T4: The Coup of Brumaire

Question 1

how did the Jacobins capitalise off of the Coup of Fructidor?

Answer 1

Directory were reliant on support from the left since the Coup of Fructidor- Jacobin launched attack on the Directory

Question 2

how did the Jacobins attack the Directory?

Answer 2

attacked them for reintroduction of taxes and for allowing army generals to enrich themselves

Question 3

in which elections did the Jacobins make gains?

Answer 3

1798

Question 4

what was the effect of Jacobin gains on the Directory?

Answer 4

scared them

Question 5

how significant were the gains that Jacobins made in 1798?

Answer 5

86 Jacobins elected but not a very significant number

Question 6

who was the Coup of Floreal against?

Answer 6

Jacobins

Question 7

in what coup were jacobons purged?

Answer 7

Coup of Floreal

Question 8

when was the Coup of Floreal?

Answer 8

11 May 1798

Question 9

what happened in the Coup of Floreal?

Answer 9

Directory convinced Council of FH to partially or fully annul elections in all but 53 departments after starting rumours that the Jacobins were aiming to destroy the constitution. led to removal of 127 deputies

Question 10

how were the seats in the Councils filled after the removal of deputies in the Coup of Floreal?

Answer 10

Directory selected new deputies

Question 11

what was the significance of the Coup of Floreal?

Answer 11

• demonstrated just how broken the political system was
• Coups of Fructidor and Floreal eroded people’s belief that the 1795 constitution was a workable one

Question 12

why was amending the constitution not a viable one?

Answer 12

Would take 9 years to amend the constitution, according to the constitution - people did not have patience for this.

Question 13

when did the War of the Second Coalition begin?

Answer 13

1798

Question 14

how did the war of the 2nd coalition begin?

Answer 14

Russia declared war on France

Question 15

how did the War of the Second Coalition go for France?

Answer 15

good at first but then BAD

Question 16

what emergency meauures were introduced as a result of the War of the Second Coalition?

Answer 16

• Jourdan’s Law
• forced loans upon rich

Question 17

when was Jourdan’s Law

Answer 17

June 1798

Question 18

what was Jourdan’s Law?

Answer 18

another levee en masse

Question 19

what was the reaction to the emergency measured introduced as a result of the war? and example?

Answer 19

resistance e.g. some local officials refused to enact them

Question 20

when was the Law of Hostages introduced?

Answer 20

July 1799

Question 21

what did the Law of Hostages do?

Answer 21

allowed arbitrary arrest and confiscation of property- echoes the Terror + increased anger with the gov

Question 22

when was Abbe Sieyes elected to the Council of Five Hundred?

Answer 22

1798

Question 23

when was Abbe Sieyes elected to the Directory?

Answer 23

1799

Question 24

what did Sieyes aim to do in the Directory?

Answer 24

bring it down from within

Question 25

why did Sieyes want to bring down the Directory from within?

Answer 25

he believed the system of government was was failing and he wanted to take initiative before a coup that resulted in Jacobin or royalist dominance

Question 26

what happened regarding Napoleon's Egyptian campaign?

Answer 26

successful, then over-extended his forced by invading Syria- abandoned armies and returned to Paris Oct 1799

Question 27

when did Napoleon return to Paris

Answer 27

Oct 1799

Question 28

how did Napoleon's failure in Syria affect his popularity?

Answer 28

it did not! reputation was sealed by defeat of the Austrians in the Italian campaign

Question 29

who did Sieyes invite to take part in the plot and why?

Answer 29

Napoleon - Needed military force - Popular general would help keep army on side - People favoured string leadership - required a figurehead

Question 30

when was the Coup of Brumaire?

Answer 30

9 Nov 1799

Question 31

details of the Coup of Brumaire?

Answer 31

plotters convinced the Council of Ancients that there was a Jacobin plot being formed in the Cof500 - reconvened at Saint-Cloud Napoleon's troops surrounded the chamber of the Council of 500 Sieyes and Ducos resigned as Directors, Barras followed suit

Question 32

why did the Coup of Brumaire almost fail?

Answer 32

deputies erupted in anger when Napoleon entered the CofFH- the Council renewed it oath to the constitution

Question 33

who saved the Coup of Brumaire from failure?

Answer 33

Lucien Bonaparte

Question 34

how did Lucien Bonaparte save the day?

Answer 34

claimed that some Jacobins had tried to stab Napoleon in the chaos → expulsion of 61 deputies then managed to push through legislation that abolished the Directory

Question 35

what was created in place of the Directory?

Answer 35

a 3 man executive, the Consulship

Question 36

who were the first 3 consuls in the Consulship?

Answer 36

Sieyes, Ducos and Napoleon

Question 37

when was the new constitution presented?

Answer 37

15 Dec 1799

Question 38

how was power of the executive altered in the new constitution?

Answer 38

far greater power than the Directory, power over finance and foreign affairs

Question 39

what did Napoleon argue for when the Consuship was established?

Answer 39

that one of the consuls should have greater power than the other 2 - him!

Question 40

what body was responsible for making new laws?

Answer 40

the Senate

Question 41

who chose the members of the Senate?

Answer 41

the first consul- Napoleon

Question 42

who organised a plebiscite?

Answer 42

Lucien Bonaparte

Question 43

what did Lucien Bonaparte's plebiscite say?

Answer 43

falsified figures to suggest that 3 million voters accepted the new constitution. BUT suggested that actual figure was 1.5 mill - still significant support, BUT may represent dissatisfaction with Directory as much as an embrace of new leadership.

Question 44

what were the two chambers of the governing body under the new constitution, what did they do?

Answer 44

Legislature and Tribunate - approved legislation (did not initiate new bills, the Senate did this)

Question 45

what was the significance of the first consul choosing the members of the Senate?

Answer 45

filled with loyal supporters