Napoleon

• National Convention


  Revolutionary government in France that Napoleon defended against the royalists
• Coup d'etat


  Action by Napoleon to overthrow the Directory
• The Directory


  Government that Napoleon overthrew in his coup d'etat
• How Napoleon gained popularity in France

  Politically - Savior of the Revolution and National Convention

  Socially and militarily - Citizens knew of his victories, soldiers respected his leadership
• Factors that led to Napoleon's rise to power

  • Military success - Defended National Convention, victories in Italy and Germany

  Popularity - Savior of Revolution, known victories, respected by soldiers

  Timing and circumstance - Directory was weak and corrupt, news of defeat in Egypt did not reach France
• Napoleonic Code


  Standardised laws, limited freedom of speech and press, made slavery legal in Caribbean
• Lycees


  Established meritocracy, only allowed men to focus on studies
• Concordat of 1801


  Established relationship with Catholic Church, stopped persecution of Catholics
• Pros and cons of Napoleonic reforms

  • Economy: Developed financial institutions, efficient tax collection, national banking system

  Education: Creation of Lycees, establishment of meritocracy, only males could focus

  Church: Concordat of 1801, established relationship with Catholic Church, stopped persecution

  Government: Called for plebiscites, resulted in Napoleon's position as First Consul

  Law: Creation of Napoleonic Code, standardised laws, limited freedom of speech and press, made slavery legal in Caribbean
• Toussaint L'Ouverture


  Leading figure in Haitian revolution, caused problems for Napoleon, made revolution successful
• Louisiana Purchase


  Napoleon sold Louisiana territory to fund military in Europe, sold it to Thomas Jefferson for $20,000,000
• Battle of Trafalgar


  Napoleon's ambition to invade England, fought against Horatio Nelson, lost, decided to focus on land territories
• The Coalition


  Union of countries that fought against Napoleon, Napoleon defeated them at Austerlitz
• How Napoleon's initial failures allowed him to become successful in creating an empire

  He fixed his mistakes - gave up on Haiti, focused on Europe, lost at Trafalgar so focused on land, this allowed him to defeat the Coalition
• Continental System


  Attempt to wage economic warfare against Britain, no one could trade with England, resulted in costly wars
• Peninsular War


  Provoked by Continental System, Napoleon invaded Portugal through Spain, Spanish revolted with British help, lost 300,000 troops
• Scorched Earth


  Policy to destroy, poison, and sabotage own land as you retreat so enemy gets nothing
• Alexander I


  Tsar of Russia, caught trading with England, Napoleon invaded Russia, lost 250,000 troops, got no land due to Scorched Earth
• How Continental System affected Napoleon's empire

  Resulted in costly wars - Peninsular War, Russian invasion, lost popularity as military leader, renewed desire to fight against him
• Louis XVIII


  King who took over throne when Napoleon was first exiled to Elba, viewed as opposition to revolution's reforms, unpopular
• Elba


  Island Napoleon was exiled to after Battle of Leipzig, with around 1000 troops
• 100 Days


  Period after Battle of Leipzig when Napoleon regained power, got support from military, no one liked Louis XVIII
• St. Helena


  Island Napoleon was exiled to after defeat at Waterloo, died there 6 years later of colon cancer
• Factors that allowed Napoleon to return to rule France during 100 Days


  Louis did not remove his military leaders, Louis was opposition to revolution's reforms, unpopular
• Klemens von Metternich


  Number 1 diplomat at Congress of Vienna, Austrian, led Holy Alliance and Five Great Powers
• The Five Great Powers

  Russia, Prussia, Austria, France, England
• Concert of Europe


  Purpose was to maintain stability in Europe through monarchy, principle of continual cooperation of European powers
• Holy Alliance


  Alliance of Eastern European nations based on religious conservative principles, wants to protect monarchy
• Metternich's goals at Congress of Vienna

  Containment of France, strengthening France's neighbours, balance of power, stability through legitimacy (restoring monarchy)
• Long-term effects of Congress of Vienna

  Resurgence of conservatism, revolutionary reaction (liberal revolutions in Central/South America), growth of nationalism in Italy and Germany