The Establishment of the Directory Flashcards
When was the Constitution of the Directory agreed by the Thermidoreans? When was this ratified? - Establishing the Directory
The Directory’s Constitution was agreed by the Thermidoreans in August 1795, agreed by plebiscite in September 1795.
What was the Directory of Five’s role? What procedure saw Directors retire? - Establishing the Directory
The Directory of Five saw 5 Directors chosen to make up the Executive. One member would retire each year, chosen by lot.
What was the Council of Ancients? What was their role? - Establishing the Directory
The Council of Ancients was a branch of the legislature made up of married or widowed men over 40. This could approve or reject legislation, but not propose it.
What was the Council of Five Hundred? What was their role? - Establishing the Directory
The Council of Five Hundred was a branch of the legislature made up of deputies over the age of 30. They could propose and write legislation but not vote on it.
How often would elections occur under the Directory? What proportion of deputies would step down at these intervals? What are advantages and disadvantages of this? - Establishing the Directory
Elections would occur annually under the Directory, with 1/3 of deputies stepping down each year. This means that the Directory and its representatives are constantly held accountable to the electorate HOWEVER it promotes political instability and a rapid turnover of representatives.
How was the Directory composed politically? What results did this have? - Establishing the Directory
The Directory was made up of people from a variety of political backgrounds (former CPS members, moderates, Thermidoreans, Jacobins), meaning that the Executive lacked a clearly defined direction and struggled to make decisions.
What economic/financial issues faced the Directory? - Establishing the Directory
Thermidoreans attempts to create a deregulated, liberal economy had caused inflation, the budget was severely imbalanced due to issues with tax collection and spending, issues continued with food supply, trading had been made difficult by British blockades and the war.
How did the Directory attempt to resolve issues with paper currency? What was the outcome of this? - Establishing the Directory
The Directory attempted to continue a shift towards paper currency by replacing the devalued assignats with the mandats, a similar scheme to the assignat. However, these were counterfeited and rapidly lost value, leading to them being withdrawn from circulation.
What issue existed with the use of metal currency in the Directory period? - Establishing the Directory
The metal currency was at one stage France’s only legal currency, yet the lack of this in circulation hindered trade and brought deflation.
When were weights and measures standardised by the Directory? What impacts did this have and what issues did this solve? - Establishing the Directory
The Directory standardised weights and measures in France in 1795, thus ending a period in which at one point 25,000 different measures existed. When coupled with improved harvests in 1796/8, this contributed to reduced grain prices.
When was the taxation system reorganised under Ramel? What measures did he introduce? - Establishing the Directory
The taxation system was reorganised in 1798 by Ramel, with this introducing new property taxes (on doors and windows), as well as returning to the use of the octrois, a tax on goods entering towns.
As a result of changes to the taxation system, what tax system did the Directory appear similar to? What responses were there to this? - Establishing the Directory
The Directory appeared to be similar to the Ancien Regime’s taxation system due to the increase in indirect taxes and the increased tax burden on the bourgeoisie. This left the bourgeoisie particularly disaffected with the Directory’s financial policy.
What fraction of government debt was written off by the introduction of the mandats? - Establishing the Directory
2/3 of government debt was written off by the introduction of the mandats.
When did the Brotier plot occur? What faction did this aim to replace the Republican government with? - Establishing the Directory
The Brotier plot occurred in January 1797, with a Royalist, André-Charles Brotier arrested for planning a royalist rising in the capital which would overthrow the government.
What was the 2/3 Law? Why was this unpopular? - Establishing the Directory
The 2/3 Law was a law passed prior to the first elections to the Councils of the Directory that 2/3 of their first members should be drawn from the existing National Convention. This was unpopular as these politicians were blamed for France’s food shortages and inflation.
