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French Revolution > Napoleon's Impact on Europe and his downfall > Flashcards

Napoleon's Impact on Europe and his downfall Flashcards

1
Q

Battle of Marengo

A

June 1800

Aided by arrival of reserve troops, having previously been outnumbered by the Austrians

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2
Q

Second French defeat of Austrians following the Battle of Marengo

A

Battle of Hohenlinden
December 1800
Moreau

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3
Q

Which treaty were the Austrians forced to sign following the Battle of Hohenlinden?

A

Treaty of Lunéville (February 1801)

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4
Q

Terms of the Treaty of Lunéville

A

France kept all of its former gains (Belgium), and gained Tuscany
Austria lost all its land in Italy except Venice
Left just Britain at war with France

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5
Q

The Peace of Amiens

A

March 1802
Between France and Britain
France withdrew from Holland, Naples and the Papal States
Britain returned all overseas territories taken in the past nine years to France
eg. Minorca and Malta

The peace did not last
Neither side fully honoured its terms
May 1803 - Britain declared war again

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6
Q

Battle of Trafalgar

A

October 1805
Nelson destroys a joint Franco-Spanish fleet
Franco-Spanish fleet lost 22/33 ships, whilst the British lost none
Confirmed British naval superiority and deterred Napoleon from his plans to invade Britain

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7
Q

Battle of Ulm

A

October 1805
Defeated Austrians on the River Danube
Allowed French to enter Vienna unopposed

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8
Q

Battle of Austerlitz

A

December 1805
Defeated a larger Austrians-Russian force of 90k men with only 68k French soldiers
Ended Austria’s part in the coalition
Forced the Russians to retreat

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9
Q

Napoleon’s establishment of the ‘Confederation of the Rhine’

A 
July 1806
Provoked Prussians (along with continental blockade) into joining the Third Coalition
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10
Q

Which battle did the French defeat the Prussians at?

A

Jena-Auerstadt (October 1806)

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11
Q

Which battles led to the total withdrawal of Russian troops? (1807)

A

Eylau (February)

Friedland (June)

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12
Q

Peace treaty that ended the war of the Third Coalition

A

Pressburg

December 1805

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13
Q

War of the Third Coalition

A 
End of Peace of Amiens
Trafalgar (Britain)
Ulm (Austria)
Austerlitz (Austria)
Treaty of Pressburg - December 1805
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14
Q

Terms of the Treaty of Pressburg

A

Austrian land in Italy and Bavaria were ceded to France

Indemnity of 40 million francs had to be paid to France

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15
Q

Annexation of the Papal States

A

February 1808
Diplomatic relations between the French and the Papacy were broken
Strengthened Napoleon’s continental system
Showed that the balance of power had swung firmly away from the Papacy in favour of Napoleon

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16
Q

Ingredients of Napoleonic military success

A

Grand Armee
Napoleon’s military leadership
Weaknesses of France’s enemies

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17
Q

Strengths of the Grand Armee

A

Smaller units (corps) could advance by separate routes and then concentrate for battle
Raw recruits fought alongside veterans
French public motivated to fight for “la patrie” and the revolutionary principles
14 million French men to call upon

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18
Q

Evidence of Napoleon’s strong military leadership

A

Devised military strategy (catch enemy by surprise / cut enemy in two)
Took a personal role in directing battles once troops were engaged
Motivated his soldiers (personal charisma / incentives / direct address)

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19
Q

Evidence of the weaknesses of France’s enemies

A

Generals not appointed based on merit
Out-thought by Napoleon’s strategy
Lack of unity between them

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20
Q

Values of the French Empire

A

Mark of prestige
Contributed to French income through taxes and materials
Provided men for the army
Provided an opportunity to export revolutionary values

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21
Q

Problems with the French Empire

A

Cost of administration greater than the revenue it provided
Loyalty of subjects not guaranteed
People resented imposition of French ways on their country, increasing nationalist resistance to the empire

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22
Q

Administration of the French Empire

A

Same as in France
Privilege abolished
Napoleonic legal codes applied
Centralised administration
Gendarmeries set up to reinforce central power
Well-oiled bureaucratic machine on the whole

