Napoleon's rise to power

Question 1

When and why was Napoleon made commander of the Army of the Interior?

Answer 1

October 1795

As a reward for saving the Republic during the Vendemiaire rising.

Question 2

When was Napoleon’s Italian campaign?

Answer 2

March 1796 - October 1797

Question 3

What was the aim of Napoleon’s Italian campaign?

Answer 3

To hold back the Austrians in Italy by way of a diversion

Question 4

What ended Napoleon’s Italian campaign?

Answer 4

The Treaty of Campo Formio

Also ended the War of the First Coalition

Question 5

What did the terms of the Treaty of Campo Formio recognise?

Answer 5

French control over Belgium (previously the Austrian Netherlands)
The French Rhine frontier

Question 6

Success of Italian campaign for Napoleon?

Answer 6

Displayed his talents both as a military commander and as a diplomat.

Question 7

Why did Napoleon invade Egypt?

Answer 7

Protect French trade interests
Weaken British commerce and trade routes
Establish a French presence in the Middle East
Win an easy military victory

Question 8

When did Napoleon set off for Egypt?

Answer 8

May 1798

Question 9

Who made up the Second Coalition?

Answer 9

Austria
Russia
The Ottoman Empire
Portugal

Question 10

Napoleon’s failures of the Egyptian campaign

Answer 10

French fleet destroyed by Nelson at Aboukir Bay - Battle of the Nile (August 1798)
Abandoned siege of Acre, after underestimating opposition - turning point (March - May 1799)

Question 11

Example of a “forced march”?

Answer 11

80km in 36 hours by General Augereau’s corps during the Italian campaign.

Question 12

How did Napoleon motivate his men?

Answer 12

Speeches

Leading by example

Question 13

How did Sieyes prepare for the coup of Brumaire?

Answer 13

Bribed council members
Arranged for Lucien Bonaparte to be elected as President of the Council of Five Hundred
Deployed troops around Paris.

Question 14

What was the original plan of the coup of Brumaire?

Answer 14

To persuade the Directors to resign

To persuade the two councils to appoint a commission to draw a new constitution

Question 15

Events of the 18th Brumaire

Answer 15

Rumour spread of a supposed Jacobin coup
Both assemblies persuaded to leave Paris for Saint-Cloud, to be far away from Jacobin mob
Sieyes, Ducos and Barras resigned as Directors 
Remaining Directors (Moulin and Gohier) placed under house arrest

Question 16

Events of the 19th Brumaire

Answer 16

Napoleon stormed into the Council of Ancients, and then the Council of Five Hundred, accusing them of destroying the constitution through the coups of the Directory
Lucien made palace guards intervene to save Napoleon
Napoleon, Ducos and Sieyes appointed as provisional Consuls.

Question 17

Why did Sieyes mount the coup of Brumaire?

Answer 17

To establish an executive that could supply strong leadership.

Question 18

When was the coup de Brumaire?

Answer 18

November 1799

Question 19

Constitution of Year VIII

Answer 19

24th December 1799

Created a strong executive, as sought by Sieyes

Question 20

What could the First Consul do?

Answer 20

Appoint and dismiss ministers
Make legislative proposals
Control foreign policy

Question 21

Who were the first three Consuls?

Answer 21

Napoleon (1st)
Cambaceres (2nd)
Lebrun (3rd)

Question 22

How long did the Consuls hold office for?

Answer 22

10 years

Question 23

French Consulate structure

Answer 23

First Consul
Council of State
Senate 
Legislative Body
Tribunate

Question 24

Difference between legislative body and tribunate

Answer 24

Legislative Body voted on legislation but could not discuss it, whereas the tribunate discussed legislation but could not vote on it.

Question 25

What caused the Coup of Brumaire?

Answer 25

Lucien - Decisive action saved the coup
Napoleon - impatience + popularity following army + support of army
State of public opinion towards the Directory at the end of 1799 - link to Constitution of Year III
Sieyes

Question 26

The Senate

Answer 26

Selected the deputies of the Tribunate and Legislative Body
Advised the First Consul on draft legislation
Could override decisions made by the legislature through ‘senatus consultum’

Question 27

The Council of State

Answer 27

Chosen by the First Consul
Acted as an advisory body
Prepared draft legislation

Question 28

Factors contributing to the failure of the Directory

Answer 28

Constitution of Year III prevented the Directory from being able to create stability - annual elections / no provisions for settling disputes between the executive and the legislature or to change the constitution
Directors interfering with election results in order to maintain a non-Jacobin/Royalist majority in the Councils, through the coups, disrespected the Constitution of Year III
Increasing reliance on the army to settle political disputes - Risings of Prairial and Vendemiaire (Thermidoreans) and the Coup of Fructidor
Policies alienated bourgeoise (forced loans), who refused to vote in the annual elections, take up posts in local government, or defend the Directory

Question 29

Reasons contributing to collapse of government administration in the provinces in 1799

Answer 29

Directory commanded few troops so could not enforce it decrees
National Guard not large enough to keep order in the absence of regular troops, so substantial areas of the countryside were not policed at all
Resulted in brigandage