the Directory-Constitution of Year III + Vendemiaire Flashcards
a)When was the Constitution of Year III written b)When was it established and c)when was it ratified by a plebiscite
a) Written in August 1795
b)established in November 1795
c) ratified in a plebiscite in September 1795
What were the main aims of the Thermidoreans in establishing the Cons of Year III?
-Moderate and stable Government
-avoid centralisation of power in 1 group or person through checks and balances
a) Who could vote in the Constitution of Year III and b) who did this benefit?
a)All male taxpayers over 21
-5.5/8 million men
b)benefited bourgeoisie as they paid taxes and were the wealthiest
What was the voting system in the Constitution of Year III
-Indirect: Voters voted for electors
a) How could someone become an elector and b)how many were there
a) Someone was classified as an elector by how much taxation they paid - 150/200 days of work equivalent of worth taxes
b)1 million electors: 30,000 of them were eligible to sit in the 2 councils
a) How frequently would elections take place and b) how many deputies had to step down each year and C) what is the significance of this?
a)annually
b) 1/3 of all deputies had to step down each year
c) Meant to stop popular figures from staying in power and prevent factions from forming. However, annual elections also led to inefficiency as nothing could get done.
What were the names of the two councils established in the constitution of Year III?
1) Council of Five Hundred
2) Council of Ancients
What was the Council of 500- how many deputies and their role in Gov?
-500 deputies aged 30+
-Proposed and drew up all legislation but did not vote on it
What was the Council of Ancients - how many deputies and role in Gov?
-250 deputies aged 40+
-Examined and approved or rejected legislation but could not propose it
What is the significance of the age restrictions for a deputy in Gov.?
-Means all deputies are experienced men who would have lived through all previous governments.
a)What was the law of 2/3rds and b) why did they pass this?
a)It was the law that stated that 2/3rds of the new Government must have deputies from the Thermidorean government
b) Would give them a smooth transition into a new Government which would be forced to be moderate as a result. However, it is undemocratic.
What was the Directory? - How many directors(and how were they chosen) and their role in Government
-5 Directors: chosen by the Ancients from a list created by the council of 500
-formed the executive and appointed ministers
-responsible for law enforcement and foreign and military affairs
-1 Director would step down each year, chosen by lot
What were the Strengths and weaknesses of the constitution of Year III
Strengths:
-Separation of Powers which stops centralisation of power into 1 group
-1/3 of deputies stepping down each year would prevent factions and stop powerful people emerging
-Law of 2/3rds ensures moderate Gov.
Weaknesses:
-Councils could paralyze directory
-Too many checks & balances which could lead to nothing getting done and therefore voter apathy
-annual elections would stop efficiency
When did the rising of Vendemiaire occur?
- 5th October 1795- days before the Directory was officially established
Who was involved in the Vendemiaire upsrising?
-25,000 armed parisians from all sectors of society
-royalists
-Muscadins & factory/ property owners who thought republic gov. was not benefitting their interests
Why did the people rebel?
-Decree of 2/3rds and monarchists believed plebiscite for the constitution was rigged
-parisians marched on Convention due to inflation crisis
Was the vendemiaire uprising truly a royalist one?
-No, mostly parisian unrest, but the Directory framed it as a royalist insurrection to justify the ways in which it was put down
a)What and who was used to put down the Vendemiaire uprising and b) significance of this
a)Napoleon and the army were used to put down the uprising
b) Directory used unorthodox measures as they used the army and it also allowed NB ( put in charge by Barras) to begin as ascent to power
What was the significance of the Vendemiaire uprising?
Short term:
-Naploleon made national hero and promoted him to commander of army in Italy
Long-term
-Silenced the parisians until 1830s
-Starts the period of unorthodox measures used by the Directory
-Paved the way for NB’s rise to power
