Introduction
The French Revolution of 1789 was a pivotal event in French history. The tradition of the absolute monarchy was shaken to the core when France declared itself a Republic, and the king was guillotined. Almost over night, France was transformed by a government largely modeled on the American Constitution, Bill of Rights, and representative government.
During the ten years following the Revolution, the French experienced an extreme reaction to the old form of government. The country was ruled by a Committee for Public Safety that claimed to stand for French equality, freedom, and brotherhood. In the name of the Revolution, the Committee guillotined hundreds of thousands of French citizens with contacts to the old aristocracy or were otherwise perceived to be enemies of the new regime. Supporters of the king reacted by attempting to seize power again and change took place in the form of massive upheavals and discord. Out of chaos emerged Napoleon Bonaparte.
Napoléon Bonaparte has been both vilified and glorified. From the moment he seized power in November 1799 until his defeat at Waterloo in June 1815, he kept Europe in continual war (apart from one year, 1802-03). For that feat alone, he can be admired and reviled. Your mission will be to try and discover what he was really like, what long-lasting effects he has had on his country, form your own opinion from the research you perform on whether he was a great man or a tyrant.
Questions
1. When, where and of what kind of family was Napoleon born? What was his name at birth?
2. Who was Josephine? Who was Rose? How did the relationship change during Josephine's and Napoleon's lifetimes?
3. How many wives did Napoleon have? How many children?
4. What happened at Notre Dame Cathedral in 1803?
5. In 1812, when Napoleon invaded Russia, what happened?
6. What is the connection between England, Austria, Prussia, and Russia?
7. What's the connection between Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte?
8. Who was Wellington?
9. What was Napoleon's most significant military defeat?
10. What was the Napoleonic code?
11. How many new "codes" did Napoleon incorporate?
12. What was the "Reign of Terror?"
13. What were the 3 key principles of the French Revolution?
14. What is the connection between Napoleon and the French Revolution?
15. What piece of music did Beethoven originally dedicate to Napoleon? Why did he change his mind and erase the dedication?
16. When Napoleon was eventually exiled (to where?), what happened between the supporters of the return to the monarchy and the Republicans, who wanted to restore the First Republic? Who were the Bourbons?
17. What is Napoleon's legacy to the modern political system?
18. What is a referendum? What is the Assemblee Nationale? What is its primary function?
19. What is the dream for Europe that Napoleon had that is finally coming true?
20. Genius, egomaniac: how else could one describe Napoleon?
Internet Resources
The Napoleon Series
Campaigns
of Napoleon: 1805-1814
Costly
Retreat From Moscow - Cover Page: Summer '98 Great Battles Feature
Bios:
User Submitted: Napoleon: Page 1
Napoleon
Bonaparte Internet Guide - Napoleon and the French Revolution
Napoleon
Bonaparte - "The Little Corporal"
Napoleon
PBS - Napoleon
Reign of Terror. The
Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001
France During the French
Revolution and Under Napoleon Bonaparte
France:
History 1515-1815
The
Duke of Wellington / Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852)
Beethoven's
Life and Music 1770-1805
The Bourbons
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA:
Napoleon I (Bonaparte)
The
Napoleonic Revolution
Napoleon
Bonaparte
Windows
On Italy - History: Italy under Napoleon
The National
Assembly - France
Activities
- Choose a moment before they were married and write a letter to Josephine as if you were Napoleon.
- Choose a moment before they were divorced and write a letter to Josephine as if you were Napoleon.
- Create a timeline of Napoleon's military accomplishments.
- Create a timeline of Napoleon's administrative accomplishments.
- Imagine you are one of Napoleon's soldiers invading Russia. You have just reached Moscow. Make an entry in your journal.
- Find photographs/information which indicate the true height of the "little Corsican."
- Find photographs/information on Napoleon's family and their background.
- Make a map of Europe showing Napoleon's battles.
- Create the front page of a French newspaper which announces the exile of Napoleon.
- Imagine you are Napoleon at the end of your life. Write down your final thoughts and reflections.
Erica
Ainsbury, French Teacher, and Andrew Quach, AP student, collaborated to develop
this web hunt.
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