AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
The establishment of the Directory: the constitution; financial and…
Full specification wording
2H France in Revolution, 1774–1815 (A-level only) – 1795–1815 The Directory and Napoleon's rise to power, 1795–1799: The establishment of the Directory: the constitution; financial and political problems and policies; strengths and weaknesses of the Directory
The Constitution of Year III established the Directory to prevent dictatorship, dividing executive power among five Directors and legislative power between two councils.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The Constitution of Year III established the Directory to prevent dictatorship, dividing executive power among five Directors and legislative power between two councils. A major weakness was the lack of a mechanism to resolve deadlocks, leading to reliance on military coups. The Directory faced severe financial problems, including hyperinflation. Policies like Ramel's bankruptcy of the two-thirds stabilised finances but alienated state creditors. Politically, the Directory navigated threats from royalists and neo-Jacobins, frequently annulling elections to maintain control. Despite its reputation for corruption, its strengths included vital administrative and tax reforms that successfully laid the groundwork for Napoleon's later successes.
What earns the marks
- Explain the structure of the Constitution of Year III, detailing the separation of powers between the Directors and the two legislative councils.
- Evaluate the financial policies of the Directory, such as the introduction of metal currency and the bankruptcy of the two-thirds.
- Analyse the political challenges faced by the Directory from both the left (Babeuf) and the right (royalists), and the methods used to suppress them.
- Assess the overall strengths and weaknesses of the Directory, balancing its administrative achievements against its political instability and reliance on the army.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Viewing the Directory as a period of complete failure.
Put it right: It actually achieved significant financial and administrative stabilisation.
Confusing the Council of Five Hundred with the Council of Ancients.
Put it right: The former proposed legislation, while the latter approved or rejected it.
Assuming the Directory was overthrown solely because it was unpopular.
Put it right: The structural flaws in the constitution and the ambition of military figures were equally crucial.
Exam tips
- Use the 'bankruptcy of the two-thirds' as a specific example of a policy that solved a financial problem but created a political one.
- When discussing weaknesses, focus on the constitutional inability to resolve disputes between the executive and legislature without resorting to force.
- Challenge the traditional view of the Directory as merely a corrupt stopgap by highlighting its successful tax reforms.
Try the lesson
The start of the 2H France in Revolution, 1774–1815 (A-level only) – 1795–1815 The Directory and Napoleon's rise to power, 1795–1799: The establishment of the Directory: the constitution; financial and political problems and policies; strengths and weaknesses of the Directory lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Under the Constitution of Year III, which body was granted the executive power of the French government?
Listen
The Constitution of Year III established the Directory to prevent dictatorship, dividing executive power among five Directors and legislative power between two councils. A major weakness was the lack of a mechanism to resolve deadlocks, leading to reliance on military coups. The Directory faced severe financial problems, including hyperinflation. Policies like Ramel's bankruptcy of the two-thirds stabilised finances but alienated state creditors. Politically, the Directory navigated threats from royalists and neo-Jacobins, frequently annulling elections to maintain control. Despite its reputation for corruption, its strengths included vital administrative and tax reforms that successfully laid the groundwork for Napoleon's later successes. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain the structure of the Constitution of Year III, detailing the separation of powers between the Directors and the two legislative councils. Evaluate the financial policies of the Directory, such as the introduction of metal currency and the bankruptcy of the two-thirds. Analyse the political challenges faced by the Directory from both the left (Babeuf) and the right (royalists), and the methods used to suppress them. Assess the overall strengths and weaknesses of the Directory, balancing its administrative achievements against its political instability and reliance on the army. Exam tip: Use the 'bankruptcy of the two-thirds' as a specific example of a policy that solved a financial problem but created a political one.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Constitutional design and structural flaws
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Financial stabilisation versus political popularity
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The growing political role of the military
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The politics of the middle way (extreme centre)
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See every definition
- Constitutional design and structural flaws
- The Constitution of Year III divided executive power among five Directors and legislative power between two councils, but lacked a mechanism to resolve deadlocks.
- Financial stabilisation versus political popularity
- Policies such as the bankruptcy of the two-thirds stabilised finances but alienated state creditors.
- The growing political role of the military
- The lack of a mechanism to resolve deadlocks led to reliance on military coups.
- The politics of the middle way (extreme centre)
- The Directory navigated threats from royalists and neo-Jacobins, frequently annulling elections to maintain control.
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