NapoleonNapoleon&&

Congress of Congress of ViennaVienna

1795-1821

Napoleon: Fun Facts Short-5’3”… “napoleon

complex” Born in Corsica One of the greatest

military leaders in history Love affair with

Josephine Not sure how he died.

(May have been poisoned???)

Young Napoleon

Sent to military school at age 9

At 16, finished & became lieutenant

When revolution breaks out, Napoleon joins new government

Napoleon the Hero1795

Royalist rebels (favored the king) marched on National Convention

Napoleon defends the delegates in the government– Rebels run in panic &

confusion Becomes HERO!

– Cheered throughout Paris as savior of French Republic

Early Military Successes1796-1797

•1796-Government appoints Napoleon to lead French army against Austria & Sardinia

•Wins huge victories in Italy•1797-leads expedition to Egypt to disrupt British trade w/ India

•Not successful, Navy defeated•Keeps stories of failures out of media•Still considered a great hero

COUP D’ETAT1799

French government is weak Napoleon’s friends encourage him to take power

– His troops surround National Convention & drive out most lawmakers

– Create a group of 3 Consuls (leaders), Napoleon is one COUP D’ETAT=sudden seizure of power Britain, Austria, & Russia join forces to drive Napoleon

out of power– Napoleon leads the troops– Sign peace treaty w/ France

• 1st time for peace in 10 yrs

Taking Power & New Changes At first, he pretends to be chosen leader of free republic

– Plebiscite-vote of the people– Give all power to Napoleon (want strong leader)

Changes– Fix economy (efficient tax system)– End corruption in gov’t– Set up public schools– Establishes new relationship w/ church

Napoleonic Code– + Law code & eliminated many injustices– - BUT focused on authority, not rights

• More power for Napoleon• (no freedom on speech or press, reinstates slavery in

colonies)

Louisiana Purchase1803

Sold Louisiana Territory to President Jefferson for $15 million

– 2 reasons• Use $ to finance operations in Europe

• Punish Britain (US becomes powerful)

NAPOLEON CROWNS HIMSELF

EMPEROR - 1804 Decides to make

himself Emperor of France

French people support him!

Takes crown from Pope & puts it on his own head– More powerful than

the church

European Takeover Napoleon begins taking

over parts of Europe– Annexed Netherlands &

parts of Italy– Sets up puppet government

in Switzerland Britain is nervous so ask

Russia, Austria, & Sweden to join forces

Napoleon crushes them!– Russia, Austria, Prussia

forced to sign peace treaties

Napoleon builds the largest European empire since the Romans

Battle of Trafalgar1805

Only major battle Napoleon lost off Spanish coast, brilliant British Naval

Commander Horatio Nelson destroys French navy– Guaranteed British navy would dominate over

the next 100 yrs– *Napoleon gave up his plans to invade Britain

Continental System1806

Set up blockade-forcing ports to close– Tries to cut off all trade & communication

between Britain & Europe– Purpose to destroy British economy– Britain sets up its own blockade & had

stronger navy to make it happen• Rerouted ships sailing for Europe into British

ports, searched & taxed them

Continental System was unsuccessful & a mistake

Peninsular War1808

To force Portugal to follow the Continental System, Napoleon sends an army though Spain.– Spanish people protest– Napoleon removes King of Spain from power & puts

his brother on throne– Spanish are outraged!!!– Stirs Nationalism: pride in and loyalty to your

country Spanish guerrilla attacks against French troops Britain sends troops to help Spanish 300,000 French troops lost

– Severely weakens French military & eventually the empire

Invasion of Russia:1812 420,000 French soldiers march

into Russia Russian troops pull back SCORCHED EARTH POLICY:

burning everything to starve out enemy

Napoleon invades Moscow– Russians burn the city!

Napoleon stays in Moscow & retreats in winter (what!?!)– Russians mercilessly attack

French army on their way out– Die of hunger, fighting,

exhaustion, & cold– ONLY 10,000 MAKE IT OUT

ALIVE!– French army is nearly

destroyed

Napoleon: "Of the fifty battles I have fought, the most terrible was that before Moscow. The French showed themselves to be worthy victors, and the Russians can rightly call themselves invincible."

More Attacks1813-1814

Britain, Russia, Sweden, & Prussia join forces to attack France

Napoleon raises new army– ill equipped & poorly trained

Battle of Leipzig– French army easily defeated

January 1814: armies marching on Paris– Napoleon wants to fight but generals refuse

April 1814: Napoleon surrenders & gives up throne– Exiled to island of Elba

The Hundred Days:1815 Louis XVI’s brother

becomes King– quickly becomes

unpopular March 1815:

Napoleon escapes Elba & lands in France– Crows welcome him

back, thousands volunteer to join his army, become Emperor again

Battle of Waterloo: 1815

Allies quickly gather forces to put down Napoleon– Battle of Waterloo: Britain & Prussia defeat

Napoleon– Napoleon’s last fight (“met his waterloo”)

Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena (Atlantic)– 1821 dies of stomach ailment (cancer?

poisoned?)

CONGRESS OF VIENNARepresentatives & Goals

1814-1815-representatives from Russia, Prussia, Austria, Britain, & France meet – Most powerful: Prince KLEMENS

VON METTERNICH from Austria

Series of meetings for 8 monthsGoal: TO CREATE A BALANCE

OF POWER IN EUROPE

Actions Taken

New Countries Created– Netherlands is created

• Austrian Netherlands + Dutch Republic– 39 German states unite to create Germany– Switzerland is independent country– Countries surrounding France are strengthened

• To prevent future aggression by France Rulers overthrown by Napoleon are returned to

power Creates peace for 40 yrs

Concert of Europe Monarchs throughout Europe are nervous

that French Rev ideas will spread to their countries

Primary Purpose of “concert of Europe”: TO PREVENT FUTURE REVOLUTIONS

Holy Alliance: Austria, Russia, & Prussia sign alliance to protect each other if revolution would happen

Too late: revolutionary ideas have spread– LATIN AMERICA!!!