The Age of

The Age of

Napoleon Begins

Napoleon Begins

Chapter 6 section 4 pp. 182-185Chapter 6 section 4 pp. 182-185

Setting the Scene Setting the Scene ““He was like an expert chess He was like an expert chess

player, with the human race for player, with the human race for an opponent, which he proposed an opponent, which he proposed to checkmate.”to checkmate.”

““Nothing has been simpler than Nothing has been simpler than my elevation, it is owing to the my elevation, it is owing to the peculiarities of the time”peculiarities of the time”

From 1799-1815, Napoleon From 1799-1815, Napoleon would dominate France and would dominate France and EuropeEurope

His name was given to the final His name was given to the final phase of the revolution- “The phase of the revolution- “The Age of Napoleon”Age of Napoleon”

Napoleon’s Rise to PowerNapoleon’s Rise to Power Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August

1515thth, 1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica, an island ruled , 1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica, an island ruled by the French in the Mediterranean Sea.by the French in the Mediterranean Sea.

Parents were minor nobles but had little Parents were minor nobles but had little moneymoney

At age 9 was sent to France for training and At age 9 was sent to France for training and a military career. He was 20 when the a military career. He was 20 when the revolution broke out.revolution broke out.

He favored the Jacobins and republican rule. He favored the Jacobins and republican rule. But found conflicting ideas and personalities But found conflicting ideas and personalities confusing.confusing.

““Since one must take sides, one might as Since one must take sides, one might as well choose the side that is victorious, the well choose the side that is victorious, the side which devastates, loots, and burns.side which devastates, loots, and burns.

Early Successes Early Successes

During the turmoil of the During the turmoil of the revolution, Napoleon rose revolution, Napoleon rose quickly in the ranks of the quickly in the ranks of the army.army.

December 1793, drove December 1793, drove British forces out of French British forces out of French port of Toulon. port of Toulon.

Later went on to win several Later went on to win several victories against Austrians, victories against Austrians, captured most of Northern captured most of Northern Italy, and forced Hapsburg Italy, and forced Hapsburg emperor to make peace.emperor to make peace.

Led expedition to Egypt in Led expedition to Egypt in 1798 which was disastrous. 1798 which was disastrous. But most in France had no But most in France had no idea of his losses. idea of his losses.

Early Successes Cont.Early Successes Cont.

By 1799 moved from By 1799 moved from victorious general to political victorious general to political leader.leader.

1799 helped to throw off the 1799 helped to throw off the Directory in a coup-de-tat.Directory in a coup-de-tat.

Soon after that another Soon after that another constitution was drawn up constitution was drawn up and Napoleon took the title and Napoleon took the title First Consul. First Consul.

1802 had himself named 1802 had himself named consul for life.consul for life.

A Self-made EmperorA Self-made Emperor Two years later he had enough Two years later he had enough

power to take the title of Emperor power to take the title of Emperor of the French.of the French.

Invited the pope to preside over Invited the pope to preside over his coronation in Paris.his coronation in Paris.

During ceremony he took the During ceremony he took the crown from the popes hand and crown from the popes hand and placed in on his own head. By placed in on his own head. By doing this he was trying to prove doing this he was trying to prove that he owned the throne.that he owned the throne.

Each step he held a Each step he held a plebisciteplebiscite--or or ballot in which voters say yes or ballot in which voters say yes or no,no, and each time the voters and each time the voters strongly supported himstrongly supported him

France Under NapoleonFrance Under Napoleon

Napoleon consolidated Napoleon consolidated his power by his power by strengthening the central strengthening the central government.government.

““Order, Security, and Order, Security, and Efficiency” Efficiency” replacedreplaced the the French Revolution French Revolution slogan of “Liberty, slogan of “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity”Equality, and Fraternity”

ReformsReforms Napoleon constructed new roads and buildings Napoleon constructed new roads and buildings for the French, which benefited all classes of for the French, which benefited all classes of people.people.

He set up a system of public schools with strict He set up a system of public schools with strict government control to train officials and military government control to train officials and military officers.officers.

Napoleon reversed some of the Revolutions Napoleon reversed some of the Revolutions social reforms.social reforms.

He made peace with the Catholic Church by He made peace with the Catholic Church by recognizing religious freedom for Catholics, but keeping recognizing religious freedom for Catholics, but keeping the church under government control. Revolutionaries the church under government control. Revolutionaries denounced this but obviously Catholics welcomed it.denounced this but obviously Catholics welcomed it.

