The Establishment of the Directory Flashcards

1
Q

When was the Constitution of the Directory agreed by the Thermidoreans? When was this ratified? - Establishing the Directory

A

The Directory’s Constitution was agreed by the Thermidoreans in August 1795, agreed by plebiscite in September 1795.

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2
Q

What was the Directory of Five’s role? What procedure saw Directors retire? - Establishing the Directory

A

The Directory of Five saw 5 Directors chosen to make up the Executive. One member would retire each year, chosen by lot.

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3
Q

What was the Council of Ancients? What was their role? - Establishing the Directory

A

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.

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4
Q

What was the Council of Five Hundred? What was their role? - Establishing the Directory

A

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.

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5
Q

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

A

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.

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6
Q

How was the Directory composed politically? What results did this have? - Establishing the Directory

A

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.

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7
Q

What economic/financial issues faced the Directory? - Establishing the Directory

A

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.

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8
Q

How did the Directory attempt to resolve issues with paper currency? What was the outcome of this? - Establishing the Directory

A

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.

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9
Q

What issue existed with the use of metal currency in the Directory period? - Establishing the Directory

A

The metal currency was at one stage France’s only legal currency, yet the lack of this in circulation hindered trade and brought deflation.

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10
Q

When were weights and measures standardised by the Directory? What impacts did this have and what issues did this solve? - Establishing the Directory

A

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.

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11
Q

When was the taxation system reorganised under Ramel? What measures did he introduce? - Establishing the Directory

A

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.

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12
Q

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

A

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.

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13
Q

What fraction of government debt was written off by the introduction of the mandats? - Establishing the Directory

A

2/3 of government debt was written off by the introduction of the mandats.

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14
Q

When did the Brotier plot occur? What faction did this aim to replace the Republican government with? - Establishing the Directory

A

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.

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15
Q

What was the 2/3 Law? Why was this unpopular? - Establishing the Directory

A

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.

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16
Q

By what % had the value of the mandats fallen by the end of their first day in circulation? - Establishing the Directory

A

The mandats’ value had fallen by 20% by the end of their first day in circulation.

17
Q

Who was Gracchus Babeuf? What ideas did he subscribe to? - Establishing the Directory

A

Gracchus Babeuf was a left-wing radical who wished to advance the rights of the poor by calling for the Constitution of 1793. He later began calling for a revival of the Terror in 1796.

18
Q

What was Babeuf’s idea of the ‘Conspiracy of Equals’? When was his plot ended? - Establishing the Directory

A

The ‘Conspiracy of Equals’ was Babeuf’s idea envisaging the overthrow of the current government through an armed uprising, replacing it with a government of ‘equals’ who would govern France in the benefit of all. This plot was ended in MAY 1796, with Babeuf guillotined.

19
Q

When did the Coup of Fructidor take place? What action was taken as part of this? - Establishing the Directory

A

The Coup of Fructidor took place on the 4th September 1797, with Royalist deputies being rounded up and arrested following their successes in the 1797 elections. Some were deported to French Guiana, while 42 newspapers were closed down.

20
Q

How many seats did monarchists take in the 1797 elections? What proportion of the Councils did this monarchist faction make up? - Establishing the Directory

A

Monarchists took 182 seats in the 1797 elections, making up more than 1/3 of the total seats in the Councils.

21
Q

How many royalist deputies were arrested as part of the Coup of Fructidor? How many opposition newspapers were closed? - Establishing the Directory

A

177 royalist deputies were arrested as part of the Coup of Fructidor, with 42 opposition newspapers closed down.

22
Q

What legislation followed the Coup of Fructidor? (3) - Establishing the Directory

A

The Coup of Fructidor was followed by legislation to declare former members of the Second Estate as foreigners, meaning they had to reapply for citizenship, while returned émigrées were given only 2 weeks to leave France or face prosecution. Refractory priests were also deported or imprisoned.

23
Q

When did the Coup of Floréal occur? What happened? - Establishing the Directory

A

The Coup of Floréal took place on the 11th May 1798, with many Jacobins being elected to the Councils during this period. The Directory, wishing to reduce the threat of extremist elements, quashed these results, removing these deputies from the councils.

24
Q

How many Jacobin deputies were purged from the Council of Five Hundred by the Coup of Floréal? How many départements had their results completely quashed? - Establishing the Directory

A

127 Jacobin deputies were purged from the Council of Five Hundred by the Coup of Floréal. 8 départements had their results completely quashed.

25
Q

When did the Coup of Prairial take place? What happened? (who was involved?) WHAT WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS COUP? - Establishing the Directory

A

The Coup of Prairial took place on the 18th June 1799. Abbé Sieyès, along with Barras, attempted to enforce the demands of the Council that 2 Directors step down. This had to be enforced by troop movements, coordinated by General Joubert, with resignations being produced by 2 Directors. The Directors had been PURGED BY THE COUNCIL.