The impact of Napoleon's rule on France - 1799-1815 - NEEDED FOR EXAM

Question 1

What 3 taxes did Napoleon keep from the Directory?

Answer 1

1. Contribution fonciere
2. Contribution personnel mobiliere
3. Other direct taxes including customs duties
   D

Question 2

What was the contribution fonciere and what did it provide?

Answer 2

A land tax that provided the bulk of government revenue

D

Question 3

What was the contribution personnel mobiliere?

Answer 3

A tax on personal property such as servants and carriages

D

Question 4

What was an issue with the contribution personnel mobiliere?

Answer 4

It brought in a small amount of revenue and was sometimes more costly to collect than it was worth
D

Question 5

What did Napoleon seek to do?

Answer 5

Increase tax revenue and make the collection of it more efficient
D

Question 6

What did Napoleon’s officials begin to do in 1807?

Answer 6

Began drawing up a new cadastre (land register)

D

Question 7

What was the purpose of a new cadastre (land register)

Answer 7

To measure the value of land in order to recalculate the land tax
D

Question 8

What two things would the new cadastre do?

Answer 8

1. Make the tax fairer
2. Ensure that farmers who had increased the value of their land paid more tax
   D

Question 9

How much of France had been assessed by 1815 for the new cadastre?

Answer 9

1/5

D

Question 10

What was allowed from September 1803?

Answer 10

Towns and cities were allowed to levy an octroi on consumer goods entering their administration
D

Question 11

What did the octroi levy gradually replace?

Answer 11

The contribution personnel mobiliere

D

Question 12

Where were tax collectors and inspectors appointed?

Answer 12

To each departement

D

Question 13

How were tax collectors and inspectors paid?

Answer 13

On proportion to the taxes they collected

D

Question 14

What did tax collectors/inspectors have to give to receivers?

Answer 14

Their tax receipts

D

Question 15

What was subject to inspection by central government?

Answer 15

Tax receipts handed from tax collectors/inspectors to receivers
D

Question 16

Was the method of tax receipts and payment on proportion to the amount of taxes paid an efficient method?

Answer 16

Yes it was much more efficient than the way the Directory collected taxes
D

Question 17

What did the Constitution of Year VIII establish?

Answer 17

A commission to take responsibility for accounting of state revenue and expenditure
D

Question 18

What came from the establishment of the commission taking responsibility for state expenditure/revenue, and when?

Answer 18

The Cour des Comptes of September 1807

D

Question 19

What was the Cour des Comptes?

Answer 19

A central bureau for handling and auditing the state’s finances
D

Question 20

What did the Cour des Comptes do?

Answer 20

It kept detailed accounts of income and expenditure and ministries and had to have certified authorisation for the release of money
D

Question 21

What were any improvements in tax assessment and collection offset by and why?

Answer 21

The cost of maintaining the army and the Empire due to almost continuous war
D

Question 22

What did the government rely heavily on?

Answer 22

Indirect taxes on a range of goods including playing cards

D

Question 23

What happened to the taxes on alcohol, salt and tobacco?

Answer 23

They quadrupled

D

Question 24

What did the impact of increasing taxes on alcohol, salt and tobacco do to the working class?

Answer 24

It hit them hard as they were regressive taxes

D

Question 25

What became a worry as a result of the increased taxes disproportionately impacting working classes?

Answer 25

``` It wasn't ideal, as harsh taxation of the working class was one of the factors that caused the revolution in the first place D ```

Question 26

Who did the new taxation system indirectly favour?

Answer 26

The elite | D

Question 27

Who did the tax burden heavily fall on?

Answer 27

``` The working class D ```

Question 28

What was important about the reforms on tax collection?

Answer 28

It meant revenue actually reached the government, rather than being lost in transportation D

Question 29

What did the stability and security of Napoleon's position rely on?

Answer 29

More reform of the French finances

Question 30

What did the Directory try to do regarding currency issues and how?

Answer 30

Fix them by issuing Assignats

Question 31

How did Napoleon view Assignats?

Answer 31

He saw paper money as worthless

Question 32

What type of currency did Napoleon issue instead of Assignats?

Answer 32

Metal coinage

Question 33

What bank did Napoleon establish?

