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History A level > Section 3: Foreign Policy 1783-1830 > Flashcards

Section 3: Foreign Policy 1783-1830 Flashcards

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1
Q

Why was Britain in diplomatic isolation in the early 1780s?

A

War with American colonies had led to war with France and British defeat - colonies were lost
British policy of searching neutral ships to prevent trading with France, lead to the League of Armed Neutrality against Britain

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2
Q

What was the League of Armed Neutrality?

A

As many supplies came from Baltic/Russia/Denmark/Sweden- LofAN formed in 1780
LofAN joined by: Prussia/Austria/Netherlands/Naples/Ottoman Empire in 1782

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3
Q

What was the issue of the United Provinces in the early 1780s?

A 
Despite Britain's strong links with Netherlands there were problems in the United Provinces; many merchant class resented British competition for trade + trade restrictions during the war
Radical Patriot party in the United provinces
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4
Q

What was the Patriot party?

A

Pro-French, anti-English and opposed Stadtholder Willem V

Fears that French would aid patriots in overthrowing House of Orange

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5
Q

What were the events that prompted the Triple Alliance?

A

May 1787 Wilhelmina’s (Willem V wife + sister to King of Prussia) supporters clashing with patriots
Patriots appealed to France. Danger of civil war with France + Patriots vs Prussia + House of Orange
Pitt gave money to H of O supporters

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6
Q

When was the Triple alliance formed?

A

August 1788- defensive alliance signed with Prussia/Britain/United Provinces- Pitt providing ammunition and money but not actual fighting

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7
Q

How were the Patriots defeated?

A

20,000 Patriot troops entered United Provinces Sept 1787, Patriots defeated
Pitt mobilised fleet against French invasion of the Low Countries

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8
Q

What had Britain’s main fear been over the war with the Patriots/France?

A

Quadruple alliance of Russia/France/Austria/Spain, but this was prevented by long standing tensions between Russia and Austria

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9
Q

What were 4 strengths of Pitt’s position internationally in 1790?

A

France hadn’t dominated United Provinces
Trade treaty with France 1786
Triple alliance
Vergennes’ death 1787- (anti-British French foreign minister) (hope of improvement of French-British relations)

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10
Q

What were 4 MORE strengths of Pitt’s position internationally in 1790?

A

Pitt clear he wouldn’t be involved in E. European affairs/quarrels
Pitt built up Navy- more military power for defence of overseas trade/colonies (India + West Indies)
New Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II offered friendship to Britain

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11
Q

What were 5 weaknesses of Pitt’s position internationally in 1790?

A

Pitt not supportive of Prussia’s quest for land
Russian expansion- threat to India
Patriots resentful (threat increased + request of French aid in 1792)
French ambitions for Netherlands
French Revolution = uncertainty (1789)

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12
Q

Was conflict between France and Britain inevitable?

A

Conflict was always likely to occur: France had continually supported revolutionaries for its own purposes; it had supported rebels in the American colonies + unrest in the united provinces/ Austrian provinces to try to gain control of the low countries

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13
Q

What was Pitt’s initial reaction to the French revolution?

A

Saw events of 1789 as non-threatening (Louis XVI seen as a poor ruler) hoped it would produce constitutional monarchy (as in Britain 1688) so more trading with UK
Less idealistically it would weaken France

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14
Q

Why did Britain avoid the war with France in 1792?

A

Preoccupation with Russian problem (expansion); costs of war; concerns for internal security; France hadn’t broken any treaty obligations (despite revolutionary talk); Austrians and Prussians had large armies- British intervention seemed unnecessary and no direct British interest was involved.

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15
Q

Why was Russia seen as the greater threat in 1792?

A

Control of eastern Mediterranean was threatened as were overland routes to British India; Russian expansion into Back sea would = trade with France through new warm water ports; construction of Kherson and Akhtar ports on Crimean peninsula also worrying

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16
Q

What events eventually brought Britain to war with France?

A

Execution of Louis XVI, 2 days later Pitt expelled French ambassador, this caused French ban on Dutch or British shipping and invasion of Holland, French control of main river used for British shipping (Scheldt) inevitable + Britain declared war 11 Feb 1793

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17
Q

Why has Pitt been criticised for his response to the French revolution?

A

As early as 1790, Edmund Burke called for stronger action, historian Robert Harvey said: “while France burned and beheaded, Britain slept”
Suggestion that had Britain intervened earlier it could have = Austrian/Prussian victories in 1792 preventing the long war that began in 1793

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18
Q

What events occurred in 1797?

A

Austria had been defeated + Netherlands/Spain changed sides, Defeat of Spanish forces (allied with the French) at Cape St Vincent, but war going badly for Britain, Pitt attempts peace negotiations

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19
Q

What events occurred in 1798?

A

French invasion of Egypt countered by a destruction of its fleet at Aboukir bay (Nile) by British naval force under Nelson, encouraged another European coalition with Russia and Austria joining Britain

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20
Q

What occurred in the war between Britain and France from 1799- 1801?

