5. The Impact of Napoleon's Rule on France

Question 1

When did the ‘Infernal Machine’ take place? What was this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 1

The ‘Infernal Machine’ took place on the 24th December 1800, with this being a plot to assassinate Napoleon. A barrel filled with gunpowder was exploded as his carriage passes when on his way to a gala performance.

Question 2

How many people were killed or wounded as part of the ‘Infernal Machine’? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 2

52 people were killed or wounded as part of the ‘Infernal Machine’.

Question 3

What was the turnout of the 1800 plebiscite? What % of people voted in favour of this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 3

The 1800 plebiscite had a turnout of 25%, with 99.94% of voters supporting the measures.

Question 4

As Minister of the Interior, what % did Lucien Bonaparte adjust the turnout of the 1800 plebiscite to? Why? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 4

Lucien Bonaparte adjusted the election figures to suggest that 46% of people had voted in the 1800 plebiscite. This was in order to provide a stronger mandate and acceptance of Napoleon’s regime and the consulate.

Question 5

When did the ‘Dagger Conspiracy’ take place? What group was behind this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 5

The ‘Dagger Conspiracy’ took place in October 1800, with a group of Jacobins attempting to assassinate Napoleon.

Question 6

Who was Napoleon’s first Minister of Justice? Who was his Minister for Police? Why were these appointments significant? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 6

Napoleon’s first Minister of Justice was Cambaceres, while Fouche was his Minister of Police. These individuals were prominent supporters of Napoleon, with this meaning that he was virtually guaranteed of loyalty from within his own government.

Question 7

How many Jacobins were deported to the Seychelles or Guiana in 1801? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 7

129 Jacobins were deported to the Seychelles or Guiana in 1801.

Question 8

In 1800, how many rebels in Brittany were taken? How many were shot? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 8

In 1800 in Brittany, 6000 Chouan rebels were taken, with 750 shot.

Question 9

How many assassination attempts did Pichegru coordinate against Napoleon between 1800 and 1804? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 9

Pichergu organised 2 assassination attempts against Napoleon between 1800 and 1804.

Question 10

Why was the duc d’Enghien regarded with suspicion by Napoleon? What action was taken against him to end his threat? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 10

The duc d’Enghien was regarded with suspicion by Napoleon as he was said to have been in contact with emigrees and royalists, in addition to recieving funds from England. He was kidnapped as part of a plot by Napoleon, with him eventually being executed as a result of his supposed crimes.

Question 11

Why were Madame de Stael and Benjamin Constant a threat to Napoleon? What action was take against the pair? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 11

de Stael and Constant were considered threats to Napoleon due to their salon hosting gatherings which resembled a liberal resistance group. The pair were banished to a distance of 64km from Paris.

Question 12

What was Amalgame? What was ralliement? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 12

Amalgame was Napoleon’s policy of attempting to end the Ancien Regime’s social divisions by reconciling the old nobility with new ruling elites. Ralliement was Napoleon’s policy of uniting all factions within France around his new regime.

Question 13

When was Napoleon offered the position of ‘Consul for Life’? What benefits came from this position? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 13

Napoleon was offered the role of ‘Consul for Life’ in 1802, with this granting him the right to name his heir and serve until his death (contrary to the previous limit of 10 years in a post).

Question 14

When was the Constitution of Year X approved? What did this change (in terms of Napoleon’s position and elections)? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 14

The Constitution of Year X was approved in 1802, with this making Napoleon Consul for Life and altering electoral requirements so that only those from the leading 600 taxpayers in each département could be placed on the departmental list.

Question 15

What % of people voted in the plebiscite on the Constitution of Year X? What % of voters approved this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 15

50.5% of people voted in the plebiscite on the Constitution of Year X. 99.76% of voters approved the changes.

Question 16

When did Napoleon establish Emperor status for himself? What reasoning was there behind this (supposed/reality)? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 16

Napoleon established Emperor status for himself in 1804, with this supposedly coming after advice fron his counsellors and following the pressure of public opinion. However, in reality, this is likely to have resulted from the resumption of the war and the threat of Royalist revolts to Napoleon’s power.

