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France 1815–70

Napoleon III's foreign policy and the collapse of 1870

  • 3 things to know
  • AS Unit 2

Overview

Aims of Napoleon III's foreign policy, mexican expedition and hohenzollern candidature.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Numbers

How far was military defeat alone responsible for the collapse of the Empire?

Numbers

What did France gain from the Crimean War?

Key term

What did Napoleon III agree with Cavour at Plombières?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What were the aims of Napoleon III's foreign policy?

    Model answer

    Napoleon III wanted to undo the settlement of 1815, to lead Europe in redrawing frontiers on the principle of nationality, and to win the prestige his dynasty needed.

  2. 2

    What did France gain from the Crimean War?

    Model answer

    France emerged as the leading power in Europe, the peace congress met in Paris in 1856, and the humiliation of 1815 seemed to have been reversed.

  3. 3

    What did Napoleon III agree with Cavour at Plombières?

    Model answer

    Napoleon III promised French help against Austria in return for Nice and Savoy, on the understanding that northern Italy would be reorganised in France's interest.

  4. 4

    Why did Napoleon III make peace at Villafranca in 1859?

    Model answer

    Napoleon III was shaken by the casualties at Solferino, feared Prussian mobilisation on the Rhine and saw that a united Italy would swallow the Pope's territory.

  5. 5

    What did the Italian war cost Napoleon III at home?

    Model answer

    Catholics never forgave the abandonment of the Pope's lands, and the strongest bloc of support the Empire had was permanently weakened.

  6. 6

    What was the Mexican expedition?

    Model answer

    French troops occupied Mexico from 1862 and installed the Archduke Maximilian as emperor, a venture that ended when France withdrew in 1867 and Maximilian was shot.

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