A

1799: Britain fighting France’s new leader Napoleon Bonaparte
1801: Pitt left office

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21
Q

When was the brief period of peace during the war between Britain and France?

A

1802: Pitt’s successor Addington signed peace treaty (treaty of Amiens)
1802-3: Brief period of peace

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22
Q

What occurred in the war between Britain and France from 1803-1807?

A

1804: Pitt returned as PM
1805: Naval victory at Battle of Trafalgar
1807: All 3 of Britain’s allies had signed peace treaties and Britain was once again isolated

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23
Q

How was Pitt successful as a war minister 1793-1806?

A

Pitt made good use of British naval power, he limited deployment of force in Europe, he used Britain’s wealth/financial system effectively, showed determination

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24
Q

How did Pitt make good use of British naval power?

A

extended navy pre-1793 by building large warships, 1795 Quota act requiring English counties and London to provide recruits, 1794 Admiral Lord Howe destroyed 22 French ships @ Battle of ‘glorious 1st June’
1797: victory Cape St Vincent, 1798: Nelson destruction of French fleet in Egypt

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25
Q

How did Pitt limit deployment of British forces in Europe?

A

He used naval to profit rather than small land armies, seizure of French colonies in West Indies (Tobago/Santa Lucia/Martinique/Trinidad) in 1795-7 = naval power used to increase Britain’s wealth and power

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26
Q

How did Pitt use Britain’s wealth and power effectively?

A

Pitt’s previous financial success allowed him to subsidise allies rather than use Britain’s small land forces, introduction of income tax in 1789 meant burden of tax spread more equally (in its revised form tax brought in an extra 50%)

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27
Q

How did Pitt show determination as a war leader?

A

Solidly argued and stated a clear position, argued there would be no real security in peace made with a French republic, stated that war meant sacrifice

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28
Q

How was Pitt unsuccessful as a war minister 1793-1806?

A

Entered war with little idea of its nature/scope, Failed to grasp that Austria & Prussia would be poor allies as they had little interest in North East Europe (more concerned with Poland)
Wrongly thought war would be short (few financial arrangements)
Pitt torn between fighting in colonies & India to secure trade and focusing on France

29
Q

What was the third coalition?

A

The coalition of Austria, Prussia, Russia and Britain

30
Q

What were the British Orders in Council during the war against Napoleon?

A

Britain’s orders in council gave British naval vessels the right to stop, search and seize cargo from ships carrying goods between enemy ports, including neutral vessels

31
Q

What was the continental system?

A

Introduced by Napoleon to counter the orders in council- banned France and the countries it dominated from accepting British goods

32
Q

What was the Peninsular war?

A

Britain’s land warfare with France over Spain and Portugal

33
Q

What is the significance of Torres Verdes?

A

A place in Portugal, North of Lisbon, where the Duke of Wellington used a fifty-mile long line of forts to defend the city; it was effective and by 1811 Britain had driven the French from Portugal

34
Q

What was the Spanish Ulcer?

A

The French campaigns in Russia, Portugal and Spain, where French troops did not prevail; they distracted Napoleon and involved him in long, costly and unsuccessful campaigns

35
Q

What was the Battle of Trafalgar?

A

Naval battle between Britain against combined fleets of France and Spain, in which Britain destroyed much of the French and Spanish fleet- ensuring Britain’s control of the seas

36
Q

Who was Sir Arthur Wellesley?

A

in command of British forces in Portugal; 1809 sent more British forces to Portugal and defeated the French

37
Q

What was the significance of Waterloo?

A

Final defeat of Napoleon, Wellington once again led the British forces, fought a successful defensive on 18 June 1815; mixed force of 24,000 British, 17,000 Germans and 17,000 Belgians fought 72,000 French and defeated them

38
Q

Why was Britain successful in the peninsula wars?

A

Napoleon didn’t return to France in 1808- his commanders quarrelled/didn’t have experienced troops
French faced Spanish guerrillas & found it hard to maintain supplies
Wellington had supplies & reinforcements from navy & effective defence strategy
British forces developed their skills + fought with determination under Wellington’s lead

39
Q

What reaction did Napoleon’s continental system cause?

A

Growing discontent among his European empire, deprived of British goods, and led to failed campaigns in Portugal, Spain and Russia

40
Q

What other two factors made the Peninsular war so damaging to Napoleon?

A

Distraction of his ‘Spanish ulcer’- lengthy, unsuccessful campaigns- damaged his reputation
Britain prevented him from a break in warfare, prevented him making long-term settlements with European powers

41
Q

What were the limitations in Britain’s role in Napoleon’s defeat?

A

limited role in land fighting, limited impact of diplomacy, Napoleon’s mistake in invading Russia, Negative impact of Britain’s naval policy

42
Q

How was Britain’s role in land fighting limited?

A

Russian campaign= 1/2 mil French losses
Whereas max. British involvement in Spain was 60,000 troops.
Britain spent £18 mil subsidising Spanish/Portuguese troops rather than use own troops

43
Q

How was the impact of diplomacy limited in defeat of Napoleon?

