Napoleon BonaparteHero or Tyrant

1769-1821Part 2

Napoleon BonaparteReforms Under Napoleon

1. Civil code of law- Napoleonic Code of Law was clearly written and accessible

Its purpose was to reform the French legal code to reflect the principles of the Fr. Revolution.

Create one law code for France.

Napoleon BonaparteReforms Under Napoleon

Napoleonic Code of Law

1. All people equal in the eyes of the law: no special privileges for clergy, nobles, etc

2. Feudal rights are ended

3. Trail by jury guaranteed

4. Religious freedom guaranteed

5. Wives could own her own property (with her husband’s permission in writing)

Did Napoleon preserve the ideals of the French Revolution, as he claimed, in his domestic policies?

Napoleon BonaparteReforms Under Napoleon Influence of the Napoleonic Code of Law

Wherever it was implemented (in the conquered territories), the Code Napoleon swept away feudal property relations.

Napoleon BonaparteReforms Under Napoleon

2. Centralized administration

Napoleon developed a powerful, centralized administrative machine with promotion based on ability.

Opening government careers to individuals based on their ability was one change the middle class wanted.

Napoleon created a new aristocracy based on merit in the state service. He created 3,263 nobles between 1808 and 1814. More than half were military officers and from the middle class.

Napoleon BonaparteReforms Under Napoleon

3. Centralized bank and currency

Napoleon BonaparteReforms Under Napoleon

4. Concordat of 1801 with Catholic Church

Catholicism was declared the religion of the majority of France

• Papal acceptance of church lands lost during the Revolution

• Catholic bishops are subservient to the regime

Napoleon BonaparteReforms Under Napoleon

5. Legion of Honor- highest award possible in France

Palace of the Legion of Honor, Paris

Napoleon BonaparteReforms Under Napoleon

6. Higher Education

In France, women are considered too highly. They should not be regarded as equal to men, In reality they are nothing more than machines for producing children

Public education does not suit women, as they are not called upon to live in public…marriage is their whole estimation

Napoleon BonaparteReforms Under Napoleon

Higher Education

Lycee Education System of France

Established by Napoleon in 1801 as an educational reform.

Lycées initially enrolled the nation’s most talented students [they had to pay tuition, although there was some financial help available for poorer student].

Lycées trained the nation’s future bureaucrats.

Napoleon BonaparteThese revolutionary ideals that Napoleon established will influence other nations and other people

Touissant L’Ouverture

Napoleon Bonaparte1804 Napoleon declares himself Emperor

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon is still a military man and he wants to increase his empire

What makes his army so different?How do the Napoleonic Wars become the beginning of modern warfare?

Napoleon Bonaparte

It a different world by the 1800s.

• The coalition forces fought in the old European manner- one filled with established social classes, centuries of military habits, and one where noble blood meant you led men.

• The French army fought in the manner of the French Revolution- a more egalitarian, patriotic citizentry where officers rose in rank, no matter their birth, but according to ability

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon BonaparteBattle of Austerlitz 1805Considered Napoleon’s most brilliant battleConsidered one of history’s most brilliant battles

Napoleon destroyed the Third Coalition in this battle

Napoleon BonaparteBattle of Austerlitz 1805

Napoleon willingly gave up the high defense ground knowing how poorly organized the Allied forces were.

The Allied or Coalition forces were led by the Russian Czar Alexander- Russia was still using the old Julian calendar rather than the European Gregorian calendar. That meant they were 12 days behind the Gregorian calendar. Incredibly, no one in the coalition forces saw this mistake. During the battle the Austrian general Mac was awaiting support from the Russian troops - surely they were near?

No - they were 200 miles away.

Napoleon BonaparteBattle of Austerlitz 1805

Napoleon held some troops behind the hill- knowing the Austrians would take the bait and come forward into his hinged trap

They didmen dead 1305 15,000

men captured 573 12,000

standards lost 1 50

French Coalition

Napoleon ruled the mainland of Europe now!

Napoleon BonaparteThe Battle of Trafalgar 1805

The British Navy destroys Napoleon’s navy

The British hero Horatio Nelson achieves lasting fame

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon wants to defeat the British. He uses the Continental System - a circling of Europe in order to prevent England from trading with the continent. With this plan, Napoleon hopes to break the financial back of the British Empire.It failed.Everyone still traded with England

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon turns to Russia

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon meets his end at Waterloo

Duke of Wellington

vs

Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte

So what defeats Napoleon in the end?

1. Continental System did not work - he could not defeat the British

2. The Russian campaign seriously weakened his forces.

3. The very item he spread - nationalism or pride in one’s nation - would become the source of revolt against his rule