Napoleon Bonaparte - Background and Rise of Napolean Flashcards
1
Q
Who was Napoleon Bonaparte?
A
Napoleon Bonaparte lived from 1769 - 1821. His career began as a French military commander, and later crowned himself emperor of France.
“I found the crown of France in the gutter and I picked it up” is one of his famous quotes which shows thay the rulers of France had been displaced.
2
Q
Who were the directory?
A
- The directory became the new government of France after the convention, created a new constitution establishing a bicameral parliament.
- The government included an upper house, called the council of ancients, and a lower house, called the council of five hundred
- The ancient picked five directors from the list drawn up by the council of five hundred to form the directory.
3
Q
Why was the directory unsuccessful?
A
- Despite the desire for change and stability, the Directory was beset with economic and civil problems giving rise to high inflation and increased spending.
- Support for the new government weakened as it begin to alienate key sectors of society with its obvious corruption and quest for control of conflicting factions.
4
Q
Describe Napoleon’s early life.
A
- Born in 1769, three weeks after France took over his island nation known as Corsica.
- His father was a lawyer who took to French rule quickly. However, Napoleon hated his father as he felt his father had betrayed his country.
- In 1778, when Napoleon was nine years old, he was sent to a special military school in France called the Brienne.
5
Q
What was Napoleon’s reputation like in military school?
A
- Napoleon soon gain reputation as a skilled military officer
- He was made the commander of the French expedition to Italy.
- He organised the week and ill disciplined army. Under his leadership, the army won several battles in conquered most of Italy.
- Napoleon was given the task to defeat the British and was made in charge of the British expedition.
