1. The French Revolution
“The Directory”

2. The End of the Jacobins
The abolition of the Committee of Public Safety, the end of the Jacobin dictatorship and the execution of Robespierre is known as the “Thermadorean Reaction.”
Despite their success in removing the dictatorship and establishing peaceful relations with Austria and Prussia in 1795, the Convention was unpopular.
The new Constitution of 1795 was completed in August of there were some proponents because 2/3rds of the new assembly members were previously from the Convention. They argued that this was to prevent royalist victories in the election.
This led to the Convention being attacked. The attack was unsuccessful, would have been forgotten, but Napoleon Bonaparte was officer who stopped the attackers. He dispersed the group with a “whiff of grapeshot” (type of ammunition).
The Convention was allowed to sit out its term, but it dissolved three weeks later and the “Directory” became the next revolutionary government.

3. The Directory
The Framers of the new constitution feared a government that would be to determined to achieve “liberty” such as the radical Jacobins as well as one that restored the monarchy and would be to similar to the times of the ancient regime.
To deal with this they created a new system: 2 chamber legislative assembly- relied on constitutional checks and balances
COUNCIL OF THE ANCIENTS (250 members)
-Debated and approved legislation
EXECUTIVE BODY- 5 Directors
-Chosen by the legislative body, one replaced annually after 2 years.
COUNCIL OF 500
-Proposed legislation

4. Like the 1791 Constitution, suffrage was restricted to those who paid a direct tax to wealth or to republican fighting soldiers.
2 million out of 7 million adult males could vote.
All the power in the hands of wealthy men. On several occasion, the Directors were unsatisfied with the results and would no install legally elected deputies. Instead they would install their opponents if they like them better.
They defended these actions with the proclaimed fear of partisan in the assembly.
There were some threats to the Directory including the Conspiracy of the Equals in by Francois Emile Babeuf. He called himself “Gracchus,” drawing inspiration from the social reformers of the Roman republic. He called for the abolition of private property and the creation of a communal society, ideas closely linked to socialism.
Another threat to the government was the revival of the right, a group who wanted to restore the monarchy to Louis Xavier Stanislas (Louis’ brother).

5. Efforts to Stabilize France
An exceptionally cold winter in 1795 resulted in suffering for the common people and prices for basic commodities rose by over 1000 percent.
The assignats lost more of their face value and the directory responded by issuing a new type of money, mandats and in 1797 returned to gold and silver currency.
However, they paid off on third of the country’s debt. Finance in 1799 were better than they were in 1795.

6. Imperial Conquests and Wars
The Directory also wanted to establish European peace. By 1795 the Thermidorean regime had already ended war with France’s major enemies except Austria and Britain.
France tried to reach an agreement with Britain but this was complicated by the directory's determination to retain the lands they had conquered in Belgium, Savoy and Nice.
In 1796 the launched a new assault against Austria in the Rhineland and Italy.
Napoleon Bonaparte, 27 years old established his reputation as a brilliant general.
He helped defeat Austria and gained control of northern and central Italy.
In the spring of 1797 he crossed the Alps and pursued Austrian forces within 75 miles of Vienna.
The treaty of Campoformio of October 1797, Austria had to recognize French conquer over a new Cisalpine Republic in northern and central Italy, Belgian provinces and territories on the left bank of the Rhine.

7. By the end of 1797, only Britain and its ally Portugal remained at war with France.
To gain power over Britain, Napoleon Bonaparte was authorized to launch an attack on Egypt with troops. Once he conquered it, the acquisition of the Suez would able France to build a canal and gain military control over Britain.
Ultimately they hoped to gain control of India through an alliance with Tipu Sahib, a prince who had recently revolted against British rule.
Napoleon had no trouble defeating troops in Egypt, however he met trouble at sea from British forces who blocked the fleet that had transported Napoleon and his troops there.
Russia, Britain and Austria from the Second Coalition.
Instead of admitting defeat, he invaded Syria but unfortunately there was an outbreak of the plague among his troop and he was forced to go back to Egypt. He abandons his army and sneaks out of Egypt in the summer of 1799.
He arrives unannounced and meets on the shore of the Mediterranean with the directors Roger-Ducos and Sieyes.

9. Napoleon’s Rise to Power and the Coup d’etat
Sieyes, Napoleon and Ducos plan a coup d’etat
They create a fake Jacobin ploy, Sieyes and Ducos leave the posts in the Directory and so does one other director.
Napoleon appears before the council of 500 and asks for special permission to deal with this crisis.
Some deputies were suspicious of his plot and asked for proof of a Jacobin plot.
However, Napoleon’s brother, Lucien was the president of the lower house and vouched for Napoleon stating that he “would plunge his sword through his brother’s heart if Napoleon ever plotted against the liberty of the French people.
Napoleon and Lucien had rallied troops outside and on Napoleon’s command they cleared the hall of all deputies.
Later, sympathizers to the conspirators voted to give full powers to Napoleon, Sieyes and Roger-Ducos, making them “temporary consuls.”