
Why was the Directory able to last so long (not doomed)?
Few wanted return to Jacobin Terror, absolute monarchy or regime
Royalists divided
Public rev enthusiasm reduced
Army supp Directory
Why was the Directory not able to survive?
Constitution had no stability (elections)
Interference in election results
Most supps (bourgeois) alienated
Reliance on army
