Summary
Summary The Directory of the French Revolution
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Notes on the Directory of the French Revolution, including about its structure.
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The DirectoryRecap:
Moderates took power after the fall of Robespierre
Government had been reorganised by the Law on Revolutionary Government
Paris Commune and Jacobin club had lost their power
Leading Thermidorians were Tallien, Fouche, Barras + Freron
Thermidorians signed peace treaties so they could concentrate on internal matters
Rising sans of culottes who opposed the new economic freedoms (laws of maximum got rid
of) were put down swiftly
Constitution of the Directory:
Thermidorians drew up a new constitution in August 1795
Ratified by plebiscite in September 1795
Came into effect November 1795
Aim was the fulfil the moderate intentions of 1785- equality, nobles less power, not terror +
killing, preserve bourgeois power + uphold rule of law by preventing power being
concentrated in one person or small group
Structure of the Directory:
Directory of Five
- 5 Directors would be chosen by the Ancients from a list provided by the Five Hundred
- The Directors formed the executive + appointed ministers
- 1 member, chosen by a lot, would retire each year + none could also sit in the Councils
Council of Five Hundred
- Comprised deputies over the age of 30
- Proposed + drew up all legislation but didn’t vote on it
Council of Ancients
- Comprised 250 married or widowed men over 40
- Examined + approved or rejected legislation, but didn’t propose it
Annual elections
- With a 1/3 of the deputies stepping down each year
Electorate of million
- Those paying a certain sum in taxation were eligible to sit in the assemblies
- Of the 1 million, 30,000 were eligible to sit in the resulting assemblies
Men over 21 could vote
- All male taxpayers over 21 were ‘citizens’ who could vote
- This meant 5.5 of 8 million adult males were entitled to vote
2/3 of Council places were assigned to existing Convention deputies
13 men serves as Directors- Carnot, Sieyes, Ducos + Barras are key figures
Lack of direction, range of views + disputes between the directors + Councils
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