Question 17

When was the Constitution of Year XII passed? What changes did this approve? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 17

The Constitution of Year XII was passed in 1804, with this approving Napoleon being designated as Emperor of the French, creating the French Empire.

Question 18

What % of voters voted on the Constitution of Year XII? What % approved the changes? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 18

47.2% of voters voted on the Constitution of Year XII, with 99.93% of those voting approving this.

Question 19

When was Napoleon consecrated as Emperor of the French? What was significant about the ceremony for this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 19

Napoleon was consecrated as Emperor of the French on the 2nd December 1804. Napoleon had requested the Pope’s attendance at this ceremony, yet did not allow the Pope to crown him, doing this himself. He then later crowned Josephine.

Question 20

When did Napoleon begin to block the wishes of the Tribunate and Legislative bodies? What measure was used for this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 20

Napoleon began to block the wishes of the Tribunate and Legislative Body in 1801. This was done through the use of senatus consultum, which allows him to override the wishes of these 2 bodies.

Question 21

Between which dates did Napoleon purge the Senate, Tribunate and Legislative Body? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 21

Napoleon purged the Senate, Tribunate and Legislative Body between January and March 1802.

Question 22

How many people did Napoleon remove from the Tribunate? How many from the Legislative Body? What did he split the Tribunate into? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 22

Napoleon removed 20 from the Tribunate and 60 from the Legislative Body. He split the Tribunate into 3 to diminish its influence.

Question 23

When did Napoleon abolish the Tribunate? When did the Legislative Body cease to meet? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 23

Napoleon abolished the Tribunate in 1810, later ceasing meetings of the Legislative Body in 1813.

Question 24

When did the last meeting of the legislative body take place? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 24

The last meeting of the legislative body took place in 1813.

Question 25

What example is there of an individual advancing their social status under Napoleon? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 25

General Augerau was born the son of a Parisian fruit seller. He rose to become a member of the imperial nobility, inducted into the Legion of Honour and a Marshal of France.

Question 26

When did Napoleon establish the Legion of Honour? What was this? What did people recieve as part of this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 26

The Legion of Honour was established in 1802, intending to utilise this to reward those who had been loyal to him and his regime. This was a system of titles and social privileges afforded to individuals, with those introdcued into it recieving a salary, a ‘star of the order’ bearing Napoleon’s head, a sash and a star adorned with an eagle.

Question 27

How many awards were made as part of the Legion of Honour? How many of these went to civilians? Which group recieved the most patronage from this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 27

32,000 awards were granted as part of the Legion of Honour, with only 1500 going to civilians. The majority of these were awarded to military members.

Question 28

When did Napoleon begin to grant titles as part of the Imperial Nobility? Who were these titles granted to? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 28

Napoleon began to grant titles as part of the Imperial Nobility in 1804. These titles were initially granted to family members (with his brothers granted princely titles), while senior figures in the state, church, local administration and military later recieved these titles.

Question 29

What % of Imperial Nobility titles went to military men? What % went to Ancien Regime nobility? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 29

59% of Imperial Nobility titles went to military men, while 22.5% went to Ancien Regime nobles.

Question 30

What was the size of the Imperial Nobility in relation to the Ancien Regime nobility? How was the awarding of titles different from the Anicen Regime? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 30

The new nobility was 1/7 of the size of the Ancien Regime nobility. Titles as part of the Imperial Nobility were awarded as a result of service and value to Napoleon’s regime rater than due to birth or social status as took place under the Ancien Regime.

Question 31

What reforms did Napoleon introduce to primary education? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 31

Napoleon introuduced a state primary school in each commune, run by the local municipality. He was also willing to allow church and other private educational offerings on top of this.

Question 32

What % of lycee places went to the sons of soldiers and civil servants under Napoleon? What does this suggest about this branch of education? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 32

40% of lycee places went to sons of soldiers and civil servants under Napoleon. This suggests that the most prestigious branch of education under Napoleon’s regime was highly elitist and largely reserved for those who already served the Emperor.

