Napoleon

Question 1

Explain the conflict of the Consulate

Answer 1

• Sieyes suggested Napoleon should be the figurehead in the new constitution, Napoleon refused this role, insisting on a First Consul as head of state with complete control, and that HE must be that First Consul…lol
• Sieyes wanted voix deliberative (equal vote) among the 3 Consuls, but Napoleon insisted the 2 of them have voix consultative (only express opinion), and his decision would be final in all matters
• Napoleon’s domineering personality
• Napoleon did this to:
  …make the Republic loved by its own citizens
  …make the Republic respected abroad and feared by enemies

Question 2

What is a plebiscite?

Answer 2

the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question such as a change in the constitution

Question 3

How did Napoleon consolidate his power? (7)

Answer 3

1) Centralisation

• Prefecture System: prefects, sub prefects
• in charge of tax collection, surveillance of public opinion, and public activity
• place suspicious people under house arrest
• formed a chain of command, with reports going back to Napoleon in Paris

2) Art and architecture: Napoleon had an appreciation of art

• negotiated for Italian art to bring home during the Italian Campaign
• 1803, Musée Napoleon
• commissioned 30 paintings of himself, accessible to commoners (propoganda)
• 1806, commissioned the Arc de Triomphe, solely to celebrate military victories
• 1810, built the Vendome Column, a war memorial, with a small statue of Napoleon on top of it, looking very Roman

3) Media and censorship

• everything vetted through Napoleon before publication
• publishing media opposing the regime = exile or execution
• theatres showing media against the regime = close down
• 1811, only 4 newspapers in Paris, and each department allowed 1 publication each
• government paper La Moniteur, stories had to be republished from here

4) Patronage

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• Legion of Honour: appointed to join the club by Napoleon, similar to ancient Roman legions
• 15 groups of 400 across France
• members receive rewards, including: financial stipends, titles, land, and appointment to rule colonies
• ensure loyalty

5) Control of workers

• 1803, Livret: a book, works like an ID card, contains all personal details, as well as employment information
• can’t get a job or travel around France without this
• workers had to get permission to travel from department to department
• track spread of information

6) Military victories

• sent home bulletins talking about wars, enhancing Napoleon’s role as general
• saying in France ‘lie like a bulletin’
• sent out dispatches of written encouragement to his soldiers every morning to boost morale

7) Police state

• Joseph Fouché was in charge, sending reports to Napoleon daily
• standard uniform police unit called Gendarmes
• non-uniformed police carried out secret intelligence work
• centralised police force, responsible for public order and state security (e.g. monitor food prices, impose censorship, and reinforce conscription)
• intelligence gathered could be for blackmail, enforce loyalty
• 1810, passed imprisonment without trial
• 1814, built new prisons, number of political prisoners increasing
• Napoleon also created another intelligence system separate from this police force to limit Fouché’s power

Question 4

Why was Napoleon so successful?

Answer 4

• leadership skills
• formed a special bond with the army
• his army was a product of the revolution, based on the strength of the whole nation
• Grande Armée, Napoleon’s renamed army, which he split into corps, allowing flexibility and speed
• developed new tactics, such as living off the land instead of waiting for provisions
• peace treaties involved payment, war became self-financing
• weakness of his enemies, though they were allies against France, they undermined each other with mutual suspicion

Question 5

What changes did Napoleon make?

Answer 5

1) Napoleonic Code

• reduced womens’ rights, made women feel like they lost gains of the revolution and more
• every MAN is equal under the law, consolidated gains of the revolution such as the August Decrees and the Declaration
• influenced other law codes across Europe, who wanted to develop and modernise like France
• established the supremacy of the husband over wife and children
• re-established slavery in French colonies

2) Education

• produced a more educated male population, contribute to his court, develop France, military talents
• primary schools run by the Church, local community or individual and taught only basic education
• equal opportunities regardless of birth or wealth
• changed secondary education, common syllabus
• aimed to train France’s future civil servants and army officers

3) Religion

• concordat agreement with the pope - roman catholics recognised as ‘the religion of the vast majority of French citizens’
• possessions of former church lands were guaranteed to purchasers
• state paid clergy salary
• bishops had to take an oath of loyalty to the state
• Napoleon had the power to elect priests and bishops
• made catholicism the dominant religion, but not exclusive, also removed the idea that supporting the Church = against the revolution
• got the backing of the Pope

4) Finance

• established the Bank of France
• promoted free trade
• implementing the gold standard (currency backed by gold), reducing the risk of economic crisises
• simplified and centralised tax collection systems
• gave manufacturers tariff protection by putting import duties on foreign goods
• control of other nations gave businesses access to wider european markets
• implemented the Continental system: Napoleon’s strategy to weaken Britain’s economy by banning trade between Britain and states occupied by or allied with France, though it proved to be ineffective

5) Infrastructure

• improved and expanded France’s road system for trade, communication, and troop movements
• built new bridges and canals like Pont des Arts, the first metal bridge in Paris
• modernized Paris and urban spaces like the building of the fountain Fontaine du Pumier
• revamped and upgraded ports like the Port of Cherbourg into a major naval base with artificial harbors
• standardized measurements like the metric system to make trade more efficient

Question 6

Explain the downfall of Napoleon’s empire

Answer 6

his big ego and over confidence in full force now

• allowed himself 9 weeks to defeat Russia, so he only prepared summer clothing and provisions for 3 weeks
• Russian armies continually retreated, using the scorched earth tactic as they went
• Napoleon’s army was lured deeper into Russia as a mild autumn went on, and when the severe winter hit he was forced to retreat
• only 25,000 survived from the 600,000 at the start

War of the Sixth Coalition (France won the first 5)

• Major powers of Europe + United Netherlands defeat Napoleon, occupying Paris
• Napoleon exiled to the Island of Elba
• constitutional monarchy established, King Louis XVIII crowned
• Napoleon escaped, Louis XVIII fled to Britain and Napoleon resumed his title as Emperor

War of the Seventh Coalition

• Napoleon defeated at the Battle of Waterloo by joint Prussian British army
• exiled to St. Helena where he died in 1821

Question 7

Explain Napoleon’s coronation and its significance

Answer 7

2 December 1804

• crowned himself, shows he is not subservient to the Church
• invited the Pope, and held the coronation in the Notre Dame cathedral
• crowned Josephine Empress, as shown in the painting by state propagandist David
• cathedral decked out in ancient Greek and Roman decorations