Napoleon Flashcards
1
Q
1799: The problems of the Directory
A
- Growth of disinterest
- Reliance on the army
- Resurgence in opposition
- Weak structure
- Financial issues
- Defeat in Europe (2nd Coalition)
- Coup of Prairial (Elections)
- Draconian Measures
- Anti-Conscription
- Law of Hostages
- Civil War in Provinces
2
Q
1799: Napoleon’s Strengths
A
- Support from the Army (Abilities)
- Popular Image
- Brother Lucien = Member of 500 (President)
- Support from Barras (Leader of the Armed Forces)
- NOT ASSOCIATED WITH RIGHT OR LEFT
3
Q
The Coup of Brumaire
A
- Isolate Directory (St. Cloud, outside Paris)
- Force change with support of Army (Murat)
- 3 men-led executive
- Ensure support of the Police
- Support from the Army
4
Q
Napoleon’s consolidation
A
- The Constitution of 1799
- Napoleon fused the Consul positions together
- ‘Pack the Senate’
- Plebiscites (1800, 1802, 1804)
- Changing the Electoral System
- The Hereditary Principle (1802 Plebiscite)
- Napoleon crowns himself Emperor (1804 Plebiscite)
- Divorcing Josephine
5
Q
Napoleonic Economy
A
- Conscripted soldiers at low wages
- Raised but fair taxes
- Large scale loans
- Land sold that was previously owned by Catholic Church
- Increased trade
- Seized food supplies
- French luxury industry increased
- Central Bank created - Bank of France
6
Q
Taxation System
A
- Reformed taxation and legal system simultaneously
- Help from Gaudin, Marbois, and Mollieu
- 840 professionals appointed to collect taxes.
- Previously people did it as a side job
- No loss of money in the taxation process
- Prizes for most taxes collected.
7
Q
Civil Code
A
- March 21, 1804
- Fitted ideas from the Revolution
- Allowed freedom of Religion
- Government jobs should go to the most qualified.
- Nationwide legal system
- Influenced by Roman law
- Most impressive of Napoleon’s legislative measures.
- Man had total control of wife and family (prison)
- Lack of liberty
- Abolition of feudalism
8
Q
Police State
A
- Heavy taxation - reliance on government funding
- Spies to watch citizens of France
- Secret Police, led by Fouché
- The use of the Gendarmerie.
- Mass Censorship
- State Prisons (Prisons d’État)
9
Q
Censorship
A
- Reduction in Parisian Newspapers
- 73 to 13 in January 1800
- 1807: Only four remained - “Editors of good character and of incorruptible patriotism”
- Every issue should be signed by a “recognised editor”
- Napoleon’s close advisors and ministers held high-powered positions at the newspapers.
- Censorship was the topic of many articles
- Belief in free press - Justification of Napoleon’s actions
- Review of books pending publication
- Rewards for writing the ‘correct’ style of book
- Authors of unfavorable content were often arrested
10
Q
Changes in the Social Structure
A
- Legion of Honour
- Recognize the merits of the Civilians - Marshals of France for 26 generals
- Recreation of Nobility
- Titles were given by Napoleon
- If you were wealthy then they could become hereditary - Keep powerful people close to Napoleon
- Meritocracy
11
Q
The Empire
A
- Pays Reunis:
- Territory directly ruled from Paris - Pays Conquis:
- Nominally independent Satellite States - Pays Allies:
- Allied Nations ruled by their own Sovereigns
12
Q
Congress of Vienna
A
- September 1814-June 1815
- Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and France
- Settle the issues of Europe
- Some go back to the French Revolution - Stability, Financial Security, Balance of Power
13
Q
Religion in Napoleonic France
A
- 1800: Napoleon looks to improve relations with the Catholic Church.
- Napoleon’s aim was to gain more popular support
- Catholicism was associated with the Royalist cause, it needed to be connected with Society as a whole.
- The church would be a force for peace and stability
- Napoleon was brought up as a Catholic but as he was Jacobin he became an agnostic
14
Q
The Concordat
A
- The separation between Church and State must end.
- The Catholic Church would recognise the Revolution
- No attempt to recover land previously made by the church would be made.
