French Revolution, Points Test 12 – Political Change under Napoleon Flashcards
1
Q
How was Napoleon nearly assassinated in 1800?
A
- On 24 December 1800, Napoleon on way to gala performance of Haydn’s creation.
- A wagon bearing a barrel filled with gunpowder and shrapnel.
- Known as the ‘infernal machine’.
- This wagon set off as his carriage passed.
- Bonaparte saved by the speed of his carriage (had ordered the driver to go fast to not be late) and by the poor quality of gunpowder used by plotter.
- However, 52 people killed or wounded, including Hortense Beauharnais, Napoleon’s stepdaughter, who was in a separate carriage with Josephine and was cut on the wrist by flying metal.
- The bomb, which also destroyed several buildings, a clear sign Napoleon not universally accepted.
- He would have to take action if he was to preserve and consolidate his power.
2
Q
How did Napoleon try to use the Plebiscite of 1800 to consolidate his power?
A
- Napoleon’s first step in consolidating power was to appeal directly to the French people for ratification of the Constitution of Year VIII in a plebiscite.
- In practice, this wouldn’t alter his position.
- It did provide an opportunity for an apparent show of concern for democratic processes and a retrospective justification for the coup of Brumaire.
- It also supplied Napoleon with the necessary justification for the coup of Brumaire.
- It also supplied Napoleon with the necessary confirmation of his position as First Consul to challenge those politicians who had spoken out against his arrangement.
3
Q
How did the Plebiscite of 1800 unfold and why did Lucien prove vital?
A
- The vote in 1800 nearly backfired since few of the electorate chose to turn out and vote.
- Modern historians have calculated that the turnout was roughly 25%.
- This represented 1.5 million people.
- However, as in November 1799, Napoleon was saved by his brother Lucien.
- He had been appointed minister of the interior in December 1799.
- Lucien adjusted the statistics to suggest that 46.6% of the electorate had taken part, and that they overwhelmingly supported Napoleon’s actions.
4
Q
How did plebiscites prove similar under Napoleon?
A
- A fairly low level of participation was similar to similar plebiscites.
- Only 33% turned out to ratify the 1793 Constitution.
- 22% turned out to ratify the 1795 Constitution.
- Poor response of 1800, however, suggests there was no immediate rush of support for the regime.
- Statistics must also have been influenced by the open system whereby votes were declared in public.
5
Q
How did Napoleon make other measures to establish his power early in his reign?
A
- Napoleon rapidly established his position in 1800, behaving almost like a monarch.
- Moved into the Tuileries palace, minted coins with his effigy.
- On these, he appeared either bare-headed or wearing Laurel, recalling ancient roman symbol of supreme authority.
- Like former kings, he selected members of council of state over which he provided, awarding them ministerial positions.
- Cambacérés was his first minister of justice, Fouché became minister for Police.
- He enjoyed ceremonies and entertained at ‘state banquets’.
- However, there was no further attempt to raise his status immediately.
6
Q
Why was there little change initially between the Consulate and the Directory?
A
- Establishment of the Consulate actually involved little dislocation.
- Constitution had provided for some continuity of personnel between Directory and new Tribunate and Legislative body.
- Moreover, the structure of government remained the same, most civil servants continuing in their posts.
- New innovations Napoleon introduced (e.g. Prefects) simply strengthened central control within existing framework.
- Napoleon could claim that he had responded to France’s needs by supplying strong and effective government.
- He argued he was a ruler who made decisions ‘in the peoples’ best interests.’
7
Q
How did Napoleon deal with the threat of the Jacobins?
A
- Jacobinism not tolerated.
- Napoleon instructed police to be vigilant for it.
- Spies used to infiltrate Jacobin groups, leaders made an example of.
- Some Jacobins in fact behind a failed ‘dagger conspiracy’ to assassinate Napoleon in October 1800.
- Wrongly blamed for ‘infernal machine’ attack in December.
- This was perpetrated by royalists, who were also found and guillotined.
- In 1801, 129 Jacobin leaders arrested and deported to the Seychelles or Guiana.
- Civil servants thought to be Jacobin sympathisers also dismissed.
- Jacobin threat strongest in lower ranks of army, lower classes in towns, esp. Paris.
8
Q
How did Napoleon deal with the threat of the Royalists?
A
- Royalists were another problem.
- Some initially entertained the false hope that Napoleon would quickly place the Comte de Provence (Louis XVIII) on the throne.
- A few thought he would advance Louis-Philippe d’Orléans.
- However, in September 1800, Napoleon responded to a letter from Louis XVIII making his position clear.
- ‘You should not hope to return to France. It would be better for you to march over one hundred thousand corpses.’
- Dealt firmly with royalist outbreaks.
- Associated protests against conscription and general banditry in western France, continuing use of military tribunals to deal with rebel leaders.
- General Brune, successful in Holland, dealt with those who refused Napoleon’s offer of truce.
