Chapter 16: Establishment on the Consulate

Question 1

What was the plan of the Coup of Brumiare? What were the actual events?

Answer 1

Plan:

• persuade directors to resign
• persuade 2 councils to appoint commission to draw up new constitution

Events:
- Lucien convinces council to move to St. Cloud to avoid a coup, N charged councils, directors pressured to resign, Lucien calms deputies and reassures them he’d kills N if needed, small part of council of Ancients pass prov. govt. with 3 consulates

Question 2

Give the long and short term causes of the Coup of Brumaire

Answer 2

Short term:

• chronic instability of Directory (multiple coups)

Long term:

• unpopularity of Directory - viewed as corrupt
• economic problems

Question 3

When was the Coup of Brumaire?

Answer 3

9 Oct 1799

Question 4

Give the main triggers and catalysts of the Coup of Brumaire

Answer 4

Trigger:

• Action of Sieyes - had no faith in Year III constitution, ensured Lucien Bonaparte is president of council of 500, wanted N as the figurehead of coup
• Lucien Bonaparte - moved council from Paris to the West, his intervention when N stormed councils ensure guards intervene

Catalyst:

• Popularity of Napoleon - his previous failures in Egypt glossed over by propaganda of Directory
• Unpopularity of war

Question 5

What were the differences introduced in the Year VIII constitution?

Answer 5

• 3 consuls selected for 10 year terms
• no Declaration of rights of man and citizen
• strong executive control over makeup of legislature
• executive initiated legislature