The Directory and Napoleonic Era - Part III

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What was the Directory?

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The Directory was the government in France from 1795 to 1799, consisting of an executive of 5 directors appointed by the Legislature.

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How was the French Legislature structured under the Directory?

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The Legislature had a lower house with 500 members proposing laws and an upper house with 250 members voting on laws. Two-thirds of the Legislature was filled by members of the Convention.

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What issues did the Directory face?

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The Directory suffered from corruption, poor administration, inflation, and food shortages.

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What led to the rise of nationalism in France during the Directory?

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National pride was fueled by military successes, despite the poor conditions under the Directory.

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How did Napoleon Bonaparte come to power?

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Napoleon Bonaparte came to power through a coup d’état, overthrowing the Directory on November 9, 1799, and establishing a Military Dictatorship.

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What was the Concordat of 1801?

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The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between France and the Catholic Church to return church property taken during the French Revolution and declare Catholicism the religion of the majority of Frenchmen.

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What was the Louisiana Purchase?

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The Louisiana Purchase was an agreement in 1803 where the U.S. paid $15 million for the Louisiana territory, nearly doubling the size of the United States.

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What was the Napoleonic Code?

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The Napoleonic Code, created in 1804, was a set of laws that established equality before the law, abolished privileges based on birth, and allowed individuals to choose occupations.

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What were Napoleon's three major mistakes?

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1. Continental System against Britain, 2. Peninsular War against Britain, Spain, and Portugal, 3. Invasion of Russia in 1812.

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What was the outcome of Napoleon's invasion of Russia?

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The invasion was disastrous, with most of Napoleon's army killed, frozen, or starved to death, leading to his defeat by the Quadruple Alliance.