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23
Q

Economic policies of the French Empire

A

Amount of revenue maximised
Taxes simplified
States under French control (Pays Reunis) enjoyed preferential treatment
Satellites (Pays Conquis) supplied raw materials and food for the French, and were not allowed to develop manufacturing industries that competed with French products

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24
Q

Successes of economic policies of the French Empire

A

Improved efficiencies raised the tax revenue in the Kingdom of Italy by 50% between 1805 and 1811
Belgium took advantage of ban of British cotton
Mining in the Rhineland

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25
Failures of economic policies of the French Empire
Continental system
26
The continental system
Established by the Berlin Decree in November 1806 Banned all French trade with Britain Insisted that both France's allies and neutral countries follow suit or be treated as enemies
27
Intentions of the continental system
Aimed to weaken Britain by closing its European markets, forcing it to sue for peace Hoped to increase French trade and production to fill the gap left by Britain's inability to trade with Europe
28
Why wasn't the continental system successful?
French Navy and French control of the coastlines of Europe not strong enough to enforce it Britain was able to trade with North and South America
29
How did the continental system backfire on France economically?
British counter-action affected French producers, depriving them of raw materials Absence of overseas trade meant that manufactured goods had to be sold within continental Europe, but there were insufficient markets, due to crippling taxation Over-production brought a collapse in prices, and the slump was aggravated by a bad harvest
30
Social policies of the French Empire
``` Concordat of 1801 applied Feudal privileges attacked Civil Code imposed Military conscription Benefitted middle classes, but not the common people at all ```
31
Challenges to the French Empire
``` The continental blockade The Peninsular War The Austrian campaign The Russian campaign The War of the Sixth Coalition ```
32
How did the continental blockade challenge the French Empire?
Provoked complaints and uprisings, with certain goods now unobtainable The strains of maintaining it added to Napoleon's commitments and military engagements Russia opting out in 1810 led to failed Russian campaign
33
How did the Peninsular War begin?
1808 Napoleon forced the abdications of Charles in March then Ferdinand in May using 100,000 French soldiers, entering Spain under the pretext of reinforcing the Franco-Spanish army in Portugal
34
French defeats in the Peninsular War
Battle of Bailén July 1808 Defeated by the Army of Andalusia Forced the French to retreat and abandon much of Spain Battle of Vimiero August 1808 Duke of Wellington leads a British/Spanish army to defeat of the French
35
Reasons why the Peninsular War proved to be disastrous for Napoleon
Half of the French soldiers who fought in the campaign were killed Failed to enforce the Continental Blockade Hostile peasants Guerilla warfare Mountainous and barren terrain meant that they couldn't live off the land Supply lines back to France were difficult to maintain
36
Consequences of losing the Peninsular War for France
Eroded French military prestige Relived pressure on Britain, easing the economic damage done by the British economy Cast doubts on Napoleon's military and political judgement
37
Factors for French defeat in the Peninsular War
Guerilla warfare British troops Napoleon's decision to personally withdraw from Spain at the beginning of 1809 Brilliance of Wellington Royal Navy supplying food, equipment and troops
38
Austrian campaign (War of the Fifth Coalition)
Austrians invaded French Bavaria in April 1809 France defeated Austria at the Battle of Eckmühl later that month, forcing an Austrian retreat Austrians defeat the French at Essling in May French beat Austrians at Wagram in July, but lost 34,000 men Austrians sought peace, resulting in the Treaty of Schönbrunn (October 1809)
39
Treaty of Schönbrunn
October 1809 Cost Austria the Illyrian provinces on the Adriatic coast, with a population of 3.5 million Austrian army reduced to 150,000 men Indemnity of 85 million francs had to be paid to France Austria agreed to join the Continental Blockade
40
Factors for difficulties and losses in the Austrian campaign
``` Over-confidence Less prepared Less veteran presence in the army Reliance on foreigners from satellite states Improved Austrian army Peninsular War had diverted troops ```