A

Estimated £600 mil spent on war/subsidising would have been ineffective had Napoleon not been so determined to continue the struggle

44
Q

What was Napoleon’s mistake in invading Russia?

A

War of 1812 not only about defeating Britain, ambition and fragility of French-Russian agreement of 1807 equally important

45
Q

What was the negative impact of Britain’s naval policy?

A

Blockade brought hostility in Europe + USA, + the economic warfare it provoked = distress/hardship in Britain. Without French land defeats Britain couldn’t have defeated France

46
Q

What were Castlereagh’s aims?

A

Prioritised complete defeat f Napoleon,
not allowing distraction of a war with USA- signed peace contract ASAP
maintained policies of coalitions against France
Aimed to end war + maintain co-operations with other European powers

47
Q

How did Castlereagh’s aims try to help the British interests?

A

Knew negotiation would not = lasting peace/ vigorous action only way to ensure security + trading freely
Ending French war prevented French domination over Netherlands +being one dominant power (which would threaten trade/security)

48
Q

What did Britain gain from the congress of Vienna?

A

Valuable colonial possessions, France contained, France’s 1790 boundaries restored

49
Q

What valuable colonial possessions did Britain gain from the congress of Vienna?

A

Malta, Ionian isles in Mediterranean, Heligoland in North Sea- gave Britain naval bases

50
Q

How was France contained by the agreements at the congress of Vienna?

A

Austria gave up Belgium to Netherlands - made low countries easier to defend, no major power could occupy vita area from which Britain could be invaded +through which key trade flowed

51
Q

What else was restored by congress of Vienna?

A

French Monarchy Louis XVI’s brother made King (Louis XVII)

52
Q

What concerns did Castlereagh still have after congress of Vienna?

A

Unity of great powers unlikely to last, concerned with Tsar Alexander I of Russia’s plans to expand, didn’t agree with idea of ‘Holy alliance’ which Tsar wanted agreement to (aimed to support God given rights of monarchs/ prevent nationalism/liberalism in Europe)

53
Q

How successful were congresses following Vienna?

A

Overall much less successful in maintaining unity among the victory powers

54
Q

What happened at the congress of Aix-la-Chapelle?

A

Readmitted new French monarchy to the great power system. Britain forced to work with old enemy. Castlereagh wouldn’t agree to Russian proposal to create a standing force to put down revolutions as they occurred

55
Q

What happened at Toppau?

A

1820- growing unrest in Germany and Italy. Monarchs all for joint action but Castlereagh stood apart and again stood apart at Laibach

56
Q

How far was Canning’s foreign policy more liberal than that of Castlereagh?

A

Canning much less concerned with maintaining good relations with monarchical powers of Europe. Castlereagh, though unsympathetic to ideology element & Russian repression of change, wanted congress system to continue. Canning didn’t.

57
Q

Spanish crisis- evidence of Canning’s more liberal attitude?

A

Didn’t want to intervene in liberal Spanish revolution. Didn’t want to see extension of French influence (unbalanced power)

58
Q

Spanish crisis- evidence of other motives?

A

Withdrew from congress of Verona 1822 (unable to prevent French intervention)

59
Q

South American independence- evidence of Canning’s more liberal attitude?

A

Wanted to ensure independence of Spain’s former colonies in S. America. Didn’t want France to overpower Europe. Recognition of independence of Mexico, Buenos Aires and Columbia

60
Q

South American independence- evidence of other motives?

A

Britain wanted S American trade and refused to co-operate with Spain and Portugal to regain control
Wanted to extend profitable trade with Latin America and block French expansion

61
Q

Portugal- evidence of Canning’s more liberal attitude?

A

Supported an appeal for aid and sent naval force and 5000 marines to Lisbon

62
Q

Portugal- evidence of other motives?

A

Wanted to stop French expansion, wanted Portugal as a commercial ally, Persuaded Brazil to accept Portuguese royal as monarch (John VI) instead of becoming a republic

63
Q

USA- evidence of other motives?

A

Disliked Monroe Doctrine 1823- thought USA might dominate South American trade. Openly disliked US statesmen. Made no effort to stay on good terms with USA

64
Q

Greek Revolt- evidence of Canning’s more liberal attitude?

A

Canning tried to re-establish good relations with Austria (although failed). Co-operated with Russia to support Greek independence

65
Q

Greek revolt- evidence of other motives?

A

Co-operated with Russia to control its actions and preserve British interests

66
Q

What were Castlereagh’s strengths/achievements?

A

Maintained Britain’s participation in the congress system

worked with Metternich to align Britain and Austria

67
Q

What were Castlereagh’s weaknesses/failings?

A

Failed to secure unity of great powers after France’s defeat in 1815

68
Q

What were Canning’s strengths/achievements?

A

Asserted British influence by recognition of Portugal and S American republics
Protected British commercial interests
Short-term policy of co-operation with Russia

69
Q

What were Canning’s weaknesses/failings?

A

Lost Austrian support, couldn’t prevent French invasion of Spain 1823,
In the long-term, policy of co-operation with Russia was unsuccessful

History A level (14 decks)

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