The Rise and Fall ofNapoleon

How did Napoleon gain power in France and

eventually lose his empire?

Napoleon Takes PowerNapoleon Takes Power• After Robespierre’s execution, Committee of Public Safety abolished

• War continues, Royalists try to take over the French Assembly

• 1795: Napoleon Bonaparte leads troops against Royalists

• Easy win – seen as hero & appointed General of the Army

• 1796: leads troops to win over Austria but loses to British in Egypt

• 1799: people losing confidence in the Assembly

• Nov: Napoleon seizes power in a coup d’état

• Jan 1800: Plebiscite (vote of the people) approves a new constitution

• New constitution gives unlimited power to Napoleon

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Napoleon Changes FranceNapoleon Changes France

• Napoleon begins public schools (Lycée)

• He removes corrupt Government Officials

• He creates new laws called Napoleonic Code

• Code gave France “uniform” laws & eliminated injustices, but also limited freedoms gained in the revolution & restored slavery

• 1802: All wars in Europe end

• 1803: Napoleon loses slave revolt in Haiti & sells Louisiana Terr. To US• Napoleon happy to gain $ from sale and make US a power

• 1804: Napoleon is crowned Emperor of France – people approve

Napoleonic WarsNapoleonic Wars• 1804: Napoleon uses US money to establish an Empire in Europe

• Annexes Italian States, Netherlands & puts puppet govt. in Switzerland

Battle ofAusterlitz

• 1808: Invades Spain and puts his brother Joseph on the throne

• Spanish use “guerilla warfare” during Peninsular War

Peninsular War

• 1805: Fights British Navy & loses Battle of Traflagar

• Countries that lose forced to sign peace treaties with France

Battle of Traflagar

• 1805: British ask other countries to help them stop Napoleon• Napoleon crushes Austrian army @ Austerlitz

Napoleon’s Empire CollapsingNapoleon’s Empire Collapsing

•Russian Czar against Continental System

•June 1812: France invades Russia

•Czar Alexander used “scorched-earth policy”•Dec 1812: Cold Russian winter then sets in, Russians start attacking Napoleon’s tired & hungry army (422K to start – 28K left to retreat)

•Napoleon tries to Blockade Britain – Continental System

•Britain & US fight War of 1812

•US wants to help Napoleon

Napoleon’s Final Chapter• 1814: Napoleon defeated in Napoleonic Wars & is exiled to Elba

• Louis XVIII (the brother of Louis XVI) takes the throne in France

• Louis XVIII becomes Absolute Monarch, people upset

• 1815: Napoleon escapes from Elba and returns to France. French people are happy to see his return –the “100 days” begins

• Napoleon quickly recruits an army and retakes France

• Rest of Europe get their armies together to put a stop to Napoleon once and for all

• Napoleon’s forces fight the British army at Battle of Waterloo

• Britain holds Napoleon’s army until arrival of Prussia’s army (1815)

• Napoleon is defeated and the British send him to a remote island (St. Helena) in the South Atlantic Ocean

• On the island, Napoleon lives alone and dies of a stomach ailment (probably cancer) in 1821

Voices from the Past:Napoleon’s Mysterious End

1. What was the original diagnosis about Napoleon's death?

2. What is the new theory of Napoleon’s death? How do we know this information?

3. Who are the suspects in Napoleon’s death? (four answers)

4. Which theory do you believe and why?