Understanding the Napoleonic era through political cartoons | History

Starter quiz

What did Napoleon impose on Europe after the Battle of Trafalgar in order to try and stop countries trading with Britain?
- The Code Napoleon System
- The Competition System
- The Continental System ✓
Which keyword means being sent away from your home country as punishment?
- 'exile' ✓
Roughly how many soldiers did Napoleon lead into Russia?
- 5 000 000 (five million)
- 500 000 (five hundred thousand) ✓
- 50 000 (fifty thousand)
- 5000 (five thousand)
Match the places listed below with the descriptions of their geographical locations.
- France
  
  ⇔
  
  a country in western Europe between Spain and Prussia ✓
- Britain
  
  ⇔
  
  an island nation across the English Channel from France ✓
- Waterloo
  
  ⇔
  
  a town in Belgium ✓
- St Helena
  
  ⇔
  
  an island in the South Atlantic Ocean ✓
- Elba
  
  ⇔
  
  an island off the coast of Italy ✓
- Trafalgar
  
  ⇔
  
  on the coast of Spain ✓
Complete the sentence: France and Spain were beaten by the British navy at the Battle of ______ in 1805.
- 'Trafalgar' ✓
Put these events into chronological order.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  France and Spain are defeated by Britain at the Battle of Trafalgar
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon imposes the Continental System on Europe
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon invades Russia
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon is exiled to Elba
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon returns and is defeated at Waterloo by Wellington and allies
- 6
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon is exiled to St Helena

Exit quiz

Which keyword is used to refer to when something serious is made fun of in order to make a point?
- 'satire' ✓
Which of the following help historians to determine the diversity of public opinion during the Napoleonic era?
- Political cartoons produced within France ✓
- Political cartoons produced under the Ancien Regime
- Political cartoons produced outside of France ✓
Match the type of political cartoon to its likely message.
- Political cartoons produced in Britain
  
  ⇔
  
  Likely to be critical of Napoleon's actions ✓
- Political cartoons produced in France
  
  ⇔
  
  Likely to be complimentary about Napoleon ✓
Which words are associated with the word 'reliable' when thinking about historical sources?
- trustworthy ✓
- false
- accuate ✓
- unclear
Which keyword describes a source's background; its nature, origin and purpose?
- 'provenance' ✓
Put the events into chronological order.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon became the top army general in the post-revolutionary chaos in France
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon seizes power from the Directory in Paris after returning from Egypt
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon makes himself First Consul of France
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of France
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon abdicates after a disastrous invasion of Russia and is exiled to Elba
- 6
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon returns from exile and loses to Britain at the Battle of Waterloo
- 7
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon is exiled to St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean where he dies

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Contemporary cartoons give us insight into contemporary responses to the Napoleonic period.
Historians look at the provenance of a source to determine the purpose of its creation.
Historians also look at the provenance of a source to determine its reliability.
Historians can discern nuance in contemporary opinion on the Napoleonic era by studying contemporary political cartoons.

Common misconception

All French cartoons are complimentary of Napoleon and all British cartoons are critical of Napoleon.

Many French cartoons were critical of Napoleon and many British cartoons were critical of the British government's response to his actions.

Keywords

Contemporary - a contemporary source is one created at the time of the events it depicts or is commenting on
Provenance - provenance is a term used to describe a source's background; its nature, origin and purpose
Reliable - reliable is another word for trustworthy and accurate
Satire - when something serious is made fun of in order to make a point it is known as satire