Why was the directory overthrown in November 1799 Flashcards
The Coup of Floréal May 1798
What happened?
What did this lead to? How did this increase opposition to the Directory?
The Directory was forced to lean more to the ‘left’ leading to the Jacobins gaining more power and in the elections…86 deputies elected = directory panicked
The Directory responded by…
Instigating rumours that jacobins posed a threat to republcli
on floreal 22 they oushed cof 500 into agreeing to annual elections in 53 dep = 127 losing seats
The Directory was undermined as demonstarte how broken political system was. limited democracy.
impact of war of 2nd coalition- 1798
What happened?
Initially, France fared…
However they then suffered a series of defeats, such as…
In May 1798…
Napoleon then invaded the Ottom (Turkish) controlled Syrian provinces. This was a success/failure…
- Russia declared war on France, Austria allowed Russian troops to move through its territory triggering the French to declare war against Austria
- Early French successes were followed by a string of defeats
However they then suffered a series of defeats, such as RETTREATS FROM ITALY AS RUSSIA OCCUPIED SWITZ
IN MAY 1798 Napoleon launched the Egyptian campaign w 38,000 troops
This was a failure as he stretched his resources returned to Paris in oct 1799 applauding crowds seen liberator of Egyptian ppl
Jourdan’s Law June 1798
What did this call for?
What did rich people also have to do?
How did this increase opposition to the Directory?
more conscription
forced loan was placed on the rich in order to raise money for the war
The public reacted by…resisting + public officials refuses to enact them.
first draft - wanted 230,000
only 70,000 went to fight in the army = clearly shows without the army the directrt/country lose control
Law of Hostages July 1799
What was this?
did this increase opposition to the Directory?
- Alloqing arbitrary arrest and the confiscation of property
could not effectively be enforces and so caused opposition - too similar to law of sus
Who was Abbé Sieyès
1) Career and role in the Revolution so far:
2) Political beliefs/positons:
3) Plan for the Directory:
4) Why he chose to work with Napoleon:
- elected to the council of 500 1798
- Republican- believed values of rev. Active voice for the plain
- Bring it own from within… Directory is failing due to its weakness
- Outstanding rep.. To stage a successful coup.. military to be on his side then against him
The Coup of Brumaire -
9 Nov 1799
Sieyes and plotters convinced the CAncients that there was a jacobin plot in the C500 and to reconvene at Saint-Cloud -Napoleons troops occupied gardens outside C500 and Moreau surrounded where the Directory met, the directory fell apart -Napoleon entered C500 with armed guards causing anger and accusations of dictatorship and was physically attacked -Napoleon’s brother, Lucien, claimed that members of the council, in the attack, had tried to assassinate Napoleon, allowing him to expel 61 deputies and pass legislation calling for the abolition of the directory and est of consulship
The establishment of the consulship
Who was involved in the consulship?
Date of the new constitution:
How much power did they have?
Napoleon, Sieyès and
Ducos
15th December 1799
A lot. More than the Directory- they had full control of finance and foreign affairs. First Consul had the most.
The coup of November and establishment of consulate
New three man executive was called the consulship,Sieyes, Ducos and Napoleon
new constitution presented 15 December 1799 constitution recog the posit of three man consulship, the body was given greater power than the directory had, with control over finance and foreign affairs
- Napoleon determined one of consuls (the first consul) should have greater control than the other two, the role was given to him, Sieyes was given a substantial country estate LOLL
- gov body consis 2chambers: Tribunate and the Legislature, discuss +vote leg, could not initiate new bills, this was the job of the senate
- Members senate chosen by first consul from among the members of the legislature
- To legitimise new constitution, Lucien Bonaparte organised plebiscite, claimed that 3 mil accepted and only 1562 against, figures were falsified, though the true result will have still been in favour, real figure around 1.5 million
consulate members
Sieyes, Napoleon, Ducos
governing body of 2 chambers of consulate?
Tribunate and legislature elected through universal male sufferage.
