French Revolution Unit 2 Flashcards
What tactic did russian use to defeat Napoleons army?
The schorched earth tactic - burning everything behind them to leave napoleons army wih no food/shelter
What was the congress of vienna?
A meeting between European leaders to restore traditional monarchies and balance of power after napoleons defeat
What is he napoleonic code?
A legal code established by Napoleon that is still used by countries today
Where was Napoleon exiled to after his final defeat?
St. Helena
What is the principle of legitamacy?
restoring the rightful monarchs who were deposed during napoleons rule
How did Napoleons rule both strengthen and weaken the concept of naitonalism in Europe?
Napoleons conquests instilled national pride in France, but his rule over other European states sparked nationalist movments that opposed foreign control, leading to the eventual unification of Germany and Italy
Evaluate the success of Napoleon’s domestic reforms in terms of long-term impacts on French society
Napoleon’s reforms, such as the Napoleonic Code and the Legion of Honor, fostered national unity and pride, but his aggressive expansionist policies ultimately drained the economy and led to his downfall. These reforms laid the foundation for modern French law, but his reign also curtailed the democratic ideals of the French Revolution.
Compare the Congress of Vienna’s reactionary policies with Enlightenment values. How did the Metternich system aim to suppress revolutionary ideals?
What was the result of this difference?
The Congress of Vienna sought to restore traditional monarchies and curb nationalist and liberal movements, directly opposing Enlightenment values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The Metternich system focused on stability through autocracy, fearing the chaos of revolution, but its failure to address growing desires for self-determination led to future conflicts.
Analyze how Napoleon’s military tactics and political propaganda contributed to both his rise and his eventual downfall.
Napoleon’s strategic military victories and use of propaganda to promote national pride were key to his rise. However, his overreach, particularly in Russia, strained resources and led to his downfall. His reliance on force to maintain power alienated other European nations, prompting coalitions that ultimately defeated him.
What were the unintended consequences of Napoleon’s conquests on Europe’s political landscape?
What was the impact on the metternich system?
While Napoleon sought to expand French dominance, his occupation of various European states increased local nationalism. His actions indirectly spurred movements toward unification in places like Italy and Germany, laying the groundwork for future national conflicts and the eventual breakdown of the Metternich system.
What island was Napoleon born on?
Corsica
Who were some of the key figures at the Congress of Vienna?
Duke of Wellington, Prince Metternich, Czar Alexander I, Prince Talleyrand, and King Frederick William II.
What principle did the Congress of Vienna support that aimed to restore monarchs to power?
Principle of Legitimacy
What was the principle of compensations?
The ida that countries who helped defeated Napolon would get land as compensation
What organization formed to enforce the ideas of the congress of Vienna?
The quadruple alliance
What did Napoleons legion of Honor reqard?
People who demonstrated great nationalism
What was the oucome of Napolons russia campaign?
Napoleon returned to france with only 10% of his army - due to schorched earth tactic
How did Napoleon gain control of the French governement?
Through a Coup d’etat
What system did congress of Vienna aim to restore in Europe
The metternich system
What military campagin marker Napoleons frst signiggant military defeat?
The russia campaign
What did Napoleon sell to the USA to fund his wars?
Louisiana
What happend to Napoloen after his defeat at waterloo?
He was exiled to st.Helena
What triggered the Congress of Vienna?
Napoleon’s defeat and exile.
What was one of Napoleon’s major economic reforms?
Improving the French banking system.
Who did Napoleon convince to overthrow the government?
Government officals leading to a succesful Coup d’etat
What battle marked Napoleon’s final defeat?
The Battle of Waterloo.
Analyze how Napoleon’s domestic reforms increased national pride in France
What effect did this have on the publics view of him?
His reforms, including the Napoleonic Code, the Legion of Honor, and public works projects (such as monuments), fostered a sense of unity and national pride, making people more supportive of his rule.
How did Napoleon’s expansion across Europe lead to the unification of Germany and Italy?
