R1118

Rise and functioning of modern state in its various forms

Napoleon involved in Coup against Directory and becomes first consul of the Republic

During and after the French Revolution, many assemblies of men ruled France, but near the end the Directory was the ruling system. The Directory was a five man system that supported the French military expansion which allowed less unemployment. The thought of war changed from a crusade to end the ever present need for economic gain into a way to provide people will a job. However this reinforces the dissatisfaction of war and starvation and was clearly shown in the next elections where a large number of conservatist’s came up with peace at any cost. The Directory used the army to nullify the elections and began to rule as a dictatorship. This is when war hero, Napoleon Bonaparte comes in. The people believed that France needed to be ruled by a strong military figure and Napoleon was the first that they thought of. Napoleon then worked with conspirators to overthrow the Directory. On November 9, 1799 they ousted the Directory and the next day the soldiers disbanded the legislative at gun point. However soon after Napoleon becomes the Consul of the Republic, he too rules as a Dictator and shows how the modern state gets rid of one problem for another. Works cited: McKay, John, Bennett Hill, and John Buckler. A History of Western Society. 7th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.