Evaluate the success of the Directory (1795–1799) in
bringing stability to France
Paragraph 1: Directory was successful in bringing stability
political system
New Constitution
o Designed to prevent return to monarchy, dictatorship like CPS
or control by common people
Directory
o Chosen by Council of Ancients from list drawn up by Council of
Five Hundred
o Held office for 5 years
o One chosen to retire each year
Replacing National Convention
o Council of Five Hundred initiated legislation
o Council of Ancients accepted/rejected
Indirect System of Elections
o All men over 21 who paid direct taxes voted for electors (5.5
million men)
o Electors voted for members of the councils (30,000 electors)
The Legislature (Council of 500 + Council of Ancients) & the
Executive (Directors) had the power to check and limit any
legislation put forward
o SUCCESS:-It reintroduced some revolutionary ideals that could
have appeased the radicals as Montesquieu implemented the
idea of checks and balances in his Spirit of Laws (1748)-
o It balance in power between the Legislature and the Executive
prevented either branch of government from becoming
supreme, ensuring political liberty
Power returned to the hands of bourgeois liberal-conservatives, who
sought to restore the moderate revolutionary values of 1789.
o The men of the Directory were pragmatists, less flamboyant,
principled and ideologically driven than previous revolutionary
figures.
Paragraph 2: Directory was successful in bringing stability:
Repressing dissent
Coup of Fructidor
o April 1797: More than 1/3 of deputies in the election had
royalist sympathies- indicated a seizure of power as the right-
wing had gained strength
o 1795: Charles Pichegru, president-elect of Council of 500,
accused of sympathising with restoration of monarchy
o SUCCESS:-The Directors Barras, Rewbell and La Révellière-
Lépeaux accused Charles Pichegru + Council of 500 of plotting
bringing stability to France
Paragraph 1: Directory was successful in bringing stability
political system
New Constitution
o Designed to prevent return to monarchy, dictatorship like CPS
or control by common people
Directory
o Chosen by Council of Ancients from list drawn up by Council of
Five Hundred
o Held office for 5 years
o One chosen to retire each year
Replacing National Convention
o Council of Five Hundred initiated legislation
o Council of Ancients accepted/rejected
Indirect System of Elections
o All men over 21 who paid direct taxes voted for electors (5.5
million men)
o Electors voted for members of the councils (30,000 electors)
The Legislature (Council of 500 + Council of Ancients) & the
Executive (Directors) had the power to check and limit any
legislation put forward
o SUCCESS:-It reintroduced some revolutionary ideals that could
have appeased the radicals as Montesquieu implemented the
idea of checks and balances in his Spirit of Laws (1748)-
o It balance in power between the Legislature and the Executive
prevented either branch of government from becoming
supreme, ensuring political liberty
Power returned to the hands of bourgeois liberal-conservatives, who
sought to restore the moderate revolutionary values of 1789.
o The men of the Directory were pragmatists, less flamboyant,
principled and ideologically driven than previous revolutionary
figures.
Paragraph 2: Directory was successful in bringing stability:
Repressing dissent
Coup of Fructidor
o April 1797: More than 1/3 of deputies in the election had
royalist sympathies- indicated a seizure of power as the right-
wing had gained strength
o 1795: Charles Pichegru, president-elect of Council of 500,
accused of sympathising with restoration of monarchy
o SUCCESS:-The Directors Barras, Rewbell and La Révellière-
Lépeaux accused Charles Pichegru + Council of 500 of plotting
