French Wars (1793-1815) Flashcards
What was the Treaty of Amiens?
27th March 1802
PM Henry Addington mastermined unfavourable and very unpopular Treaty;
• Since 1801 Britain had been fighting France alone - want peace as there is no one else left in the coalitions
• ‘Phoney Peace’
• Favourable to Napoleon - conquests returned to French.
• Income tax abolished
• Peace lasted only a year
What was the British reaction to the revolution in France? (1789)
Mixed responses from Conservatives/Liberals, however debate about it was allowed as Britain viewed itself as safe from any revolutionary action due to the fact the Civil War in Britain guaranteed political solidity. Did not get involved, just observed what was happening in France.
How did the revolutionary wars begin?
The French Republic declared war on Austria and Prussia in 1792. They annexed the Austrian Netherlands and the port of Antwerp which directly threatened British interests. William Pitt the Younger insisted France withdraw from Holland but France refused and declared war on the British (and the Dutch) on Feb 1st 1793.
What was Napoleon’s role in the French army?
Artillery General
How many allied coalitions against Napoleon were there, and what countries usually made them up?
Seven in total
Usually made up by Britain, Austria and Prussia.
Russia and Spain also sometimes joined.
Portugal, Sweden and some German states added into the sixth and seventh coalitions.
Who was the Grand Duke of York and what did he do?
He commanded the British contingent for the allied army of the first coalition in Flanders from 1793. Very ineffective leadership, hence the famous rhyme.
Led the Flanders (1793-1795) and Helder (1799) campaign.
Replaced by Arthur Wellesley who served under him at Flanders and learned what not to do to win a war.
Explain the Flanders and Helder campaigns
Britain lost all its battles in Flanders (1793-1795) due to DoY’s poor leadership, as well as bad co-ordination and weak supply lines. The Allies enjoyed several early victories, but were ultimately unable to advance beyond the French border fortresses. Coalitions forced to withdraw after French counter offensives. Helder campaign (1799) had two objectives; neutralise the Batavian fleet and to promote an uprising against the Batavian government. An Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland that achieved its first objective but not the second.
What coalitions fought and what battles are part of the Napoleonic Wars? 1803-15
Wars of the third and fourth coalitions Battle of Trafalgar 1805 The Peninsular War War of 1812 (against USA) (not really important) Waterloo 1815
What gun did the Infantry use under Wellesley
Brown Bess Musket
What was the range of a Brown Bess?
80 yards
Why did the British fight France in Spain? (Peninsular Wars)
Napoleon forced Spain’s King to abdicate in place of his brother, Joseph. Wellesley was sent to Lisbon to help the Portuguese and Spanish regain independence.
Name some of the tactics of Wellesley’s army
Volley’s of fire
Formation Square
Reverse slope
The Battle of Talavera
July 1809
20,000 British troops under Wellesley met 34,000 Spanish and fought Napoleons 50,000.
The Spanish proved poor allies and some ran away - but the British held the line and the French retreated.
Wellesley known as Wellington from this battle onwards.
The lines of Torres Vedras
Wellington ordered the secret construction of the line of forts, redoubts and artillery positions.
Following Talavera, Wellington chose to retreat behind the lines instead of advancing to Madrid. By April 1811, Marshall Massesna had attacked Ciudad Rodrigo and Almeida but was losing 500 men a week - so they returned to Spain after losing 30,000 men to disease, starvation or guerilla attacks.
Fuentes de Oñoro
May 1811
Wellington met Massena’s army who were on their way to the besieged Almeida. Very intense battle.
