AP®︎ European History: Topic 5.6 Flashcards

French general who overthrew the Directory, ruled as First Consul and emperor, preserved selected revolutionary reforms, built a continental empire, and was defeated in 1815

Unstable French government of 1795–1799, weakened by corruption, war, financial problems, and dependence on the army before Napoleon overthrew it

Napoleon’s November 9, 1799 coup that overthrew the Directory and established the Consulate

French regime established in 1799 that retained representative-looking institutions but placed real authority in Napoleon’s hands as First Consul

Tightly managed popular votes used to approve decisions already made by Napoleon and claim national legitimacy for his rule

Napoleon’s claim that power came from the nation while citizens mainly approved decisions made by an unaccountable ruler

Napoleon’s 1804 creation of a hereditary empire, symbolized by his crowning himself rather than receiving the crown from the pope

New titled elite rewarded for service, ability, military distinction, and loyalty, without restoring the old nobility’s legal privileges

Institution established in 1802 to reward distinguished civil and military service to Napoleon’s regime

Centralized administration in which appointed prefects supervised local government, taxation, policing, public works, and national policy

Principle that government and military advancement should depend on ability, education, service, and loyalty rather than noble birth

State secondary schools established under Napoleon to provide disciplined education for future officers, officials, and loyal male elites

Administrative organization created in 1808 to supervise and standardize French secondary and higher education

Uniform secular civil code that confirmed legal equality for men, the abolition of feudal privilege, and protection of property while subordinating women and favoring employers over workers

Agreement with Pope Pius VII that reconciled Catholics to the regime while preserving confiscated church lands and substantial state control over religion

Financial institution founded in 1800 to support government credit and monetary stability

Stable metallic-standard currency introduced in 1803 as part of Napoleon’s fiscal and monetary reforms

Use of independently moving corps, rapid concentration, maneuver, massed artillery, and decisive battle to divide and destroy enemy armies

British naval victory in 1805 that ended Napoleon’s immediate prospect of invading Britain and confirmed British superiority at sea

Napoleon’s decisive 1805 victory over Austrian and Russian armies, demonstrating his mastery of maneuver and concentrated force

Napoleon’s victories led to the Holy Roman Empire’s abolition in 1806 and a major reorganization of the German lands

Association of German states organized under Napoleon’s protection after the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved

Agreements concluded in 1807 after Napoleon defeated Russia that marked the height of his dominance over continental Europe

Napoleon’s attempted blockade of British goods from continental ports, which failed because of British trade, smuggling, and resistance and alienated European allies

Johann Gottlieb Fichte’s 1807–1808 speeches calling for German cultural and educational renewal in response to French occupation

Irregular warfare in which small bands ambush enemy troops and supply lines and then disperse among the population

War of 1808–1814 in which Spanish and Portuguese resistance, guerrillas, and British forces tied down French troops and weakened Napoleon

Francisco Goya’s painting of a French firing squad executing Spanish civilians, emphasizing the violence and popular suffering of occupation

Russian strategy of retreating while removing or destroying food, fodder, and supplies that Napoleon’s invading army could use

Napoleon’s disastrous invasion of Russia, in which scorched earth, supply failures, disease, combat, desertion, and cold destroyed most of his army

Major coalition victory over Napoleon in October 1813 that caused French control of Germany to collapse

Napoleon’s brief return to power in 1815 after escaping Elba, ending with his defeat at Waterloo and second abdication

Napoleon’s decisive defeat on June 18, 1815 by Wellington’s Anglo-allied army and arriving Prussian forces under Blücher

Napoleon was exiled to nearby Elba in 1814 and escaped, but after Waterloo he was sent to remote Saint Helena, where he died in 1821

System of directly annexed territories, dependent satellite states, and coerced allies through which Napoleon dominated much of continental Europe and spread selected revolutionary reforms