Why was Napoleon Bonaparte able to overthrow the Directory in 1799?
What was the directory
had two councils: the Council of Five Hundred which proposed laws and the Council of Ancients who accepted them or not
run by five directors who selected junior ministers, army leaders, tax collectors and other officials
aims: ended up abuses of Ancient Regime and wanted to maintain achievements of the revolution
Reputation to the Directory
support of the Directory: had the support of the army and National Guard which was reformed and put under state control
run by new constitution constitution of 1795
problems with the Directory: corruption, war with neighbouring countries, famine, bankruptcy, conscription, forced loans, elections weren't fair, taxation now was unfair to the rich, Rome was captured which offended Catholics, inability to deal with conflict between Church and state,
good things about Directory: France was successful in war, the economy improved, there were better harvests, dealt with emigres, tried to end privileges and created a more equal society
Opposition to the Directory
opposition groups Royalists and radicals continued to fight for their own agendas with a power struggle in the Directory and uprisings outside
weakness of Opposition of groups: were so divided internally and externally that they were too weak
plots to overthrow government: Babeuf Plot by Jacobins (left wing), and tried to win elections but defeated in Coup of Fructidor (right wing)
Coup of Prairal caused Directory to come to an end in 1799
Napoloen Bonaparte
joined his first regiment in 1793 and became general in 1795 when he decided to support the directory,
he successfully won the war against the Austrians in Italy but lost the one to Egypt
sensed people wanted strong leadership figure that would bring an end to political instability, and wars and maintain revolution achievements and he too the opportunity
with Sieyes, his brother Lucien, and Fouche an extreme Jacobin and Talleyrand an aristocrat who used to be a priest, he planned the coup of 1799
made directors resigne, dealt with all resistance from Assembly, and defeated sans-culottes with troops
installed new goverment based on three consuls, he himself being the fist