Review Questions and Answers on the Rise and Fall of Napoleon
1) Where was Napoleon born in 1769, first exiled in 1814, and finally exiled and died in 1821?
What was similar and different about these places? (born in Corsica in 1769, first exiled to
Elba in 1814, and died in St. Helena in 1821. All were similar in that these were islands but
different as Corsica and Elba were islands in the Mediterranean between Italy and France
while St. Helena was a remote island in the South Atlantic).
2) After his defense of the Directory in 1795 and his promotion, why did Napoleon become
widely known in France as a military hero? (because of his military victories over the Austrian
troops in Italy)
3) Define “coup d’etat”? How is this related to Napoleon? (“coup d’etat” refers to the sudden
overthrow of a government, such as Napoleon’s overthrow of the Directory by a coup d’etat
in 1799).
4) Why was Napoleon so successful in conquering much of Europe? (due to his strategic genius,
keeping up the morale of his troops based on their belief in equality, ability to replace
troops rapidly through the levee or draft system).
5) How did Napoleon confirm the legitimacy of his self-appointment to emperor in 1804? Why
did the French people accept this? (through a referendum/the French people were tired of the
excesses of the revolution and wanted stability that Napoleon seemed to offer).
6) Put the following events in chronological order: Battle of Waterloo, exile to St. Helena,
Napoleon becomes emperor, exile to St. Helena, Russian campaign. (Napoleon becomes
emperor, Russian campaign, exile to Elba, Battle of Waterloo, exile to St. Helena)
7) What was Napoleon’s most long lasting positive accomplishment? Why? (his promulgation
of a civil code…the Code Napoleon. Significant as it became the basis of French law down to
the present).
8) What happened at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805? Why was it so important to world history?
(The British fleet, under Admiral Nelson, defeated a combined French/Spanish fleet. This
battle assured British naval supremacy through to the early 20th century, thus supporting
Britain’s future imperial expansion and mercantile interests).
9) Explain Napoleon’s three major mistakes and why these contributed to his eventual
downfall? (1st mistake: Continental system by which he tried to stop trade with
Britain and alienated allies, 2nd mistake: invasion of Spain and replacing the
Spanish king with his brother Joseph: resulted in a costly guerilla war that tied
down many of his troops, 3rd mistake: invasion of Russia in which the vast part of
Napoleon’s army was lost in the bitter Russian winter)