1. France in revolution 1795-1799 Small book – pg. 141 to 158
The Directory
France in revolution
Small book – pg. 141 to 158

2. The Constitution of the Year III (1795)
A. The Thermedorians in their disgust of the Reign of Terror, wanted to draft a new constitution.
B. This constitution would guarantee the main features of the Revolution of 1789 (before it became too radical).
- The abolition of privilege, freedom of the individual, and control of local and national affairs by an elected assembly and elected members.
C. Essentially, they wanted to make sure a dictatorship (like that of the Committee of Public Safety) would be impossible in the future.

3. Main Features of the Constitution
1. All males over the age of 21, who payed taxes could vote to elect their representatives (called electors).
2. Once the electors were chosen by the people, they chose the deputies (who were the members of the specific assemblies.
- These electors were VERY RICH, they would have been the ones who suffered during the Terror.
3. There was a SEPERATION between the Legislative Branch and the Executive Branch of government.
LEG: 2 Chambers:
Council of Five Hundred (men 30+) – Initiate all legislation
Council of Anciens (men 40+) – approval or objection of bills passed to them from the 500; could not change bills.

4. Executive Branch – The Directory
1. The Executive branch was going to be a Directory of five, chosen by the Anciens (from a list created by the 500).
2. These five directors would sit for 5 years, but one every year would be replaced (chosen by the others) in order to keep the directory as diplomatic as possible.
3. Directors COULD NOT be members of the other councils, and their powers were limited.
They were in charge of diplomacy, military affairs and law enforcement.
They could NOT initiate or veto laws AND could not declare war. They also had no control over the treasury.
4. The Directory could appoint ministers who would work directly for the executive branch.

5. Weaknesses of the Constitution and Directory
Despite a complex system of checks and balances; the new constitution had many weaknesses.
A. Yearly elections promoted instability.
B. There was no means of resolving conflicts between exec and leg branches.
C. Councils could render the Directory useless by refusing to pass important laws.
D. Lack of veto power proved to be a weakness for the Directory.
* Because the lack of power in the Directory, it often had to use unconstitutional methods to resolving disputes (calling the Army to solve disputes).
*Despite multiple flaws and fears of a new unknown government, the constitution of Year III was adopted officially on August 22, 1795.

6. Constitutional Conflicts…
The Verona Declaration: prior to the first election of the new convention and Directory the royalists sought out a stable option to offer the people of France… Louis XVI’s son.
This proved to be a good idea, except that he died before the chance to adopt this idea (June ). In reaction to this Louis XVI’s brother immediately proclaimed himself Louis XVIII and issued the Verona declaration (June 24, 1795).
- This document and statement was a failure and only did more to reinforce the need for a republic in France.

7. Constitutional Conflicts…continued
The Vendémiaire Uprising: with the Verona declaration failing (June 1795) and the adoption of a new constitution and government (Aug. 1795). Many people across Paris were shocked and the hope of ending the convention was not going to happen.
Many Royalists were upset with this new government system and they broke out into a rebellion.
On October 5, 1795 a large crowd of 25,000 gathered to march against the Convention and seize power. The government troops of 7,800 were greatly outnumbered, but they had a secret weapon…Napoleon Bonaparte.
With his devastating artillery fire called the “Whiff of Grapeshot” – this uprising was crushed (over 300 killed or wounded) and the new government was stable.

8. Why did the Directory last so long…
When the new directory was signed into official governance, they had MANY problems they had to solve for France. Many did not expect the Directory to last for more than a few months.
Here’s why they lasted so long:
1. They were committed to restoring the rule of law.
2. The old regime of Terror was publically discredited; few wanted to go back.
3. Public Apathy – after 6 years of revolution and 3 years of war people were losing the spirit.
4. The army supported the Directory – the army helped the Directory overcome its challenges.
However this was a delicate balance, because if the army would become upset with the directory, they would have the power to overthrow.

9. Homework! READ and take notes in the SMALL book—
1. The financial reforms of the Directory (pg )
2. Failures of the Directory (pg )
3. Draw the structure of the government (pg 34 in BIG book)