the establishment of the consulate Flashcards
Coup of brumaire
18-19 Brumaire, (November 9-10, 1799),
coup d’état that overthrew the system of government under the Directory in France and substituted the Consulate, making way for the despotism of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The event is often viewed as the effective end of the French Revolution.
causes of CoB
France had not been doing too well against her enemies.
Though the War of the Second Coalition (1798-1802) ultimately ended with a French victory in 1802, the year 1799 was not a successful year for France.
In addition, the Directory was looked upon very poorly by the likes of Napoleon and Talleyrand. They believed the Directory was not only weak with the dealings of its internal politics, but their ineptitude to govern ultimately led to the weakening of French forces outside France.
Napoleon and Talleyrand’s fears were supported by Sieyès, who himself was a member of the Directory and witnessed, first-hand, the Directory’s incapacity to govern the French Republic.
events of the CoB
In Paris on 18 Brumaire, year VIII (November 9, 1799), the legislative Council of Ancients, under Sieyès, voted to have both the Ancients and the lower house, the Council of Five Hundred, meet the next day in the palace at Saint-Cloud, to render the councils safe from a purported “Jacobin plot” in Paris but in reality in order to put the councils at a convenient site away from the city and under the intimidation of Bonaparte’s troops.
The next day, 19 Brumaire, when the councils met at Saint-Cloud, Bonaparte blundered through a speech before the Ancients and later was met by a storm of abuse in the meeting place of the Five Hundred, whose members, hearing rumours and seeing troops all about, began to perceive the real plot that was brewing.
Bonaparte fled the hall, but Sieyès, Lucien Bonaparte, and Joachim Murat retrieved the situation, ultimately by sending in the grenadiers, dissolving the Five Hundred, and forcing the Ancients to decree the end of the Directory (and itself) and the creation of a new consular government headed by First Consul Bonaparte and aided by consuls Sieyès and Roger Duclos.
By November 14 Bonaparte was established in the Luxembourg Palace.
New Constitution
Napoleon insured, a constitution that served his ambition. It was adopted on 24 December 1799, and became known as the Constitution of Year VIII.
who were the first elected consuls?
-Sieyes
-Ducos
-NB
how long did the term for the consuls last?
10 years
what did NB want?
Napoleon did not want to be a figurehead as suggested by Sieyes but rather wanted to be First Consul - a head of state with complete control
what was the problem with the democratic involvement?
No elections only the presentation of candidates with the choice of these candidates only limited to the notables (the wealthy)
what was the new voting system? implications?
- Male population (6,000,000) elected the Communal List.
- The Communal List (600,000) chose the Department List.
- The Department List (60,000) chose the National List which were the Notables (6,000)
it favoured the wealthy elites
what was the tribunate?
lower chamber of legislature
100 members
could not vote
what is legislative body?
upper chamber of legislature
300 members
would vote on legislation no discussion
what was council of state?
chosen by First Consul
advisory body
nominated officials and prepared draft legislation
what was the senate?
appointed for life- nominated by NB
could override legislature through senatus consultum
advisory board for legislation
what was the role of First Consul?
- Approves and removes
ministers. - Initiates legislation
- Declare war and make peace.
- held office for 10 years
