Directory + Rise to Power Flashcards
How did the Thermidorians fill vacancies in the CPS / CGS?
31st July, filled by moderate Dantonists and the Plain.
When was the Law of 22 Prairial repealed?
1st August, many held under its terms released.
When was the Revolutionary Tribunal reorganised to be less harsh?
10th August, from then on deportations were frequently used as an alternative.
What and when was the Law on Revolutionary Government?
24th August, reorganisation of government.
What did the Law on Revolutionary Government do?
Reduced revolutionary committees to 1 per dept, breaking power of SC.
Government put in hands of 16 committees. 25% of members changed each month.
What was the outcome of the Law of Revolutionary Government?
CPS + CGS lost power - CPS only oversaw diplomacy and war.
Representants-en-mission sent to remove Jacobins nationwide.
When were the powers of the Commune reduced?
31st Aug 1794
When were Church and State separated?
18th Sept 1794
When was the Jacobin Club officially closed down?
12th Nov 1794
When were representants-en-mission and the Rev Tribunal abolished?
April and May 1795 respectively.
When were the Girondins readmitted?
December 1794
What was the White Terror?
Purges against proponents of the Terror, random attacks on SC and destruction of Jacobin imagery.
Why did the Rev Tribunal exist until 1795?
To prosecute Jacobins after the Reaction
What did Louis’ brother declare in 1795?
June 1795 Verona Declaration, would ‘restore French glory’ and ‘take revenge on all regicides’.
When was peace made with each rebel group in 1795?
Western royalists February, Chouans April.
What did General Houche defeat in 1795?
July 1795 emigre rising at Quiberon Bay, 700 emigres executed.
What religious things did the Thermidorians retain bans on?
Religious dress, symbols and processions.
When was an oath of Catholic loyalty reintroduced?
February 1795 - pressure from Catholic clergy.
Who did the Thermidorians make peace with in 1794/5?
Prussia, Spain. So was only at war with Britain and Austria.
What territories did the Thermidorians capture 1794/5?
Austrian Netherlands, Batavia, Rhine, pre-war borders with Spain
What and when was the Rising of Germinal?
1st April 1795, 10,000 SC invaded Convention demanding bread and the 1793 Convention. Unarmed, retreated after NG arrived.
What were some causes of the early Thermidorian economic crisis?
Poor harvest in 1794, freezing 1794-5 winter.
What was the value of the Assignat by April 1795?
1/10 of the original value.
How much bread was the average Parisian living off on the 10th May 1795?
60g ration.
What was the aftermath of the Rising of Germinal?
Paris placed under martial law, arrested SC, disarmed all terrorists.
When and what was the Rising of Prairial?
20/21st May 1795, far over 10,000 SC forced access to the Convention, murdered a deputy. Demanded better food supply, release of Jacobin prisoners and the 1793 Constitution.
What happened on the 2nd day of the Rising of Prairial?
20,000 SC and NG trained cannon on the Convention. 40,000 soldiers called in and negotiated.
What happened on the 2nd day of the Rising of Prairial?
20,000 SC and NG trained cannon on the Convention. 40,000 soldiers called in and negotiated.
What was the aftermath of the Rising of Prairial?
Moved troops into insurgents home territory, executed 42 and inspected 6,000. Broke much of the SC political power.
When and what was the rising of Vendemiaire?
5th October 1795. Royalist uprising, over a potentially rigged plebiscite. 25,000 Parisians approached, 3 battalions stopped them.
What happened at the Rising of Vendemiare?
5th Oct 1795, Napoleon fired 40 cannon into the 25,000 Royalists around the convention, killing 300. Government therefore kept control. Only 10 executions.
What was the Council of 500?
Directory body, proposed and drew up legislation - but did not vote on it
What was the Council of Ancients?
Directory body, examined and approved legislation but did not propose it.
What was the Directory of 5?
5 directors chosen by the Ancients from a list provided by the 500, executive and appointed ministers.
What were the checks in place for the Directory of 5?
A director, chosen by lot, would retire each year, and none could sit in the Councils.
Who were some notable Directors?
Carnot - CPS member but organised war.
Barras - previously brutally suppressed counter-rev; served Directory for whole period.
When had Assignats lost all worth?
End of 1795
When were Mandats introduced, and what happened?
February 1796 - 800 million mandats issued but they were counterfeited rapidly so they were also worth nothing within a year.
When was metal coinage used, and what happened?
After 1796, but it bought about deflation as little currency was in circulation.
When were weights and measures standardised?
1795, helping reduce grain prices.
How did issuing Mandats help the government?
Wrote off 2/3 of government debt, though it destroyed the creditors who bought them.