41
Reasons for tension between Tsar Alexander and Napoleon by 1810, leading to the invasion of Russia
Strains of the continental system and British blockade Napoleon's marriage to an Austrian rather than a Russian princess Concerns about Napoleon's ambitions for Poland Dissatisfied by Napoleon's failure to help him further Russia's ambitions in the eastern Mediterranean
42
When and how did Russia leave the continental system?
December 1810 Put tariffs on French imports Allowed neutral ships, which would be carrying British goods, into Russian ports
43
When did Napoleon begin his invasion of Russia?
June 1812
44
What tactic did the Russians adopt?
'scorched earth policy' | Prevented the French from living off the land
45
Flaws with Napoleon's Russian campaign
``` Had not planned for a long campaign Poor maps Inadequate clothing Limited medical supplies Relied on inexperienced recruits ```
46
Failures of Napoleon's Russian campaign
Only 10,000 soldiers remained from the Grande Armée | Triggered a new coalition (6th)
47
Members of the Sixth Coalition
``` Britain Prussia Russia Austria Sweden ```
48
Failures of Napoleon during the War of the Sixth Coalition
Outnumbered at the 'Battle of the Nations' at Leipzig in October 1813 Refused a generous peace deal which would have allowed France to keep the 'natural frontiers' of the Rhineland and Belgium Only a fraction of the 900,000 conscripts which he called for were ever raised
49
Significance of the War of the Sixth Coalition
Led to the collapse of the French Empire | Only Italy, Belgium and Switzerland remained
50
Treaty of Chaumont
March 1814 | The allies agreed to preserve the 6th Coalition until Napoleon had been totally defeated
51
Treaty of Fountainbleau
April 1814 Followed the allied armies entering Paris Napoleon forced to give up his throne Napoleon expelled to Elba
52
King Louis XVIII invited to take the throne on the condition that he accepted a charter that guaranteed...
A constitution with a two-chamber assembly Fair taxation Equality before the law Abolition of conscription Freedom of worship Retention of biens nationaux by their owners
53
The first Peace of Paris
May 1814 Allies agreed to withdraw from French soil France had to accept the borders of 1792, losing Belgium, Holland, Italy and Germany
54
Reasons for failure of Louis XVIII to win over the French public, explaining their support for Napoleon's return
Army officers put on half pay High taxes Rumours that biens nationaux would be seized and returned
55
Acte Additionel
New constitution put forward by Napoleon in April 1815 Attempt to appeal to the liberals Promised free elections, free press and a constitutional monarchy with a two chamber government
56
Final Napoleonic battles during the Hundred Days (June 1815)
Defeated Prussians at Ligny | Defeated at Waterloo
57
When were the Hundred Days
March - July 1815
58
When did Napoleon abdicate?
22nd June 1815
59
When did Napoleon surrender, and to whom?
15th July 1815 | The British, believing them to be the most generous of his enemies
60
The second Peace of Paris
November 1815 More punitive terms than the first Peace of Paris French frontiers reduced to those of 1790 French forced to pay an indemnity of 700 million francs + cost of defence fortifications in neighbouring countries Created a series of buffer states (Cordon Sanitaire)
61
France in 1815 following the second peace of Paris
Louis XVIII relied on moderate advisers (Talleyrand and Fouché) Ultra-royalists dominated the Chamber of Deputies French economy prospered, benefitting from the positive reforms of the Napoleonic era as well as from being released from the continental system Agriculture thrived following a good harvest
62
Pro Napoleon
``` Constitutional policies Administrative policies Legal policies Judicial policies Religious reforms and policies ```
63
Anti Napoleon
Authoritarian state Indirect elections Plebiscites rigged Abandoned the 'Declaration of the Rights of Man' Gave titles to the Bonapartes, personal glory important to him Administration centralised in the hands of his trusted notables
64
War of the Fourth Coalition
Jena-Auerstadt (Prussia) Eylau (Russia) Freidland (Russia) Peace of Tilsit - July 1807
65
Terms of the Peace of Tilsit
Creation of grand duchy of Warsaw Gained territory for Kingdom of Westphalia 120 million Franc indemnity paid by Prussia Russia agreed to join the continental system
66
Key mistakes of Napoleon
Peninsular War Russian Campaign Both motivated by the need to enforce the Continental Blockade against Britain

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