The Executive Directory of France

The Final Government of the French Revolution

Apr 3, 2009 Jason Chavis

The French Directory was a group of five directors who held executive power from 1795 until 1799. It oversaw the expansion of the French Revolutionary Wars.

Following the National Convention, which established the French Constitution of 1795, 750 legislators were elected to two different councils: the Council of Five Hundred and the Council of Ancients. Each house of the bicameral legislature had terms of three years. The Ancients were able to veto any legislation, which could only be initiated by the Five Hundred.

A list of potential candidates for the executive power, known as the Directory, was provided by the Five Hundred and voted on by the Ancients. The Directory would then appoint various Ministers for the departments of State. The constitution created a separation of powers which gave the Directory no legislative or taxation rights.

Challenges of the Directory

During its initial formation after October 26, 1795, a Directory of five members of the National Convention were chosen. Almost immediately anti-revolutionary forces assembled in Paris, angered by limitations placed on the electorate by the new constitution. Riots broker out and General Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to put down the insurgency. Immediately, problems arose within the Directory itself, with three members leaning left and two leaning right on the political spectrum.

The Directory was forced to deal with the effects of previous French governments. The aftermath of the Reign of Terror left many members of the public distrustful of the government. In addition, the First Coalition of military forces were repelled, but it left the nation with a ruined financial situation and a large military it could not pay for.

Realizing this, the Directory chose to keep the nation in a state of prolonged conflict. The French Revolutionary armies began to invade countries across Europe, most notably Sardinia, Italy and Germany. Spain joined France as an ally and Naples remained neutral. During this time, General Napoleon Bonaparte was establishing a name for himself as a great military leader. Soon, France directed its attention to the Netherlands and eventually the Middle East.

Fall of the Directory

As the French Revolutionary Wars continued throughout Europe, the Directory faced opposition from the newly minted national hero, Napoleon. On November 9, 1799, Abbe Sieyes, one of the members of the Directory, planned to overthrow the rest of the executive branch. Napoleon returned from the front in Egypt and saw a nation in political and social unrest due to the continuing wars.

Napoleon established a contingent of troops around Paris and forced the members of the Directory to resign. He then drew up plans for a new constitution and declared the French Revolution over. A Consulate was formed with Napoleon, Sieyes and Roger Ducos as an executive triumvirate. The Council of Five Hundred and the Council of Ancients was disbanded by military force. Soon, Napoleon forced the other two Consul members out and seized sole dictatorial power over France.

Sources:

Simon Schama, Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution (Vintage Books, 1990)

Peter McPhee, The French Revolution 1789-1799 (Oxford University Press, 2002)

David Andress, French Society in Revolution 1789-1799 (Manchester University Press, 1999)

Hugh Gough, The Terror in the French Revolution (Palgrave Macmillan, 1998)

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Napoleon's Coup of the Directory