Question 33

When was the Imperial University established? What were roles of this institution? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 33

The Imperial University was established in 1808. This was responsible for teacher training, the setting up of new schools, controlling the curriculum and inspecting schools.

Question 34

What positive and negative impacts did the Civil Code have for women? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 34

Positive: women were granted marginally improved rights over property, granted increased access to divorce through divorce by mutual consent.
Negative: married women unable to accept inheritance without permission of husband, had to share profits from sold property with husband, could not own land.

Question 35

What had the number of Parisian newspapers been cut from-to by January 1800? How many by 1801? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 35

Napoleon reduced the number of Parisian newspapers from 73 to 13 by January 1800, later cutting this to only 4 by 1801.

Question 36

When did censors begin to be appointed to individual newspapers under Napoleon? What topics could/could not be discussed as part of this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 36

Censors began to be appointed to individual newspapers from 1809. No papers were allowed to discuss controversial topics, and were only allowed to publish official news sanstioned by ministers and military bulletins written by Napoleon himself.

Question 37

When was a censorship board set up under Napoleon to reject or approve books for publication? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 37

A censorship board was set up in 1810 to approve or reject books for publication.

Question 38

What propaganda did Napoleon commission to glorify himself? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 38

Napoleon used art, sculptures and writing to honour his achievements and represent his glory. This included David’s painting of Napoleon’s coronation as Emperor, as well as ‘The Distribution of the Eagle Standards.’

Question 39

How did Napoleon use architecture and rebuilding to glorify his regime? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 39

Napoleon commissioned necessary public works such as roads, markets and water supplies to improve French infrastructure, as well as great structures such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Arc du Carousel and the Temple of Glory to demonstrate the excellence of the Napoleonic regime.

Question 40

When did Napoleon decree that churches could open on any day and that Sunday should become a day of rest respectively? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 40

December 1799 - decreed that churches could open on any day

July 1800 - Sunday returned to become a day of rest

Question 41

When was Napoleon’s Concordat signed with the Pope? What did this agree? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 41

Napoleon’s Concordat was signed with the Pope on the 15th July 1801. This ensured that the Pope was recognised as the head of the church, the Pope recognised the new French regime, there were assurances offered over ex-church lands, Napoleon continued to nominate clergy, Catholic worship became freely available.

Question 42

When were the Organic Articles published by Napoleon? What did these agree? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 42

The ‘Organic Articles’ were published in April 1802, with these agreeing that government approval was needed before any Papal legate entered France or any document was published there

Question 43

What impact did the Organic Articles have on religious minorities? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 43

The Organic Articles ensured that religious toleration would be granted to France’s 700,000 Protestants and 40,000 Jews.

Question 44

How did the official catechism damage Napoleon’s relationship with the Pope? When was this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 44

The official catechism stated that Napoleon was the agent of God’s power and suggested that the population should have feelings of duty, love, respect, obedience and loyalty towards him. Issued in 1806.

Question 45

When was the Concordat of Fontainebleau signed? What did this agree? Why was it limited in impact? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 45

The Concordat of Fontainebleau was signed in January 1813, with this agreeing that the Emperor would control appointments of archbishops across the Empire and in the Kingdom of Italy. It also proposed the Pope resided in Paris. However, it was never enforced.

Question 46

When was Napoleon’s Civil Code issued? What were terms of this that reflected revolutionary changes? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 46

Napoleon’s Civil Code was issued in 1804. This abolished feudalism, removed church and noble privileges and created equality before the law. It also confirmed the rights of biens nationaux owners.

Question 47

What controversial aspects existed within Napoleon’s Civil Code in terms of male and female rights? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 47

The Civil Code forced children to remain subordinate to their father (and could even be imprisoned by him), restricted female inheritance rights, granted females limited divorce rights compared to offerings to those available to husbands, confirmed fathers as the heads of families.

Question 48

When did Napoleon introduce a commercial code which provided guidelines for trade and industry? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 48

Napoleon introduced a commercial code for trade and business in 1807.

