Examine the reasons for the rise of Napoleon.
Paragraph 1: Political Instability MOST IMPORTANT
Directory was weak and could not gain peace at home or abroad
Political vacuum created as members of the directory often fought
amongst themselves leading to chaos
Law of Jourdan 17988
o Conscription introduced widespread reaction
Second Coalition 1799
o France pushed back into France from Germany and Italy
o Directory could no longer fund themselves from plunder
o Threat of invasion increased inpopularity
Coup of Prairal
o Ongoing war influence of neo-Jacobins in government
increased
o They removed 2 Directors and introduced 2 new laws
o One was a forced tax on the rich
Coup of Brumaire
o Military force was hard to resist
o Opponents unlikely to challenge due to Napoleon being a
famous figure
Most important because the political turmoil created an environment
in which a strong and charismatic leader like Napoleon could rise to
prominence
o "Napoleon's ascent to power was facilitated by the profound
political instability in post-revolutionary France. The
Directory's inability to provide effective governance created a
power vacuum that Napoleon skillfully filled." – Michael Broers
o The Directors were divided by ideological differences, e.g.,
Abbey Sieyes opposed the war against the second coalition
and wanted peace. This confusion provided chance for
Napoleon to come to power ie, he was helped by Abbey sieyes
to organize a coup that brought him to power in 1799.
Paragraph 2: Economic and Financial Issues
Acute inflation – by end of 1795 the remaining assignats had
become virtually worthless
Unbalanced budget bc of war and problems of tax collection
Problems of food supply persisted compounded by poor harvest in
1795
Trading situation was compromised by war and by British naval
efforts to restrict French colonial trade and blockade French ports
Paragraph 1: Political Instability MOST IMPORTANT
Directory was weak and could not gain peace at home or abroad
Political vacuum created as members of the directory often fought
amongst themselves leading to chaos
Law of Jourdan 17988
o Conscription introduced widespread reaction
Second Coalition 1799
o France pushed back into France from Germany and Italy
o Directory could no longer fund themselves from plunder
o Threat of invasion increased inpopularity
Coup of Prairal
o Ongoing war influence of neo-Jacobins in government
increased
o They removed 2 Directors and introduced 2 new laws
o One was a forced tax on the rich
Coup of Brumaire
o Military force was hard to resist
o Opponents unlikely to challenge due to Napoleon being a
famous figure
Most important because the political turmoil created an environment
in which a strong and charismatic leader like Napoleon could rise to
prominence
o "Napoleon's ascent to power was facilitated by the profound
political instability in post-revolutionary France. The
Directory's inability to provide effective governance created a
power vacuum that Napoleon skillfully filled." – Michael Broers
o The Directors were divided by ideological differences, e.g.,
Abbey Sieyes opposed the war against the second coalition
and wanted peace. This confusion provided chance for
Napoleon to come to power ie, he was helped by Abbey sieyes
to organize a coup that brought him to power in 1799.
Paragraph 2: Economic and Financial Issues
Acute inflation – by end of 1795 the remaining assignats had
become virtually worthless
Unbalanced budget bc of war and problems of tax collection
Problems of food supply persisted compounded by poor harvest in
1795
Trading situation was compromised by war and by British naval
efforts to restrict French colonial trade and blockade French ports
