Week 5- The strengths and weaknesses of the Directory Flashcards
What were the strengths of the new election process?
Elections would take place each year, giving representation to the people of France (electorate of around 1 million).
What checks and balances were there in the new constitution?
One member would retire each year, ensuring one individual cannot gain too much power.
What successes were there with economic policies?
Mandats reduced government dept by 2/3
Introduction of metal currency reduced inflation.
1795- Weights and measures were standardised which helped trade.
1798- reordering of the taxation system made it more efficient.
What successes were there when dealing with threats from the right (royalists)?
1795-96- General Hoche and the army dealt with the remaining pockets of royalist sentiment.
January 1979- Royalist André-Charles Brotier was arrested and deported.
1796- peace treaty signed
What successes were there when dealing with threats from the left (Jacobins)?
Babeuf and his co-conspirator were guillotined.
What weaknesses were there with the structure of the constitution?
No prominent leader and the directors found it difficult to work together.
What weaknesses were there with the members of the constitution?
Conflict between the moderate conservatives and the republicans.
No mechanism to resolve disputes between Directors and legislative councils.
This made any reforms difficult to implement.
What weaknesses were there with economic and financial policies?
By the end of 1795, assignats had become worthless.
Expenses of war worsened the economy.
Trade was compromised by war and the British Naval blockade.
Mandats were counterfeited and collapsed, alienating the bourgeoisie.
What failures were there when dealing with threats from the right (royalists)?
October 1975- Rising in the Vendémiaire showed how much royalism had grown since the Terror.
1799- further Chouanism following the re-introduction of conscription.
What failures were there when dealing with threats from the left (Jacobins)?
1796- Jacobin Gracchus Babeuf began calling for a revival of the Terror.
The directory became engaged in a series of corrupt practices.
These practices were similar to that of the CPS and CGS (reversion to the terror) which undermined their aim of democracy.
What other issues were there with the directory?
They did not have a core base of support that was shown towards the Jacobins during the Terror.
Their only supporters, the bourgeoisie were alienated by the economic reforms introduced.
