27 Germinal
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 Convention adopts the Constitution of Year III (Directory Constitution).
- October 26, 1795 · The Convention declares its work completed and transfers power to the new institutions.
- November 2, 1795 · Inauguration of the first Directory: Barras, Reubell, Carnot, Letourneur, La Révellière-Lépeaux.
- September 4, 1797 · Coup of 18 Fructidor by the Directory. Numerous election results are annulled to remove royalist deputies.
- May 11, 1798 · Coup of 22 Floréal by the Directory. Election results are again suspended, this time against the Jacobins.
- June 18, 1799 · Coup of 30 Prairial by the Councils. The assemblies elect a new Directory: Barras, Ducos, Sieyès, Moulin, Gohier.
- November 9, 1799 · Coup of 18 Brumaire, Year VIII. Three directors resign, two are dismissed. Napoleon Bonaparte is given command of the troops stationed in Paris.
- November 10, 1799 · Under military pressure, the assemblies meeting at Saint-Cloud hand power to a provisional Consulate led by Napoleon.
- December 15, 1799 · Proclamation of the Constitution of the Consulate. The Revolution is officially declared at an end.
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
Décadi, 20 fructidor, l'an 5 de la République Française une et indivisible
(September 6, 1797)
The Directory (1797): Merlin, La Reveilliere-Lepeaux, Barras, François de Neufchâteau, Reubell
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