Foreign Policy Flashcards
Summary: In what areas can Napoleons foreign policy be considered successful?
- Crimean war and subsequent Paris peace conference
- North Africa
- North Italian War 1859
Why did France join the Crimean War (1853-1856)?
Britain and Russia were engaged in conflict over influence in the crumbling Turkish empire. A dispute over the holy places in Palestine gave France the excuse to ally with Britain, beat Russia (the gendarme of Europe) and advance French claims as protector of Christian holy places (in the middle east)
Why was the Crimean War a French success?
Subsequent peace conference was held in Paris 1856 as recognition of France’s restored repuation as a great European power.
What did the French do in Africa? Why was this beneficial to the empire?
- Territorial expansion and modernisation of Algiers (e.g. building of railways) advanced colonialism
- Building of Suez canal allowed trade with china and the creation of east Asian colonies such as Indochina (Vietnam)
During Napoleon, French overseas territory doubled in size
By what year did French territorial expanision extend as far inland as the edge of the Sahara dessert?
1857
Which French diplomat negotiated with the Egyptian viceroy to form the Suez canal company?
Ferdinand De Lessep
In what way did France have influence over the Suez Canal?
- Cheap credits from the new banks e.g. Credit Mobilier was used in construction of canal
- The French Suez company had the rights to use the canal for up to 99 years after its completion. (Britain saw this as undermining their dominance in global trade)
‘a monument to the vision and industry of the second empire’ -Dr Bevan
How did France become involved in Italian unification?
-1856, the Italian question was dicussed at Paris Peace conference
- 1858 Orsini affair encourages Napoleon to ‘do something for Italy’
- France saw Italy as a means for territorial gains
Why was Italy a foreign policy success for Napoleon?
- 1858 Plombieres agreement with Cavour meant that France got Nice and Savoy in exchange for giving Piedmont 200,000 soldiers. Lombardy was taken by Piedmont but Napoleon withdrew before they could take venetia due to the mounting numbers of French casualities and the fact that the war was going on longer than he had anticipated.
- 1859 Treaty of Villafranca concluded peace with Austria
- Treaty of Turin 1860 annexed Nice and Savoy to France
- Sucess for France as they were able to gain territory while withdrawing when it became clear that they themselves maybe in danger.
When and why was Napoleon angered at the mexican president?
FP Failure
Mexican president suspended loan interest payments to French (also British and Spanish) creditors in July 1861
Why was the joint French, Spanish, British military coalition to Mexico 1861 initially a sucess?
FP Failure
They put Austrian Archduke Maximilian on the throne of Mexico
Why was Mexico ultimately a failure?
FP Failure
Maximilian (Emperor 1864-1867) was met with great resistance from mexicans. Spanish and British troops withdrew but French stayed on as they wanted to establish a French Catholic empire in America. French troops suffered huge losses (6000 troops by guerrilla forces) and were obliged to back down after US forces threatened to intervene. Napoleons plans were shown to be delusional, French withdrew in1866 leaving Maximilian to capture and firing squad.
In what way was Napoleon outwitted by Bismark?
FP Failure
In July 1870 Wilhelm I, King of Prussia, sent a telegram to Bismarck to report the demands made by the French. He edited the telegram, making it more provocative, and published it the German newspapers as the ‘Ems Dispatch’. His alterations made it seem as if the Prussian king and the French ambassador had insulted one another. This provoked Napoleon into declaring war with Prussia in July 1870.
When was the Franco-Prussian War?
FP Failure
1870-1871
Why was the Franco-Prussian War a disaster for Napoleon?
FP Failure
French troops were outnumbered 275,000 to 450,000 to Germans due to the opposition Napoleon faced when he attempted to introduce conscription.
The French commanders also had not had the experience of European Wars that Prussian commanders had recently acquired.
Battle of Sedan September 1870 Napoleon III was captured, although fighting continued under a new French government (as the Germans attempted to advance into France and take Paris), this moved the war in favour of Prussia.
The indiscretion of the French press meant that information about the advancement of the French army and French military planning was published.
French army was indecisive due to poor leadership
(Germans united against the common enemy that was the French. Until this point Germany was ununited states, however after Bismarck published the EMs dispatch in every German newspaper they united to defeat France. France was outnumbered.)
