What political and economic impact did war have on Britain from 1802-1812? Flashcards
Who was Napoleon Bonaparte?
the Emperor of France
Why did Napoleon come to France?
- relations broke down in Corsica, where he had advocated for independence from the French.
- he was rejected by his homeland.
What enabled Napoleon to rise through the ranks?
- captured Toulon from royalists = brigadier-general at 24
- quashed a revolt in Paris that threatened to overthrow the National Convention in 1795 = military adviser to government
- bloodless coup on 9th November 1799
What was Napoleon elected as in 1802? Why was this controversial?
- ‘consul for life’
- reminded the French of their old monarchy
Where did Napoleon’s empire stretch to in 1811?
- Italy, parts of Germany and Holland
What led to Napoleon’s downfall?
- his attempt to invade Russia
- Battle of Leipzig 1813 defeat
Where did Napoleon spend his final days?
St Helena, living in isolation
What did men at home do, during the war?
- train with local volunteer forces in case of French invasion
What did women do, during the war?
- make uniforms for the troops
What were the economic impacts of the war?
- high taxes, unemployment, high food prices caused by wartime trade restrictions
- this caused many men to sign up to the army which meant families were separated and had to rely on relief
What were the social impacts of the war?
- strikes, riots and Luddism
- hopes for a better life amongst the labouring population
- unrest among working people
What were the political impacts of the war?
- 1819: the female Reform Society of Manchester denounced the war, saying it was against the liberties of France
- they also stated that war increased landed property and taxes; (idea that only the aristocracy benefitted)
- the burden of taxation caused the formation of political groups who wanted better political representation as they believed only the aristocracy benefitted from the war
When and how did the first phase of the war with France end?
- 1802
- Treaty of Amiens
When and why did the second phase of the war with France begin?
- 1803
- Napoleon broke the terms of the treaty
What was passed in July 1803? What is significant about this?
- Levée en Masse act: forced enlistment for men 17-55
- 800,000 men under arms
- biggest armed mobilisation in British History
When did the first coalition begin? Who was it with? When did it collapse?
- 1793
- Britain, Prussia, Austria, Holland and Spain
- 1795
When was the second coalition formed? Who was it with? When did it collapse?
- 1799
- Britain, Russia, Austria, Portugal, Naples
- 1801
When was the third coalition formed? Who was it with? When did it collapse?
- 1804
- Britain, Russia and Austria
- 1805
What were Addington’s actions in war?
- income tax
- ordered a clean up of corruption at the Navy Board
- ordered a blockade of French ports
- Treaty of Amiens 1802
What was the problem with Addington’s income tax?
it upset the upper class, who supported him
(meant that it was even easier for Pitt to attack his administration)
What were Pitt’s actions in war?
- income tax in 1798
- government borrowed such large sums of money/ raising loans to fund the war = inflation
- sinking fund but this was not popular during war time
- weak ministry
What was Pitt’s alternative for raising loans? Was this effective at all?
income tax
- in the longer term this was effective as by 1806 it began offsetting the high costs of war
What were Grenville’s actions in war?
- failed to establish a clear strategy for dealing with war = administration divided
- faced a lot of criticism due to the failure of Catholic Emancipation (caused him to resign)
- third coalition crumpled under him; lost Russia as a valuable ally
- the 1807 Orders of the Council
What were Portland’s actions during war?
- the Peninsula War
- Napoleon marched through Spain and into Portugal to ‘plug the gap’ of where Britain could still trade
- this turned the once compliant Spaniards against Napoleon
- Britain intervened to attack Napoleon on land
- Portland’s government isn’t credited, as it could be due to Napoleon’s lack of success
- drained France of men and material = successful
What were Perceval’s actions in war? What did Dick Leonard say about him?
- weak ministry
- ‘pursued the war against France more fruitfully than his predecessors’
What did Addington, Pitt, Grenville, Portland and Perceval all fail to do to bring an end to the war with France? Why did they fail?
- they all failed to devise a clear strategy
- couldn’t unite Parliament
- they all had very short terms
- inherited problems from predecessors meant there was already political instability at the start of their time in Parliament
What was the national debt in 1801? What did this increase from?
- £456 million
- £228 million
What was Napoleon’s continental system?
- a system of blockades against Britain
What did Napoleon pass in 1806? Why did this put Britain’s economy in danger?
- Berlin Decrees 1806
- proclaimed Britain as in a state of blockades
- forbade European trade with Britain
- Britain was not self-sufficient enough for this
What were the Milan Decrees?
- furthered Napoleon’s Berlin Decrees; stated that any European ship that entered British ports could be seized by the French
How did Britain retaliate to Napoleon’s economic warfare and when?
- 1807: Orders of the Council
- any countries that followed Napoleon’s decrees would be under a British blockade
What were the limitation’s to Napoleon’s economic warfare?
- it was impossible to control all ports and stop them trading with Britain
- Napoleon had to open up the French ports for British uniforms; giving them trade
- Napoleon didn’t have naval supremacy, like Britain
How was industrialisation boosted by the French Wars?
- huge demand for armaments = increased demand for coal and iron
- this increased the use of Watt’s steam engine
- textiles industry thrived, making uniforms for soldiers
What was the long-term political impact of the French wars?
- gave way for Tory dominance for 30 years
What was short-term political impact of the French wars?
- more government intervention to decrease the risk of radicalism, although this wasn’t really a threat
What was the economic and political crisis of 1810 and 1811?
- merchants and manufacturers saw the Orders of Council as unnecessary
- neutral US closed its ports to both France and Britain
- merchants switched trade to new South American ports
- their instant success meant that they overproduced and faced economic collapse
- there were consecutive failed harvests
- banks collapsed
- inflation
What was a positive economic impact of the French wars on Britain?
- Napoleon’s weakening position and lack of ability to enforce his continental system meant that ports in the New World were opening up to Britain = trade in the long term