Question 49

When did Napoleon introduce a code for criminal procedure? What practices did this permit? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 49

Napoleon introduced a code for criminal procedure in 1808, with this maintaining the use of trial by jury and the double jury system (until 1811). Also permitted arrest without trial in certain circumstances.

Question 50

When did Napoleon create a new penal code for punishments? What were terms of this code? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 50

Napoleon created a penal code for punishments in 1810. This determined that the death penalty was applicable for murder, arson and forgery. Also said that maximum and minimum penalties could be created for crimes, rather than operating through the Ancien Regime’s fixed penalty system.

Question 51

What impacts did the Constitution of Year VIII have on justices and magistrates in terms of their appointment and length of service? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 51

The Constitution of Year VIII meant that ONLY local magistrates would continue to be elected by citizens, with all other judges becoming directly appointed by Napoleon. Terms of services were also largely appointed for life (10 year maximum for local magistrates).

Question 52

What were Napoleon’s prefects? What were their roles? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 52

Napoleon appointed prefects to be the chief administrator of each département. They would oversee tax collection, conscription, agriculture, industry, commerce, public work and welfare/education.

Question 53

What % of 257 prefects from 1800 to 1812 were previously involved with revolutionary governments? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 53

68% of the prefects appointed from 1800 to 1812 were previously involved in revolutionary governments.

Question 54

What were the gendarmerie? What were their tasks? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 54

The gendarmerie were Napoleon’s elite and professional police force made up of former army veterans with exemplary service records. They were tasked with everyday law enforcement, focussing on dealing with bandits, thieves and violent crime. Also dealt with any rebellions.

Question 55

What were the administrative police? What were its roles? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 55

The administrative police was responsible for general surveillance on suspect individuals. They gathered information on troublemakers, rounded these individuals up and called up the gendarmerie to arrest these individuals.

Question 56

How did the role of the Administrative Police expand after 1810? What activities did they undertake? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 56

The Administrative Police became increasingly active after 1810, being ordered by Napoleon to undertake constant surveillance on all potential political opponents. This involved interrogating suspect individuals, letters being intercepted, trouble makers being exiled and literature being destroyed.

Question 57

How many people were detained in Paris’ prisons between 1810 and 1814? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 57

Between 1810 and 1814, 4500 people were detained in Paris’ prisons by Napoleon’s police forces.

Question 58

Why did Napoleon need to maintain high taxes? What taxes did he maintain? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 58

Napoleon needed to maintain high taxes in order to finance the costs of the war. This maintained the land tax from the Directory and the tax on personal property.

Question 59

When did Napoleon begin to draw up a new cadastre? What was the intention of this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 59

Napoleon began to drawn up a new cadastre in 1807, with this intended to reassess the value of land in order to recalculate taxes that should be levied on an individual and an area more fairly and accurately to improve tax yields.

Question 60

What fraction of the country had had their tax reassessed by the cadastre by 1815? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 60

1/5 of the country had had their taxes reassessed by the cadastre by 1815, meaning that tax estimates were still wildly inaccurate at this point.

Question 61

What tax was introduced on trade from September 1803? What was the impact of this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 61

From September 1803, an octroi on goods entering and leaving an administrative area was introduced, causing the price of goods to rise.

Question 62

What form of tax did the government heavily rely upon in order to finance the war effort? Give examples of this - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 62

The government under Napoleon heavily relied upon indirect taxes to maintain funding for the war effort, with this resulting in taxes on goods such as alcohol, salt, tobacco and playing cards, which all impacted the working classes.

Question 63

When did Napoleon introduce a metallic currency? What was the impact of this money’s weight? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 63

Napoleon introduced a metallic currency in 1803 in order to replace previous volatile currencies. The weight of this money directly corresponded to the value of the currency, meaning that this was much more stable than previous paper currency.

Question 64

What action did Napoleon take with regards to paper money? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 64

Napoleon chose to make all paper money illegal tender, refusing to honour payments for a currency that had become worthless after years of inflation. This meant that the only legal currency became metallic currency.

Question 65

When was the Bank of France set up? What was the role of this institution? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 65

The Bank of France was set up in January 1800, with this institution intended to provide credit for both government and entrepreneurs. It also produced a currency of gold and silver coins and allowed Napoleon to raise loans at a reasonable rate of interest.