Napoleon won support across class linesNapoleon won support across class lines He encouraged emigres to return if they swore an oath He encouraged emigres to return if they swore an oath

of loyaltyof loyalty He recognized peasants right to lands they bought from He recognized peasants right to lands they bought from

the church and Noblesthe church and Nobles

Napoleonic CodeNapoleonic Code The Code was Napoleons most The Code was Napoleons most

lasting reformlasting reform It included Enlightenment It included Enlightenment

principlesprinciples Equality of all citizensEquality of all citizens Religious TolerationReligious Toleration Advancement on meritAdvancement on merit

It did undo some of the reforms of It did undo some of the reforms of the Revolutionthe Revolution

Women lost most rightsWomen lost most rights Men gained absolute authority over Men gained absolute authority over

wives and kidswives and kids

Napoleon valued order and Napoleon valued order and authority over individual rightsauthority over individual rights

Building an EmpireBuilding an Empire Napoleon increased his Napoleon increased his

reputation on the battlefield from reputation on the battlefield from 1804-141804-14

He defeated the greatest He defeated the greatest powers in Europepowers in Europe

He took huge risks and suffered He took huge risks and suffered huge losseshuge losses

““I grew up on the field of battle…I grew up on the field of battle…and a man such as I am cares and a man such as I am cares little for the life of a million men”little for the life of a million men”

By 1810 his Empire had By 1810 his Empire had reached its greatest extentreached its greatest extent

Building an Empire cont.Building an Empire cont. As a military leader Napoleon valued rapid movements As a military leader Napoleon valued rapid movements

and made effective use of his large armyand made effective use of his large army He changed his “game” plan for each battle, too keep his He changed his “game” plan for each battle, too keep his

enemy guessingenemy guessing Napoleons presence on the battlefield, one enemy said, Napoleons presence on the battlefield, one enemy said,

“is worth 40,000 troops”“is worth 40,000 troops”

The Grand EmpireThe Grand Empire Napoleon redrew the map of Napoleon redrew the map of

Europe as he conquered and Europe as he conquered and annexed-annexed- added outright, landadded outright, land

The Netherlands, Belgium, The Netherlands, Belgium, parts of Italy and Germany all parts of Italy and Germany all fell to Napoleon and his armiesfell to Napoleon and his armies

He abolished the Holy Roman He abolished the Holy Roman Empire and created a 38 Empire and created a 38 member Confederation of the member Confederation of the Rhine under French protectionRhine under French protection

And he cut Prussian territory in And he cut Prussian territory in half creating the Grand Duchy half creating the Grand Duchy or Warsaw in “Poland”or Warsaw in “Poland”

The Grand Empire cont.The Grand Empire cont. Diplomacy was one of Diplomacy was one of

Napoleon’s weaponsNapoleon’s weapons He put family and friends He put family and friends

on the thrones of Europeon the thrones of Europe Joseph Bonaparte became Joseph Bonaparte became

the King of Spainthe King of Spain Rulers from Madrid to Rulers from Madrid to

Moscow signed treaties Moscow signed treaties with the “Corsican Upstart”with the “Corsican Upstart”

Napoleons successes Napoleons successes brought him great brought him great accolades at homeaccolades at home

France Versus BritainFrance Versus Britain

Great Britain was the only Great Britain was the only European Nation to European Nation to remain free from remain free from NapoleonNapoleon

With its superior naval With its superior naval power they were able to power they were able to hold of the Frenchhold of the French

At the At the Battle of Trafalgar Battle of Trafalgar off the coast of Spain off the coast of Spain Horatio Nelson smashed Horatio Nelson smashed the French fleet.the French fleet.

France Versus Britain cont.France Versus Britain cont. With no way to invade Britain Napoleon turned to economic warfareWith no way to invade Britain Napoleon turned to economic warfare He created the He created the Continental SystemContinental System, which closed European ports to , which closed European ports to

the Britishthe British Great Britain responded with a Great Britain responded with a blockadeblockade- or the shutting off of ports - or the shutting off of ports

by ships to keep supplies and people from coming in or going out.by ships to keep supplies and people from coming in or going out.

Both sides seized each Both sides seized each others ships and neutral others ships and neutral ships that they believed ships that they believed carried supplies.carried supplies.

These actions especially by These actions especially by the British angered the the British angered the United States and led to United States and led to the war of 1812.the war of 1812.

France Versus Britain cont.France Versus Britain cont. In the end, Napoleon’s Continental System failed to bring Britain to In the end, Napoleon’s Continental System failed to bring Britain to

its kneesits knees British exports declined, but its powerful navy kept vital trade British exports declined, but its powerful navy kept vital trade

routes openroutes open Napoleons system created a scarcity of goods in Europe and send Napoleons system created a scarcity of goods in Europe and send

prices soaringprices soaring This all increased the resentment by the people against French This all increased the resentment by the people against French

power over Europepower over Europe