What is the French Directory?

• A. A governing five-member committee in the French Republic from October 1795 to November 1799.
• B. A legislative assembly under the monarchy.
• C. A military alliance with Britain.
• D. The name of Napoleon's first cabinet.

Answer: (A)

Recognizing the French Directory means understanding the five-member executive governing body of the French Republic from October 1795 to November 1799. This system, established by the Constitution of Year III, placed five directors in charge of executive power while a bicameral legislature—the Council of Five Hundred and the Council of Ancients—handled legislation. The Directory followed the fall of Robespierre and aimed to stabilize the revolution after the most radical phase, but it struggled with corruption and military pressure. It ended with Napoleon Bonaparte’s coup of 18 Brumaire, which launched the Consulate. It’s not a legislative assembly under the monarchy, not a military alliance with Britain, and not Napoleon’s first cabinet.