French occupation created resentment among local populations, which in turn strengthened nationalist movements, eventually contributing to the unification of these regions.
Compare and contrast the goals of the French Revolution with Napoleon’s reign
The French Revolution aimed to establish democracy and promote Enlightenment ideals, while Napoleon restored order and stability but as an emperor, curtailing some democratic ambitions.
Evaluate the long-term impact of the Napoleonic Code on European legal systems.
The Napoleonic Code standardized laws and established principles such as equality before the law, many of which are still the foundation of legal systems in Europe and beyond today.
How did Napoleon’s military genius both help and hinder his empire-building efforts?
His strategic military skills allowed him to expand his empire rapidly, but his overextension and underestimation of the difficulty of campaigns like Russia ultimately led to his downfall.
What were the unintended consequences of Napoleon’s efforts to block British trade?
His attempts to isolate Britain led to the costly Russian Campaign, weakened France, and allowed other European powers to form alliances against him.
How did the Congress of Vienna set the stage for future conflicts in Europe?
By restoring monarchies and suppressing nationalist movements, the Congress of Vienna left unresolved ethnic and national tensions that contributed to future conflicts, including World War I.
Assess the effectiveness of the Metternich System in preventing revolutions.
Although it temporarily restored conservative rule, the Metternich System was ultimately ineffective as nationalist and liberal movements continued to rise, leading to revolutions throughout the 19th century.
How did Napoleon’s rise to power challenge the traditional European monarchies?
His seizure of power through a Coup d’état and self-appointment as emperor challenged the legitimacy of monarchies and showed that military success could translate into political power.
Compare Napoleon’s use of propaganda to that of modern political leaders.
Both use speeches, symbols, and nationalistic rhetoric to increase public support, but Napoleon’s control of vast areas and his military victories gave him unique leverage in shaping national identity.
What role did the Principle of Compensation play in shaping the borders of post-Napoleonic Europe?
The redistribution of land to those who helped defeat Napoleon created imbalances, as nationalist groups were often ruled by outsiders, sowing the seeds for later ethnic conflicts.
In what ways did Napoleon’s rule both uphold and contradict the ideals of the French Revolution?
While Napoleon promoted meritocracy - individuals are assigned to positions of power, influence, or reward solely on the basis of their abilities and achievements and not on the basis of their social, cultural, or economic background- and legal reforms (upholding Enlightenment values), his autocratic rule and conquest of other nations contradicted the revolution’s ideals of democracy and equality.
How did the failure of the Quadruple Alliance influence the rise of nationalism in Europe?
The weakening of the alliance allowed nationalist movements in places like Germany and Italy to gain momentum, leading to unifications and the reshaping of the European political map.
Predict the possible outcomes if Napoleon had successfully defeated Russia. How might this have changed European history?
If Napoleon had defeated Russia, he could have solidified his control over Europe, potentially preventing the coalitions that ultimately defeated him. This could have delayed or altered the course of 19th-century European nationalism and imperial decline.
How did Napoleon’s reforms to education influence French society in the long term?
: His emphasis on education laid the groundwork for a more educated French populace, fostering future leaders and thinkers who would shape France’s cultural and intellectual legacy.
Compare Napoleon’s leadership style to that of other revolutionary leaders like George Washington or Lenin.
Napoleon was more autocratic and imperialistic, focusing on personal power and expansion, while figures like Washington valued republicanism, and Lenin focused on ideological governance.
How did the territorial changes resulting from the Congress of Vienna contribute to the outbreak of World War I?
What specific region sufferd the most tension?
The imposition of borders that ignored ethnic and national identities created long-lasting tensions in regions like the Balkans, contributing to the instability that sparked World War I.
Evaluate the role of Napoleon’s personal charisma in his ability to lead. Could his achievements have been replicated without this trait?
Napoleon’s charisma was critical to rallying troops and gaining popular support, and while his strategic mind was important, it is unlikely that someone without his personal appeal could have achieved similar success.
When did the French revolution begin?
1789
What event What event is considered the symbolic start of the French Revolution?
The Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789.
