Empire Topic 1 - Pax Britannica - French Wars Flashcards
(37 cards)
1
Q
Periods of War between Britain and France
A
- 1702-1713 War of Spanish Succession
- 1713-1744 Peace Time
- 1744-1763 Austrian War of Succession/Seven Years War/Carnatic War
- 1783-1793 Peace Time
- 1793-1802 French revolutionary Wars
- 1803-1814 Napoleonic Wards
- 1815 Waterloo campaign
2
Q
Treaty of Paris
A
- 1763
- British allowed to keep territorial gains, and France and Spain restored all conquests to Britain
3
Q
How Important was Retention of Gibralter 1783?
A
- Critical to stop French meditteranean fleet from breaking out into Atlantic to disrupt British shipping
- If Carribean or triangular trade was disrupted up to 40% of British trade could be in danger.
- Was critical as staging post in 1792 and 1805 to attack French
4
Q
What was the troop strength at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704?
A
52,000 v 56,000
5
Q
What was the troop strength at the Battle of Leipzig in 1813?
A
257,000 v 177,000
6
Q
What was the French population in 1700?
A
18.7m
7
Q
What was the British population in 1700?
A
5.2m
8
Q
What was the French population in 1800?
A
30m
9
Q
What was the British population in 1800?
A
10.5m
10
Q
What was the Prussian population in 1800?
A
10.7m
11
Q
What was the population of the Austrian Empire in 1800?
A
24m
12
Q
What was the Russian population in 1800?
A
35m
13
Q
When was the French Revolution?
A
1789
14
Q
How did the French Revolution cause the Revolutionary Wars?
A
- In 1791, Austrian Empire made Decleration of Pillnitz.
- This stated that if anything happened to Louis XVI they would intervene.
- Troops massed on Austrian-French border.
15
Q
Through what years were the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars?
A
1793-1815
16
Q
What happened in the French Revolutionary Wars?
A
- Involved the Wars of the 1st and 2nd coalition.
- Early French defeats led to ‘Reign of Terror’
- 16,500 death sentences, 2600 in Paris and 10,000 die in prison.
17
Q
How did Napoleon come to Prominence?
A
- Led French Armies in Prussia, Italy and then Egypt in War of 2nd coalition, latter of which to increase political profile.
18
Q
What did Napoleon want to achieve in Egypt?
A
- Wished to strengthen French trade interests over those of Great Britain in Middle East.
19
Q
What happened when Napoleon went to Egypt?
A
- French forces siezed Malta in 1798.
- French forces aimed to create ‘double port’ connecting Red Sea and Meditteranean Sea, prefiguring Suez Canal.
- Fought huge battle with Ottoman Empire, The Battle of the Pyramids.
- Expedition Failed when Nelson destroyed French supporting fleet at Battle of the Nile in 1798, meaning Napoleon’s force could no longer be resupplied or reinforced.
- He abandoned his army in August 1798 and went home.
20
Q
How did Napoleon’s aim to reclaim Haiti effect the Slave Trade?
A
- 1802
- Needed revenue to continue fighting in Europe
- Former slaves resisted Napoleon with assistance from Great Britain.
- Abolitionists aligned against French and became more popular.
21
Q
Impact of Napoleon’s aimed reclaimation of Haiti?
A
- In 1804, Wilburforce managed to pass a bill, but did not pass House of Lords.
- Efforts to end trade did not have moral foundation, but part of wider military strategy to undermine Napoleon.
- Napoleon had to find other ways to generate revenue, sold Louisiana in 1803 to fund 1805 invasion of UK.
22
Q
When was the Napoleonic Code written?
A
1804
23
Q
What was the Napoleonic Code
A
- Code of Laws loosely based on principles of the French Revolution, civil liberty, equality before law etc.
- Decriminalised homosexuality, aimed to sweep away privilege based on birth, grant freedom of religion, establish universal property rights and so on.
- Educational Reform
24
Q
How did Napoleonic Code reform education?
A
- Reformed public education based on ideals of reason and use of intelligent debate to build an ordered society, consolidated school system of primary, secondary, and universities, regulated by state with centrally recruited teachers.
25
What Naval Tactics were used in the 1700s?
- Naval Battles would occur in two long lines.
- Enabled sustained bombardment through broadsides and avoided friendly fire.
- Also reduced exposure of bow and stern of ships and improved communications between friendly ships (mirrors, flags etc.)
26
Drawback of 1700s Naval Tactics + Impact
- Often resulted in inconclusive battles with no clear winner.
- Due to this British Admiralty suggesting adopting new tactics.
27
Horatio Nelson Background
- Walked his way up ranks of Royal Navy.
- During AWOI, was based in Carribean where he nearly died of fever twice.
- Lost sight in eye in 1794 fighting in Corsica.
- Lost arm in 1797 fighting Spanish fleet near Tenerife.
- In 1801 in Copenhagen was ordered to retire by his commander, put telescope up to blind eye and said 'I see no such order.'
- Defeated French at Alexandria, ending Napoleon's campaign in Egypt in 1801.
28
When was the Battle of Trafalgar?
21st October 1805
29
What happened at the Battle of Trafalgar?
- Nelson is killed, dying before he'd learnt that he'd won.
- British do win however, preventing French Naval Invasion of Britain indefinitely and securing British Naval dominance.
30
Impact of Trafalgar
- Nelson has state funeral held, still seen as British hero.
- Nelson's Funeral was attended by 15,000.
31
Napoleon's Response to Trafalgar
- Napoleon gave up his naval ambitions and turned inward to face the 4th coalition.
- Led to the Battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon's masterpiece, French victory
- Napoleon won the war of the 4th coalition, at the Battle of Jena vs Prussia
32
When was the Battle of Austerlitz
- 2nd December 1805
33
Numbers at Battle of Austerlitz
65,000-75,000 French v 73,000-89,000 Austrians and Russians
34
When was the Battle of Jena
14th October 1806
35
Numbers at Battle of Jena
French outnumbered 2:1
36
When was the Continental System
-16th May 1806
37
Impact of Continental System
- Blockade of entire European Continent from Brest to Elbe River.