Question 66

What actions did Chaptal take as Minister of the Interior in order to improve France’s economic state? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 66

Chaptal established a Bureau of Statistics to gather data on industry, agriculture and the population, set up the Society to Encourage National Industry which held exhibitions on French industry and promoted this, established Councils of Agriculture, Arts and Commerce in every départements.

Question 67

How many Chambers of Commerce did Chaptal set up across France? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 67

Chaptal set up 23 Chambers of Commerce across France.

Question 68

By what % did France’s wool industry yield increase by from 1811 to 1812? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 68

France’s wool industry increased its yield by 400% from 1811 to 1812.

Question 69

How did the value of France’s exported silks increase from 1790 to 1812? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 69

From 1790 to 1812, exported silks rose in value from 26 million francs to 64 million.

Question 70

How did Napoleon’s Civil Code disadvantage agricultural production in France? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 70

Napoleon’s Civil Code encouraged farms to be split up as a result of dividing property between heirs, with this resulting in French farms being split beyond the level at which they could be self-sufficient.

Question 71

What impact did the war have on the types of products encouraged to be produced by farmers? Give examples - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 71

The war resulted in the government attempting to encourage the growth of replacement crops in order to reduce the dependence on imported goods from colonies, as this had been disrupted by the war. This saw cotton, coffee, dyes, tobacco and sugar being domestically produced.

Question 72

When did Napoleon sell Louisiana to the USA? Why? For how much? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 72

Napoleon sold Louisiana to the US in 1803 for 50 million francs, with this in order to finance the war effort and a proposed invasion of Britain.

Question 73

When did Napoleon launch his ‘Continental System’? What was the aim of this? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 73

Napoleon launched the ‘Continental System’ in 1806, with this intended to act as a continental blockade of British trade by restricting Britain’s access to European markets. This was subscribed to by both France and (supposedly) France’s allies too, or else they would risk being treated as enemies of France.

Question 74

When was France forced to allow some unlicensed trade with Britain? What does this indicate? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 74

France was forced to allow some unlicensed trade with Britain in 1810 to raise funds and offset a decline in customs receipts, meaning that any attempt to isolate and restrict British trade with the continent was wholly ineffective.

Question 75

When did expenditure begin to exceed income in France under Napoleon? - Impacts of Napoleon’s Rule on France

Answer 75

In 1806, Napoleon’s France saw expenditure exceed levels of income.

Question 76

When did the Coup of Brumaire take place? - The Directory and Napoleon’s Rise

Answer 76

The Coup of Brumaire took place on the 9th/10th November 1799.

Question 77

How many Parisian troops were positioned around the Palace of Saint-Cloud by Napoleon to capture and pressurise the Councils? - The Directory and Napoleon’s Rise

Answer 77

6000 Parisian troops were stationed around the Palace of Saint-Cloud to entrap the Councils and force an overthrow of the government.

Question 78

What happened to the Directors (who?) during the Coup of Brumaire? - The Directory and Napoleon’s Rise

Answer 78

The Coup of Brumaire saw the Directors Sieyès, Ducos, Talleyrand and Barras resign, destroying the Directory government.

Question 79

When was the constitution of the Consulate ratified? - The Directory and Napoleon’s Rise

Answer 79

The Consulate was ratified on the 24th December 1799.

Question 80

What was the size of the electorate in the Consulate? What issues diluted the electorate’s significance? - The Directory and Napoleon’s Rise

Answer 80

The electorate for the Consulate was all Frenchmen over 21, meaning 6 million men had the right to vote. The electorate’s significance was diluted by the various electoral rounds through which the electorate was whittled down to only 1/1000 of its original size to the Notables that could sit in the legislature.

Question 81

What fraction of the Consulate’s legislature would step down every year? What issue was there with this? - The Directory and Napoleon’s Rise

Answer 81

2/5 of the Consulate’s legislature would step down annually to be replaced, yet no procedure was ever formalised for how these deputies would step down from their positions or how it would be decided who would retire.