Achievements of the directory government:

Achievements of the directory government:

1. The Directory government ended the reign of terror and restored Law and order in France. Before the directory government, France was in anarchy where one had to be a killer in order not to be killed. However, the directory government abolished the committees of public safety, revolutionary tribunals and general security which were instruments of the reign of terror. The government also released political suspects and prisoners most of whom were unfairly imprisoned during the reign of terror. These, restored peace, stability, the rule of Law and order.

2. Politically, The Directory government should be applauded for reconciling various factions that was very antagonistic during the reign of terror. It released political prisoners and allowed émigrés who had fled political persecution to unconditionally return to France. They were integrated to serve in a new unitary government on the principle of reconciliation. The Girondins and moderate Jacobins were scattered in different government departments to neutralize their perceived threats against the government. This explains why there was relative political stability, peace and order contrary to the pre 1789 era in France.

3. The influence and threats of the royalists against the government was checked and minimized by the Directory government. It was decreed that 2/3 of the posts in the government were to be held by former members of the convention government. This made the government to be dominated by revolutionary persons, which undermined the royalist dominance and negative influence that could have destabilized the government. Although the principle of equality was ignored, such a decree nevertheless helped to restore peace and stability in France, hence an achievement.

4. The Directory government initiated a number of reforms that were accomplished by Napoleon Bonaparte. For instance, the codification of the French laws, centralization of administration, public works e.g. roads and railways, educational, industrial and agricultural reforms. Some of these reforms were perfected by Napoleon Bonaparte, which qualified him to be great.

5. The Directory govemment is credited for restoring democratic system of government in a country that had experienced the worst dictatorship during the reign of terror. It was a liberal govemment that was headed by a committee of five directors who were men of high reputation. The directors were regularly replaced annually to avoid dictatorship and struggle for power. The govemment also upheld the principle of parliamentary democracy. The new constitution of 1795 created the council of five hundred and elders who were responsible for making and amending the constitution. France remained a republican govemment and elections were held in 1797 and 1798 although by only those who could afford the tax qualification to vote. This preserved some fundamental rights such as the right to vote and participation in govemment.

6. Besides, the Directory govemment restored constitutional rule in France. Before 1795, France was under the most brutal and single party dictatorship of Robespierre. But the Directory govemment amended the 1791 constitution in 1795. This safeguarded people's freedom and rights throughout the 4 years of the Directory govemment. It should be noted that the constitution disenfranchised the majority Frenchmen due to tax qualification in order to check violence especially by the low income earners i.e. the Paris mob. They were prohibited from attending parliamentary sessions. Although this was undemocratic, it nevertheless left. French destiny in the hands of propertied Frenchmen who had a high degree of political acumen and strong desire for peace as a means of protecting their property.

7. The govemment improved the military capacity of France, ft re-organized, retrained and re-

equipped the French army to a very high level of military efficiency. The National Guard was transformed into a strong force led by men of rare talents like Director Carnot and Napoleon Bonaparte. The army was used to maintain Law and order bring wealth and military glory from a board.

However, it should be noted that the Directory government lost control over the army and that is why Napoleon used the army to take over power in1799.

8. The Directory government defeated the first coalition of Britain, Prussia, and Holland, Austria etc. that was formed against France in 1793, The aim of the coalition was to suppress the revolution and restore Louis xvi to his power. But the directory government launched an aggressive campaign and defeated the coalition powers in 1795 with the exception of Britain. This kept the revolution intact and restored people's confidence in the government.

9. Internal uprisings and plots against the government were suppressed by the army. For instance, the royalist uprising of1795 was brutally suppressed by the young "one meal a day artillery officer"; Napoleon. The Babeuf plot to assassinate the directors, topple the government and establish a socialist government in France was foiled in 1797. Babeuf and his followers were arrested, charged and guillotined/murdered. This destroyed internal opposition and made potential enemies to keep aloof.

10. In its foreign policy, the directory government was very successful in the Italian campaign of1796 against Austria. Austria had been a headache to the revolutionary government since 1792. In 1796, Napoleon commanded French troops, defeated Austria and forced her to sign the Compofomio treaty of.1797. By this treaty, Austria surrendered Belgium, Rhine lands and Northern Italian states to France. These states paid annual tributes to France. For instance, the Duke of Modena paid 10,000 Francs annually to France. Napoleon also looted Italian works of art and used them to beautify the French museums. All these earned France wealth, military glory and led to the expansion of French territory. On top of those, the government liberated Italians and Germans from the oppressive Austrian rule.

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