- In Brittany, 6,000 Chouan prisoners were taken.
- 750 shot in 1800.
- Napoleon also extended the remit of the police, used prefects to report on incidences of trouble, thus ensuring any further disorder localised and firmly addressed.
- There were various royalist disturbances in the capital between 1800 and 1804.
9
Q
How did Napoleon deal with further Royalist protests in 1800?
A
- There was a royalist demonstration in Paris on anniversary of Louis XVI’s execution (21 January 1800).
- Façade of Sainte-Madeleine was covered in black, King’s will posted on the door.
- A senator was captured, a constitutional bishop assassinated.
- ‘Opera Plot’, a spy ring and the Cadoudal conspiracy all involved royalists.
- 18 aristocrats were condemned to death but reprieved.
- They remained imprisoned until 1814.
- The ‘common’ conspirators were guillotined.
- At least two royalist assassination attempts against Napoleon in which the army commander Pichegru and the Chouan military leader Georges Cadoudal were implicated.
10
Q
By 1804, how did Napoleon crack down still further on the Royalists and thus led to the assassination of the Duc d’Enghien?
A
- By 1804, Bonaparte’s patience ran out.
- His spy network (wrongly) reported news that a Bourbon price was involved in these conspiracies.
- Suspicions fell on duc d’Enghien, living 15km away from French border in Baden.
- He was the son of the Prince of Condé and a noble of the blood.
- His mother the sister of Philippe Egalite.
- Had served with émigré armies during revolutionary wars.
- In 1801, married and retired to Baden.
- He was said to be keeping touch with emigres and royalists.
- A plot hatched to kidnap him.
- He was taken to Strasbourg and accused of bearing arms against the republic, receiving funds from England and plotting.
- He admitted to the first two and was found guilty.
- Summarily shot in a ditch of the Chateau de Vincennes.
- Thereafter the royalists gave Napoleon little trouble.
11
Q
How did Napoleon deal with the moderates during his reign?
A
- Napoleon generally accepted by ‘moderates’.
- Some critical of what they saw as emerging ‘dictatorship’ and wanted a constitution that guaranteed rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
- One Madame de Stael, respected writer and thinker.
- She escaped France during terror.
- Known for eloquent conversation and extensive writings, fictional and political.
- She tried to share ideas of liberal government with Napoleon.
- Her salon where her lover, Benjamin Constant, and his friends met formed nucleus of liberal resistance group.
- This group so irritated Napoleon that he banished Constant and de Stael 64km from Paris, exiled until 1814.
- Criticisms such as those raised by de Stael’s circle also controlled by curbs on press freedom.
- It became almost impossible to voice any opposition in print.
- Henri-Benjamin-Constant de Rebeque (1767-1830) swiss-french moderate republican.
- Appointed to tribunate in 1799, but forced to withdraw in 1802 due to his criticisms.
- Went into exile in 1803, but returned during Napoleon’s 100 days in 1814 to advise Napoleon on the Acte Additionel, for a more liberal and democratic government.
12
Q
How did Napoleon try to reconcile French political society?
A
- Napoleon tried equally to win over potential opponents by offering opportunities for reconciliation.
- Offered generous amnesty to rebels in west who were prepared to lay down their arms and give their support.
- This helped win over some of the key royalist leaders, especially when Napoleon promised to protect the Catholic religion.
- Also made overtures to émigrés and refractory priests and offered rewards and posts to those prepared to support him.
13
Q
Why and How did Napoleon try to win over the Bourgeoise?
A
- Napoleon’s policies, speech-making and propaganda were above all designed to win bourgeoisie support.
- Particularly anxious to reassure purchasers of biens nationaux.
- These people had keen interest in maintaining stability and preventing any reversion to earlier times.
- Changes to the vote gave them more political influence.
- They were encouraged by pronouncements that there would be no attempt to restore émigré or church lands.
14
Q
What was Napoleon’s policy of ‘Amalgame’?
A
- Napoleon spoke of ‘amalgame’ (ending social divisions of ancient regime by reconciling old nobility and new ruling elites).
- Spoke of raillement (rallying all, from nobles to Jacobins, around new regime).
- Some of this just talk, but as regime became more secure and successful, there were successes.
- Members of old nobility accepted positions in the state.
- Both foreign policy success and a brief prospect of peace made reconciliation easier in the early years.
15
Q
How did Napoleon’s early successes from 1800-1802 help secure his position?
A
- A Success against Austrian forces at Marengo (in Piedmont) in 1800 provided new opportunity for propagandist exultation of Napoleon’s Military heroism.
- 1802 Peace of Amiens with Britain offered some respite from constant war for the first time in ten years.
- It was popular with those members of the bourgeoisie whose interests were in trade and peacetime occupations.
- By giving those with influence what they wanted, Napoleon won over even some who had felt doubts in 1799.
