Directory 1795-1799

The Thermidor Reaction

• Robespierre (R) faded- last speech attcked members of CPS- accused of conspiracy and Saint-Just provided list of accused
• Convention voted to arrest R- commune unable to protect, not enough power- R taken to prison controlled by Commune- soon released- commune tried to get NG support but lacked control- convention controlled NG- R arrested 28 July 1794 and executed with 100 supporters
• Thermidorians- those who helped overthrow R- CPS, CGS, Terrorists, plain
• End of Terror- suspects released, Law of Prairial repeeled, Jacobin club closed, power divided (August 1795- 16 committees established to take over work of CPS/CGS), commune closed

Germinal

• caused- law of maximum abolished 1794- reduction in assignats, poor harvest
• 10,000 unarmed entered convention demanding bread, constitution of 1793 and release of patriots- dealt with by national guard.

Prairial (May 1795)

• Hunger riots- housewives (+ some NGs) invaded convention, presented petition- surrounded by army and forced to disarm
• Marked end of sans culottes as political and military force

White Terror

• Caused- Germinal/Prairial risings, reaction to Terror and those who gained from revolution, vengence on societies, opposition conscription and royalist
• Government sent troops to help wipe out rebellion

Reasons for- Thermidorians wanted to protect gains of revolution, ensure another CPS dictatorship didnt happen, secure no return of monarchy, create republic governed by reason and property ownership

Included- supremacy of the law, citizens duties (e.g. obedience to law), limited soverignty (2 assemblies)

Voted on 22nd August 1795

Two assemblies- 

• five hundred- innitiated legislation
• ancients- approved or rejected bills
• Directory- five chosen by anients from names selected by 500

Weaknesses- yearly ellections (instability), conflicts between ancients and 500, changes to constiution could take 9yrs, Two-thirds decree (2/3 had to be convention)

Rising of Vendémaire, 5th October 1795

Reasons- Louis XVIII had appeared and issued Verona Declaration, inflation

Events- Parisians marched on convention, Napoleon controlled canon, 300 killed

Effects- Napoleon in control of NG

Problems they faced

• endless wars (cost)
• empty treasury
• unpaid tax
• low value of assignats
• growing support of monarcists

Why they survived

• committed to rule of law and few people wanted another Terror
• Discredited opponants
• Public apathy
• Army support- led to downfall

Financial reforms

• New paper currency- February 1796- failure- lost value/inflation- ended feb 1797
• Conversion of debt into bonds- Ramel- September 1797- 2/3 of debt converted- short term success but bonds became worthless
• Tax reform- new taxes (e.g land tax) and commissioner for collection

Social

• Treatment of refractory priests and émigrés- initially positive- feared royalist support (after coup de fructidor)- deportation or execution. 

Babeuf Conspiracy (1796) (Conspiracy of Equals)

Causes- economy, poor harvest, dislike of constitution of year 3 as power to wealthy

Aims- equality, common happiness etc

Organisation- attempted to gain support of organisations through propaganda, failed as directory found out and had informers

Coup d'état of Fructidor (1797) 

Causes- elections of 97 had increased royalist support, Carnot seen to support

events- General Hoche sent troops towards paris (Supposedly for Ireland), occupied city and arrested directors, poster informed anyone that anyone wishing to restore monarchy would be shot without trial.

effects- Deportation of deputies, new elections, end of constitution of year 3, period of Terror to destroy royalists, short term success, LT made more opponants

The coup de Brumaire 1799

Napoleon greeted as Hero in Paris (after Italy)- joined Sieyes on condition that provisional government of three consuls would be established - councils moved to st Cloud- speech to 500- napoleon attacked- president of 500 (brother) clears hall- ancients pass decree ending directory/ creating consulate (Sieyes, Napoleon, Ducas)

The directory at war

• battle of Fleurus in june 1794- first of successes which continued until end of 1st coalition (except Britain)
• Treaty of Baste (April 1795) France gained left bank of rhine
• Dutch allied with France and Prussia
• July 1795- Spain made peace
• Only GB and Austria left fighting

Italian

aimed to establish frech control over mediterranean- lauched army march 1796

Early 1797- napoleon entered Mantua, now dominated italy, sent treasures to Paris

Passed into austrian empire- dictated Treaty of Campo formio- returned triumphant

Egyptian

Believed had to go to egypt to maintian current possessions and gain advantage

Britain destroyed french fleet in Aboukir bay- returned to Cairo with only half men

Abandonned men and returned to paris

Historian's Views:- Townson- People bored of war, wanted stability

Rudé- Eygptian campaign was imperialistic