Answer 33

The Bank of France

Question 34

What was the purpose of the Bank of France? 2 things

Answer 34

1. To provide credit for the government and entreprenurs | 2. To produce and control gold and silver coins as a national currency

Question 35

What was the limitation on the paper currency the Bank of France could issue?

Answer 35

500-1000 franc notes

Question 36

What impact did the establishment of the Bank of France have on the French economy and why?

Answer 36

This boosted the French economy as it controlled the sale of government bonds and Napoleon could increase loans at reasonable interest rates so that they could be paid off

Question 37

Who was Jean Antoine Chaptal?

Answer 37

Interior Minister of Napoleon

Question 38

What 3 contributions did Chaptal make?

Answer 38

1. He established the Bureau of Statistics 2. Formation of a society in 1801 which offered prizes and held exhibitions of products of the French industry. 3. Established the Councils of Agriculture, Arts and Commerce in each of France’s departments

Question 39

What was the purpose of the Bureau of Statistics?

Answer 39

To gather data from the departments on conditions of agriculture, commerce and industry

Question 40

When were the Councils of Agriculture, Arts and Commerce established?

Answer 40

1801

Question 41

What did Chaptal's contributions increase? 3 things

Answer 41

Mechanisation, mass production of goods and technical innovation.

Question 42

What was Napoleon more interested in which caused Chaptal to step down?

Answer 42

Luxury goods which would reflect well upon his regime,

Question 43

Between 1811-1812, how much did wool yield increase by?

Answer 43

400%

Question 44

How much did exported silk value increase by?

Answer 44

26 million francs to 64 million francs

Question 45

What did the wartime economy stimulate demand for?

Answer 45

Armaments (military weapons and equipment)

Question 46

What did the demand for armaments come at the expense of?

Answer 46

The peacetime economy which lacked investment

Question 47

What reduced the aggregate demand in the economy?

Answer 47

Labour was lost due to conscription

Question 48

In order to finance the war, what five things did Napoleon do?

Answer 48

1) tightening taxation 2) conscripting soldiers at low wages 3) taking out loans 4) selling land - like Louisiana to the USA 5) exploiting conquered territories

Question 49

What did the British naval blockade do?

Answer 49

Cut off the Atlantic trade

Question 50

What was a consequence of the British blockade?

Answer 50

French trade moved toward Europe

Question 51

What was the continental system?

Answer 51

The banning of all British trade with France and all its “allies”

Question 52

When was the continental system created?

Answer 52

1806

Question 53

What was the aim of the continental system?

Answer 53

To weaken Britain by closing European markets.

Question 54

What did France hope Britain would do in response to the continental system?

Answer 54

Hoped that Britain would sue for peace so France would get the Atlantic trade back as well as boosting French production to fill the gaps in the European markets.

Question 55

What three reasons caused the continental system to fail?

Answer 55

1. French Navy was not strong enough 2. Smuggling thrived (even officials indulged in illegal practices) 3. British retaliation hit French producers

Question 56

What was Napoleon forced to do in 1810 after the continental system failed?

Answer 56

Ease the continental blockade in 1810, permitting some licensed trade.

Question 57

From which year were British goods prohibited from entering French territories?

Answer 57

1893

Question 58

What two issues significantly limited the degree of economic change in France?

Answer 58

Demand and supply side issues

Question 59

What two reasons caused limited demand?

Answer 59

1. Population was agricultural and heavily taxed | 2. Low standards of living

Question 60

What two reasons caused a lack of incentives to work in industries?

Answer 60

1. Poor living conditions in the cities | 2. The army was more of an attractive career

Question 61

Why was there a loss of markets in the war?

Answer 61

There were no incentives to invest and therefore a lack of development

Question 62

What was the bourgeoisie by and what was the result?

Answer 62

They were satisfied by the biens nationaux - no incentive to engage in trade or invest

Question 63

What were three consequences of the poor infrastructure in France?

Answer 63

1. Bad roads 2. Labour immobility 3. Communication issues

Question 64

Why was farming unprofitable?

Answer 64

Maximum prices and food price controls made no incentive for farmers to invest and grow

Question 65

What was the result of Napoleon establishing the Bank of France and switching the currency to coins?

Answer 65

This control helped boost the economy as people and businesses felt safe enough financially to take out loans and buy government bonds.

Question 66

What happened to harvests in 1809 and 1811?

Answer 66

They were very bad harvests, leading to damages to the economy due to a high reliance on agriculture