Napoleon Quiz Flashcards
What year was Napoleon born?
1769
What year did Napoleon become a successful commander?
1793
What age did Napoleon become a General?
27
Who destroyed the French fleet at the Nile?
British; led by Horatio Nelson
What year did Napoleon overthrow the French government?
1799
What was Napoleon named?
First Consul
What year was Napoleonic Code created?
1804
What were positive effects of Napoleonic code?
- Unified legal system
- All men equal
- Freedom of religion
What were negative effects of Napoleonic code?
- State rights above individual rights
- Dismissed laws passed by 1789 revolution
- No rights for women and children
How did Napoleon fix the French economy?
- Established Bank of France
- All citizens pay tax
- Inflation under control
- Increase exports and balance budget
How did Napoleon impact French education?
- Established the University of France (supervisory bureau that looked after the schools of France)
- Made sure schools taught what he wanted them to (set pattern for future dictators)
- Began public education
- Extreme patriotism
Where did Napoleon’s Empire stretch from?
Stretched from France to Russia
What countries did Napoleon’s Empire have direct control of?
France and Netherlands
What countries did Napoleon’s Empire have indirect control of?
Spain, Italy, and the Confederation of the Rhine (Germany)
What battle was Napoleon’s fleet crushed in?
Battle of Trafalgar (1805)
Why did France lose at the Battle of Trafalgar?
Britain’s naval superiority
What was the Continental System (1806)?
- Economic warfare
- Napoleon forbade Europe from trading with Britain
- No ships from Britain may port in Europe
- Composed of the Berlin and Milan Decrees
How did Britain respond to the Continental System?
- Taxed any ship bound for France
- Created the Orders in Council
What was the Orders in Council?
- Britain orders neutral countries to not trade with France or with nations controlled by France
- More effective than the Continental System because Britain controlled the seas
Why did the continental system fail?
- Europe wanted to be free of French power (growing nationalism)
- By 1811 Russia began trading with France
How did nationalism contribute to the Napoleon’s downfall?
- Europe didn’t want to pay French tax
- Had no representation in government
- Wanted own traditions, customs, and government
How did Spain and Portugal stand up against France?
- Spain ambushed French troops in 1808
- Portugal rose up against France in 1812
- Both with help from Britain
How did Napoleon react to Russia resuming trade with Britain?
- Led 500,000 soldiers into Russia in May 1812 expecting a quick victory
How did Russia defeat France?
- Led a scorched earth campaign
- Russian soldiers destroy everything as they retreat (destroyed supplies and shelter for France)
- Retreat in October 1812
- Cold winter killed thousands
How many French soldiers escaped Russia?
Less than 100,000
What countries exploited the weakened France?
Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia
When did the allies capture Paris?
1814
After Paris was captured what happened to Napoleon?
Napoleon abdicated his title as emperor and was exiled to Elba in 1814
Who took control of France after Napoleon was exiled?
Brother of King Louis XVI
What did the new constitution (5th) entail?
- Equality for all male citizens
- Elected legislature
- Religious freedom
- Maintained Napoleonic code
What happened in March 1815?
Napoleon returns to Paris and declares himself emperor
What happened at the Battle of Waterloo (June 1815)?
British and Prussian troops defeat France
What happened to Napoleon after the Battle of Waterloo?
Was exiled to St. Helena where he died in 1821
