How significant was the domestic impact of war in bringing about the fall of the Directory in 1799? (2017)

Question 1

1. domestic impact of war was significant in bringing about the fall of the Directory in 1799

Answer 1

At the 1797 elections, monarchists won 180/260 seats being contested since people were growing weary of the war (and internal religious conflict) and viewed constitutional monarchy as an attractive alternative

Question 2

2. domestic impact of war was significant in bringing about the fall of the Directory in 1799

Answer 2

The ongoing deficit during wartime led to the reintroduction of indirect taxes (e.g. the octrois) which made the Directory very unpopular

Question 3

3. domestic impact of war was significant in bringing about the fall of the Directory in 1799

Answer 3

The 1799 decree imposing a forced loan of 100 million livres on the rich to cover war costs, together with the Law of Hostages, alienated many who regarded it as signalling a return to the methods of the Terror

Question 4

4. domestic impact of war was significant in bringing about the fall of the Directory in 1799

Answer 4

The Directory was in a vulnerable position because war was essential for its survival (e.g. by producing victories, money and prestige) but its very reliance on war led to economic and political problems

Question 5

5. domestic impact of war was significant in bringing about the fall of the Directory in 1799

Answer 5

French military defeats in 1798-99 (e.g. Aboukir Bay, Switzerland and Italy) exacerbated the Directory’s domestic problems.

Question 6

1. domestic impact of war was not significant/ other factors were significant in bringing about the fall of the Directory in 1799

Answer 6

The profits of war plunder provided the Directory with much-needed income e.g. defeated states in Germany paid 16 million livres in indemnities and those in Italy paid about 200 million livres

Question 7

2. domestic impact of war was not significant/ other factors were significant in bringing about the fall of the Directory in 1799

Answer 7

The constitution contributed to the fall of the regime by providing no mechanism to resolve executive-legislature disputes

Question 8

3. domestic impact of war was not significant/ other factors were significant in bringing about the fall of the Directory in 1799

Answer 8

The directors interfered with elections (e.g. Law of 22 Floreal) which eroded respect for the political system

Question 9

4. domestic impact of war was not significant/ other factors were significant in bringing about the fall of the Directory in 1799

Answer 9

The Directory relied increasingly on the army to settle political disputes (e.g. the Coup of Fructidor in 1797) and this made a military takeover a real possibility, as happened in the Coup of Brumaire (1799)

Question 10

5. domestic impact of war was not significant/ other factors were significant in bringing about the fall of the Directory in 1799

Answer 10

The Directory’s unsuccessful attempts to restore the government’s finances (e.g. the value of the assignat collapsed) alienated important groups notably government creditors and the bourgeoisie.