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Napoleon Bonaparte

A French general who became emperor, led France through wars, made important changes to laws and government, but ultimately fell due to his ambition.

Plebiscite

A vote where people directly choose whether to accept a law or decision, rather than electing representatives.

Napoleonic Code

A set of laws created by Napoleon that organized the legal system and protected property rights, influencing laws in many countries.

Battle of Trafalgar

A sea battle where the British navy defeated Napoleon’s fleet, thwarting his plans to invade Britain.

Continental System

Napoleon's plan to block trade with Britain to weaken its economy, which instead caused problems for other countries.

Battle of Waterloo

The battle where Napoleon was defeated for the last time, marking the end of his rule and the Napoleonic Wars.

Congress of Vienna

A meeting of European leaders aimed at restoring peace and balance of power after Napoleon’s defeat, reshaping Europe’s borders.

Klemens von Metternich

An Austrian diplomat who organized the Congress of Vienna and sought to prevent revolutions in Europe.

Toussaint L’Ouverture

Leader of the Haitian Revolution who fought for Haiti’s independence and ended slavery in the country.

Simón Bolívar

A South American leader who helped Venezuela and Colombia gain independence from Spain.

Nationalism

A belief that people with shared culture, language, and history should form their own nation, often leading to independence movements.

Nation-State

A country where people share a common identity, language, and culture, and the government represents that group.

Otto von Bismarck

A German leader who united Germany through wars and diplomacy, transforming it into a powerful nation.

Giuseppe Garibaldi

An Italian nationalist who played a key role in uniting Italy through military campaigns.

What three steps did Napoleon take to seize and solidify his power in France?

Used military power, held plebiscites, and declared himself emperor.

Identify and explain three changes that Napoleon made to French society.

He created the Napoleonic Code, reformed education, and built new roads and bridges.

Identify and explain Napoleon’s three major mistakes that led to his downfall.

Invading Russia, implementing the Continental System, and losing the Battle of Waterloo.

What was the goal of the Congress of Vienna? What three steps did they take to accomplish this goal?

To bring peace and stability to Europe; they restored monarchs, redrew borders, and formed alliances.

What were the three major causes of independence revolutions in North and South America?

Unfair treatment, Enlightenment ideas, and economic struggles; example: Unfair treatment in the Haitian Revolution led to the fight for freedom.

What role did war play in the unification of Germany?

Key wars like the war with Denmark, Austro-Prussian War, and Franco-Prussian War united German states under Prussian leadership.

How can nationalism serve as both a unifying and divisive force?

Unifying example: Italy's unification through shared identity; Divisive example: Catalonia's push for independence from Spain.