Final answer:
The French responded positively to the plan of launching an Egyptian campaign by Napoleon. They saw it as an opportunity for territorial expansion and to spread the ideas of the French Revolution. However, they faced setbacks due to the British navy's victory and political instability.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Napoleon Bonaparte planned to launch the Egyptian campaign in 1798, the French responded positively. They saw it as an opportunity for territorial expansion and to spread the ideas of the French Revolution. The French army achieved initial successes in Egypt, introducing the Egyptians to revolutionary ideas and making important discoveries like the Rosetta Stone.
However, the British navy's victory at the Battle of the Nile and the British encouragement of the Ottoman Empire to declare war on France weakened the French position in Egypt. Facing difficulties with supplies, illness, and domestic political instability, Napoleon eventually decided to return to France.