Problems facing the Directory (French rev)

Figurehead for monarchy supporters

Louis XVI's brother - Compete De Provence declared himself king

Louis XVII died in 1795, aged 10 - Louis son who had been confined since 1792

White Terror

Acts of revenge for the Terror

'neo-Jacobins'

Girondins

Return of royalists

Debt

Inherited - Declared bankrupt in September 1797 - Only pay off state creditors with state bonds - could then exchange for biens nationaux

Reduced government expenditure by 160 million litres - Got rid of 2/3 state debt

Introduced taxes such as window tax - reintroducing tax e.g. Gabelle but was blocked by the Council of Ancients

Currency

Abolished Assignats

Created new currency but was linked to the Assignat

Returned to metal currency but there was not enough - Turned to a natural economy of exchange

Internal Revolt

Radical ideas e.g. Bebeuf's desire to redistribute land 1796

Didn't use/trust the National Guard - Relied on the army - Law in June 1795 allowed the use of military courts