<P> "The four years of the Directory were a time of chronic disquiet and the late atrocities had made goodwill between parties impossible . The same instinct of self - preservation which had led the members of the Convention to claim so large a part in the new legislature and the whole of the Directory impelled them to keep their predominance . War was at the center of attention, not only for the survival of France but for the loot and forced payments into the French treasury . </P> <P> The Directory was officially led by a president, as stipulated by Article 141 of the Constitution of the Year III . An entirely ceremonial post, the first presidency was held by Rewbell who was chosen by lot on 2 Nov 1795 . The directors conducted their elections privately, and appointed a new president every three months . The last president was Gohier, who resigned during Brumaire after his arrest by troops under the Bonapartist general Jean Victor Marie Moreau . </P> <P> The following table displays all Directeurs and their dates of service: </P> <Table> Evolution of the Directory's Composition <Tr> <Th_colspan="10"> Centre (Thermidorians) Right - wing (Conservatives - Clichyens) Left - wing (Radical republicans) Undefinited (Maraisards) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="10"> The five directors appointed on 10 Brumaire year IV (1 November 1795): </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Paul Barras 2 November 1795--9 November 1799 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Louis - Marie de la Révellière 2 November 1795--18 June 1799 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Jean - François Rewbell 2 November 1795--16 May 1799 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Lazare Carnot 2 November 1795--4 September 1797 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Étienne - François Letourneur 2 November 1795--20 May 1797 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> François Barthélemy 20 May 1797--4 September 1797 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Philippe Antoine Merlin 4 September 1797--18 June 1799 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> François de Neufchâteau 4 September 1797--15 May 1798 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès 16 May 1799--9 November 1799 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Jean - Baptiste Treilhard 15 May 1798--17 June 1799 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Roger Ducos 18 June 1799--9 November 1799 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Jean - François Moulin 18 June 1799--10 November 1799 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Louis - Jérôme Gohier 17 June 1799--10 November 1799 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="10"> After the Coup of 18 Brumaire (9 November 1799), Barras, Ducos & Sieyès resign . Moulin & Gohier, refusing to resign, were arrested by General Moreau . </Td> </Tr> </Table>

How was power gained and maintained during the french revolution