Final answer:
The decline of the Directory was shaped by political scandals, an economic crisis, political instability, and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, culminating in his coup and the installation of the Consulate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors Contributing to the Decline of the Directory
The decline in power and popularity of the Directory, which governed France from 1795 to 1799, can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, political scandals significantly eroded public trust in the government. Secondly, the Directory struggled to manage the transition from the old regime to a new republican government, leading to political instability. Lastly, internal conflicts, such as factional politics and the threat of radical groups like the Jacobins, as well as external pressures like nationalism and potential loss of territory, compounded the Directory's challenges. The culmination of these issues eventually led to the coup of 18 Brumaire, during which Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the Directory and set up the Consulate, marking the end of the Directory's rule.
Contributing to the Directory's unpopularity was the economic crisis France found itself in, following the extravagant spending of the king and the costs of supporting the American Revolutionary War. The rise of Napoleon, who was initially a defender of the Directory but later seized power for himself, also underscores the Directory's inability to establish a stable government and maintain control in the face of an ambitious military leader.