Weakness Of The Directory Flashcards
What did inflation do to assignats?
Made them nearly worthless
What did inflation mean for the urban poor?
Currency was worthless so struggled to buy bread
What did inflation mean for businessmen?
There wasn’t enough francs in circulation so this forced businessmen to lower their prices, causing deflation
When was the coup of 18 Fructidor?
September 1797
What was the coup of 18 Fructidor?
The republican members of the directory ordered troops to seize all the strong points of Paris to get rid of royalists
How did the directory pay off national debt after the coup of Fructidor?
Issued non interest bearing bonds
How much of national debt did the directory pay off after the coup of Fructidor in 1797?
Two thirds
What happened to the bonds issued by the directory?
They became worthless in little more than a year
What was good about the bankruptcy of two thirds?
Reduced the interest of the national debt from 240 million francs to 80 million
How did the government overcome the bankruptcy?
They reintroduced the octrois
What was the coup of Floréal?
The directory persuaded the two thirds of moderate deputies in the 1798 government to pass the law of Floréal
What was the law of Floréal?
Annulled the election of 127 mostly neo-Jacobin deputies and allowed the directory to choose their replacements
Why was the war of the second coalition a problem?
Caused a forced loan compelling the rich to contrive 100 million livres and the the Law of Hostages
What was the law of hostages?
Allowed the government to arrest relatives of nobles and emigres in areas which refused to contribute men or money for war
What did the war policies lead to?
Local officials refusing to implement them and many Frenchmen becoming royalist rebels instead of joining the army
