The Age of Napoleon

1. THE AGE OF
NAPOLEON
Chapter 6 section 4

2.  Plebiscite- popular vote by ballot
 Napoleonic Code- body of French civil laws
introduced in 1804, served as a model for many
nations’ civil codes
 Annex- add a territory to an existing state or
country
 Continental System- blockade designed by
Napoleon to hurt Britain economically by closing
European ports to British goods (ultimately
successful).

3.  Guerilla warfare- fighting carried on through
hit and run raids (the Spanish used this
against the French soldiers)
 Scorched-earth policy- military tactic in
which soldiers destroy everything in their path.
(the Russians did this to prevent Napoleon’s
army from conquering them)
 Abdicate- to give up or step down from power.

4.  Congress of Vienna- assembly of European
leaders that met after the Napoleonic Era to piece
Europe back together. Met from September 1814
to June 1815 in Vienna, Austria.
 Legitimacy- principle by which monarchies that
had been unseated by the French Revolution or
Napoleon were restored.
 Concert of Europe- a system in which Austria,
Russia, Prussia, and Great Britain met periodically
to discuss any post-Napoleonic Era Quadruple
Alliance.

5. 1. How did Napoleon rise to power so quickly in
France?
 He was very ambitious and his military
successes helped him gain power.

6. 2. What reforms did Napoleon introduce during
his rise to power?
 He enacted reforms to improve the economy,
established a public school system, and
introduced the Napoleonic Code.

7. 3. How did Napoleon come to dominate most of
Europe by 1812?
 He defeated European powers by moving
large armies rapidly, taking risks, and being
willing to suffer great losses. He annexed
some lands and forced alliances on others. He
put friends and family members on several
European thrones.

8. 4. What challenges threatened Napoleon’s
empire and what led to the disaster in Russia?
 Nationalism in individual European states,
guerilla warfare in Spain, Austria seeking
revenge, and the devastating Russia winter.

9. 5. How did Napoleon impact Europe and the rest
of the world?
 He spread the ideas of nationalism across
Europe and facilitated American expansion
with the Louisiana Territory and abolished the
Holy Roman Empire, which help create a new
Germany.