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The French Directory
The French Directory ruled revolutionary France from 1795 to 1799. It was governed by 5 directors chosen by a bicameral legislature. Fear of the repetition of the Reign of Terror made people want to separate the legislative and executive parts of the directory. France was ruled by the middle class and profiting revolutionaries under the Directory. -
Napoleon’s coup d’etat of 18 Brumaire and the Constitution of 1799
There was an overthrow of the French Directory in 1799 that was led by Napoleon Bonaparte and allowed him to become the ruler of France. He planned this coup d’etat in Paris with other politicians that were against the French Directory because they wanted a more powerful executive branch of government. The coup basically started Napoleon’s dictatorship. After Napoleon came into power, the French Constitution of 1799 was created. The Constitution included a new, more powerful executive body. -
First Consul of the Consulate
As first consul, Napoleon helped France recover after the Revolution by succeeding in military and political undertakings. Napoleon defeated Austria and established peace with the rest of Europe after 10 years of nonstop warfare. Even though France reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church, Napoleon made sure certain rights remained and also refused to return taken Church lands (for the benefit of the nation). Napoleon put into place administrative reforms, a police force, and coded law. -
Concordat of 1801
Napoleon tried to lessen tension with the church caused by the Revolution with the Concordat of 1801. The Catholic church agreed to deal with their land being taken and also agreed to supporting religious freedom. In return, Napoleon re-established the Catholic church as the main religion in France. -
Napoleonic Code
Napoleon established the Napoleonic Code as a set of laws for the French people. During the French Revolution, the 3rd Estate wanted equality and more power. This code was concrete proof of citizens' rights and also imposed restrictions, so that some level of equality and order existed between citizens moreso than before. -
Battle of Austerlitz
"The Battle of the Three Emperors" occurred between Napoleon I of France, Francis I of Austria, and Alexander I of Russia. After defeating Austrian forces, Napoleon came upon both Austrian and Russian forces, and a battle occurred at Pratzen Heights in Austerlitz, Moravia. The French victory was a great tactical achievement for Napoleon. The Austrians paid reparations and surrendered Venetia. This victory secured the First French Empire, representing a glorious comeback to the Revolution. -
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Continental System
The Continental System, also known as the Continental Blockade, was a foreign policy put in place by Napoleon I of France, during the Napoleonic Wars. This system forbade French trade with UK, the UK's allies, and any neutrals countries. The main purpose was to cut off trade from Britain -
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War of 1808, during the reign of Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars, was between France and the allied forces of Spain, the UK, and Portugal. The point of this war was to gain control over the Iberian Peninsula. There was a growth of nationalism among the Spanish, and a use of the guerilla war tactics by the Spanish. This was a defeat for the French, but a great victory for the allied forces. -
Invasion of Russia
France invaded Russia in the year 1812, during the reign of Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars. The reason being Napoleon wanted to convince the Emperor of Russia, Alexander I, to remain on in the Continental Blockade, a.k.a. the Continental System put in place by France. The main reason of this being so that Russia could be removed as a threat to Poland. In the end, it was a great victory for Russia, and the destruction of the French allied army. -
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Battle of Leipzig
The 3-day battle was fought between the French Army and an alliance of Austrian, Prussian, Russian, and Swedish troops. The battle was a big turning point for the Napoleonic Wars because France lost many allies and fell the next year. Also, Germany became a free country. -
The Hundred Day
The Hundred Days campaign was Napoleon's last try at remaining the powerful leader of France. The name of the campaign refers to the amount of time King Louis XVIII was kept out of Paris. His failure to keep his original promises of about liberal constitutionalism caused Napoleon to lose many supporters. -
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was the final defeat of Napolean and caused him to surrender and give up his power. The two armies that fought against him were the Anglo-Allied Army and the Prussian Army. Napoleon lost his followers and lived on St. Helena, in exile, for the rest of his life.
