year 13 revision as of january Flashcards
What was the white terror?
An attack on everyone who did well in the revolution by those who suffered under it. Royalist revolution (white = bourbons)
What was the Germinal Rising? (1st April 1795)
A revolt in Paris against the policies of the Thermidorian Convention, provoked by poverty and hunger
What was the Rising of Prairial? (20/21st May 1795)
Where the sans-culottes of Paris rose against the Thermidorian Convention, demanding bread and the Constitution of 1793
What was the Rising of Vendemiaire? (5th October 1795)
Napoleon Bonaparte led the French Revolutionary troops that stopped an insurrection of Parisians as they marched against the government
List weaknesses of the new constitution of year III (1795)
- Yearly elections (promotes instability)
- Although designed with checks and balances in mind, there was no effective means of resolving conflicts between the legislative and the executive.
- Councils could paralyse the directory (refuse to pass laws)
- Directors could not dissolve the councils or veto laws passed by them.
What problems did the Directory face between 1795-99?
- 1/3 changed every month (political inexperience)
- Assignat replaced by Mandat (causes inflation and ‘bankruptcy of two-thirds’)
- Constitution paralyses directory (they cannot veto and councils can refuse to pass legislation)
- Vendee and Royalists
What was referred to as a ‘bloodless coup?’
Coup of Floreal
What was the Babeuf Plot / conspiracy of equals?
Babeuf believed a popular uprising would form a dictatorship to make changes to society, disliking how the constitution favoured the wealthy, and arguing for equality for all.
What was the Coup of Fructidor?
After the 1797 elections, many royalists were elected, and Napoleon had to prevent an uprising by removing 177 of them from the directory.
What was the Coup of Floreal?
After the Royalists were pushed out of the Directory following the coup of fructidor, they were replaced by left wing Jacobins. 127 were removed.
What was the Coup of Prairial?
Sieyes became the new Director and General Joubert in charge of the army in Paris
What was the Coup of Brumaire? (9-10 Nov 1799)
A coup which overthrew the system of government under the Directory in France and substituted the Consulate, making way for the despotism of Napoleon Bonaparte
Describe features of the First Consul
- First constitution of the revolution not accompanied by a Declaration of Rights
- From a total electorate of 6 million, only about 6000 were eligible to serve in the legislature of 400.
- One fifth (1/5) of the legislature were to be replaced annually
- Senatus Consultum offered the first consul a way of bypassing opposition in the legislative body and he had the right to choose member of the council of state.
- Constitution provided a strong top-down control.
By how much did Napoleon reduce the number of newspapers in Paris in 1799?
73 –> 13 –> 4.
What was Napoleons newspaper called?
Le Moniteur