When had the Directory balanced payments?
1797 and 1798. Though it alienated taxpayers and creditors.
Who was arrested in January 1797?
Andre Brotier, for planning a military rising in Paris to overthrow the Directory.
When was the Conspiracy of Equals planned for, and what happened?
Soldiers planned to rise up on 11th May 1796, Directory had Babeuf and a co-conspirator guillotined and others deported.
What and when was the Coup of Fructidor?
4th Sept 1797. Two of the Directors were arrested, Council of 500 was purged of 177 royalist deputies.
Why did the Coup of Fructidor happen, and what was the aftermath?
April 1797 Royalists did well in elections, up to 182 seats. Fears of a royalist majority. Afterwards, 2 new directors replaced Carnot and Barthelemy.
When and what was the Coup of Floreal?
11th May 1798. Jacobins did well in the March elections, so 127 were purged before they could take their seats. Results from 8 depts. ignored.
What did the Coup of Floreal show?
The difficulty of using the constitution of 1795
When and what was the coup of Prairial?
18th June 1798. Director Treilhard replaced with Louis Gohier. Directors Lepeaux and Douai were forced to step down by Barras and Sieyes.
Why did the Coup of Prairial happen, and what was the outcome?
Criticisms over conduct of war and election of Director Treilhard. Directors had been purged by councils. Little to hold government together, was only a matter of time until Brumaire destroyed Directory.
What law was passed in July 1799?
Law of Hostages - authorities could take action against ‘radicals’.
When was Napoleon made commander-in-chief of the Army of Italy?
March 1796
How did Napoleon reform his army?
Arranged for them to be paid in silver rather than paper ““money””
When did Piedmont-Sardinia withdraw from the 1st coalition?
April 1796
What did Napoleon do in May 1796?
Defeated Austrians at Lodi, captured and looted Milan.
How big of an indemnity did the Pope pay to Napoleon?
21 million livres, plus 800,000 livres shipping costs - June 1796
What victories did Napoleon achieve related to Mantua, and what did this lead to?
At Arcola, Nov 1796, and Rivoli, Jan 1797. Occupation of Venice by May 1797.
What was the Cisalpine Republic?
June 1797, client states of France in the north of Italy.
What did Napoleon’s client states have?
Directories and two-chamber legislatures which he nominated himself.
When and what was the Treaty of Campo Formio?
17th October 1797, peace with Austria. Also recognised French control of Belgium, client states and natural borders.
When did the War of the 2nd Coalition begin?
1799
How did Napoleon conduct his foreign policy in 1797?
Completely independently, ignoring any directives from Paris.
When did General Hoche die?
1797, only general as famous as Napoleon.
When was Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign?
May 1798 - May 1799
Why did Napoleon want an Egyptian campaign?
Follow ancient generals, undermine British.
How many troops did Napoleon command in Egypt?
35,000. Directors eager to send him away.
What was the Battle of the Pyramids, and what happened after?
French victory near Cairo in July, yet the British destroyed the French fleet in August.
When and why did Napoleon leave Egypt?
August 1799, to pursue political power at home and fend off the 2nd coalition.
How did Napoleon reform the army?
Reformed it into corps of 10,000 to 30,000
How many hours of work a day could Napoleon put in?
18-20 hours(!)
When was Abbe Sieyes made a Director?
May 1799
What were the preparations for the Coup of Brumaire?
Lucien elected as President of the Council of 500. Plan was to force Directors to resign and draw up a new constitution.
When did the Coup de Brumaire begin?
18th Brumaire, Sieyes, Ducos and Barras stepped down as Directors, crippling the government.
What happened on the Coup de Brumaire?
9th Nov Moulin and Gohier - remaining Directors - put under house arrest. 10th Nov Council of Ancients stormed. Deputies from 500 and Ancients removed.
Who were the 3 consuls appointed after the Coup?
Sieyes, Ducos and Napoleon - Cambaceres and Lebrun replaced Ducos and Sieyes.
What and when was the constitution of Year VIII?
24th December 1799, Following the Coup, mostly concentrated power on the 3 consuls.
What was the First Consul?
Shared power with 2 others, acted as director of policy and initiated legislation. 10 year terms (!!)
What was the Senate?
Body of 80 nominated by 1st Consul, advised first consul and could override legislature. Selected deputies.
What was the Council of State?
Advisory body chosen by the 1st Consul
What was the Legislative Body?
Upper chamber of 300, would vote on legislation but not discuss it.
What was the Tribunate?
100 members, would discuss legislation but not vote on it.
Who could vote under the Consulate?
Anyone who had lived in the same house for 1 year.
