Chapter 14: The Establishment of the Directory

Question 1

When was the Directory put into place?

Answer 1

November 1795.

Question 2

How were the members of the Directory of Five chosen? (Directory)

Answer 2

Council of 500 would create a list.

Council of Ancients chose 5 from that list.

Question 3

Name 4 people that were in the Directory of Five. (Directory)

Answer 3

Carnot.
Sieyes.
Ducos.
Barras.

Question 4

What political group established the Directory?

Answer 4

Thermidorians.

Question 5

What was the council of 500’s role in the Directory?

Answer 5

Proposed legislation (but couldn’t vote on it).

Question 6

What was the Council of Ancients role in the Directory?

Answer 6

Approved or rejected legislation (couldn’t propose new laws, or even make changes).

Question 7

How were the members of the 2 councils in the Directory chosen?

Answer 7

Voters (male over 21’s) voted for electors.

Electors (had to pay a certain amount of tax) voted for members.

Question 8

What were some of the financial issues during the Directory’s rule?

Answer 8

• Inflation - assignats worthless.
• 1795 poor harvest.
• Hard to trade bc of war (Britain blocking French ports).

Question 9

How did the Directory deal with some of their financial issues?

Answer 9

• Introduced mandats - bad bc counterfeited and devalued very quickly.
• The metal coins used - deflation as too few in circulation.
• 1795 weights and measures standardised - very good - brought grain price down.
• Tax reorganised by Financial Minister Ramel - new taxes eg/ property - decreased debt but alienated bourgeoise.

Question 10

What is the name of the paper money that replaced the now worthless assigns?

Answer 10

Mandats.

Question 11

What problems did Royalists cause to the Directory?

Answer 11

• Rising of Vendemiaire just before Directory.

- General Houche had to stop Royalists in Vendee - peace treaty signed - no more issues in Vendee.

Question 12

What problems did Jacobins cause in the Directory?

Answer 12

• Journalist Bobeuf called for rights for the poor and second terror - planned uprising so guillotined.

Question 13

When was the Coup of Fructidor?

Answer 13

4th September 1797.

Question 14

Briefly describe the events of the Coup of Fructidor.

Answer 14

• 1/3 of deputies had royalist sympathies.
• Barras and co arrested for talking to monarchist emigres.
• General Houche and Augereau seized parts of Paris and arrested loads of royalist deputies.
• Opposition newspapers shut down.
• Carnot kicked out of Directory of 5.

Question 15

What were the outcomes of the Coup of Fructidor?

Answer 15

• Second Estate declared ‘foreigners’ - had to apply to be citizens again.
• Emigres given 2 weeks to leave or be prosecuted.
• Refractory priests persecuted.

Question 16

When was the Coup of Floreal? (Directory).

Answer 16

11th May 1798.

Question 17

Briefly describe the events of the Coup of Floreal. (Directory)

Answer 17

• Councils questioned war conduct.
• A minister replaced with a Jacobin.
• Sieyes said directors should step down.
• General called so directors resigned - councils won.

Question 18

What was the Law of Hostages 1799.

Answer 18

By Sieyes.

Local authority can take action against radicals.

Question 19

How was the Directory destroyed?

Answer 19

Coup of Brumaire Nov 1799.