23 Prairial
An CCXXXIV
Directory
At the end of 1795, the deputies of the National Convention formally dispersed. However, many of them soon found themselves again in the two chambers of the new system: the Council of Five Hundred and the Council of Ancients. With the Constitution of Year III, the Thermidorians sought to prevent both a return to royalism and a new Jacobin dictatorship. Universal suffrage was abolished in favor of a property-based franchise—only the wealthy were allowed to vote. A Directory of five men stood at the head of the Republic. Yet the government could only maintain itself in power through repeated coups. In November 1799, General Napoleon Bonaparte dealt the final blow to the Directory’s constitution. It was replaced by the Consulate.
1795 - 1799
- August 22, 1795 · The National Convention adopts the Directory Constitution (Constitution of Year III).
- October 26, 1795 · After three years, the deputies of the National Convention declare their work completed and hand over power to the new institutions.
- November 2, 1795 · The first Directory takes office: Barras, Reubell, Carnot, Letourneur, La Révellière-Lépeaux.
- September 4, 1797 · Coup by the Directory on 18 Fructidor. Two directors lose their offices, and numerous election results are annulled in order to remove royalist deputies and secure a republican majority. Beginning of the Directory’s Terror.
- May 11, 1798 · Second coup by the Directory on 22 Floréal. Once again, several election results are declared invalid. This time the action is directed against the extreme republicans.
- June 18, 1799 · Coup of the Councils on 30 Prairial. This time the Councils act against the government and choose a new Directory, which fills important ministries with Jacobins.
- November 9, 1799 · Coup of 18 Brumaire Year VIII. Three directors resign, and two directors are removed from office. Napoleon Bonaparte is given command of the troops stationed in Paris.
- November 10, 1799 · Under military pressure, the assemblies meeting at Saint-Cloud hand over power to a provisional Consulate led by Napoleon.
- December 15, 1799 · Proclamation of the Constitution of the Consulate. Official end of the Revolution.
Quotes
We must be governed by the best. Now, with very few exceptions, you will find such men only among those who possess property.
Boissy d’Anglas
Thermidorians and supporters of the Directory differed only in name. In reality, they were the same men, with the same aims and the same methods.
Albert Mathiez
Mountains separate us from France, but you would cross them with the speed of an eagle if it were necessary to preserve the Constitution, defend liberty, and protect the government and the republicans!
Napoleon in an address to the army on 14 July 1797. Two months later, the Directory carried out a coup with the support of the military against the royalist majority in the assemblies.
Le Moniteur
The Directory (1797): Merlin, La Reveilliere-Lepeaux, Barras, François de Neufchâteau, Reubell
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