The Age of Napoleon

Ms. Garratt - Honors World History

Napoleon & the Directory• Directory was the gov that

followed the National Convention (Reign of Terror)

• When royalist rebels threatened the regime Napoleon was called in to stop it.

• He became the hero of the hour• Directory rewarded him with

military missions▫ Was victorious against the

Austrians in Italy & the British at Toulon

▫ Egyptian campaign was disaster. However, the discovery of Rosetta Stone is legendary.

▫ It was during this time that France looted some of the most valuable Egyptian artifacts. See the Louvre.

Coup d’etat 1799, Consulate & Emperor

•The Directory had helped Napoleon become famous

•But it was corrupt and unpopular•He was urged to overthrow it which he did.•Surrounded the legislature with his troops

and led a coup’etat (takeover)•Napoleon would create a new 3-man

government known as the Consulate (1799)•He took the title of First Consul and later

named himself the consul for life (1802)

Plebiscite & Coronation • Two years later he

took the title of emperor

• Invited the Pope to his coronation .

• Took the crown from the pope’s hand to place on his head (same as Charlemagne)

• Was a way of showing he was stronger than the pope.

• Napoleon wanted to keep the support of the people so he held plebiscite each step of the way.

Throne of Napoleon

Napoleon Restores Order in France•In 1802 this was the 1st time in over 10

years that France was at peace.•Napoleon’s 1st goal was to strengthen the

central government & consolidate some of the goals of the Rev.

•His focussed on the:▫Economy▫Education ▫Church▫Law

Napoleon, the Economy & Lycees•Modernized finance•Regulated the economy with price controls•Efficient method of tax collection•Established banking system•Encouraged new industry• Improved infrastructure •Established state-run public schools (lycees)

in order to train government officials .•Established meritocracy in which jobs were

provided to the qualified & not based on nepotism or class.

Concordat of 1801• Napoleon undid some of the

changes in religion• He wanted to consolidate his

political base and recognized that the Church and peasants resented the 1790 Civil Constitution of the Clergy

• Concordat of 1801 established a new relationship.▫ Kept the Church under state

control ▫ Restored some of the

church’s earlier influence but just not in national affairs.

• EFFECT: Napoleon gained the support of the majority of the French & the Church

Napoleonic Code• Considered by many to be his

greatest legacy▫ Created a comprehensive &

uniform system of law.▫ Spread it throughout Europe ▫ It embodied some enlightenment

principles such as: Equality under the law Religious toleration Meritocracy

▫ However it also took away rights previously acquired during the Revolution.

It reestablished slavery in the French colonies

It deprived women of rights gained.

Freedom of the press & speech were restricted

Napoleon Unites France•Won middle class support due to:

Economic reforms & restoration of stability Equality under the law Availability of jobs previously closed to middle

class•Won peasant and some working class

support due to: Rapprochement with the Church Allowing the peasants to keep the land bought

from the nobles and Church Price controls on

•Won the support of some former nobility Emigres returned

Napoleon’s Foreign Policy

Napoleon & Haiti

Napoleon & the United States• Why did

Napoleon sell the Louisiana territory?▫ Haiti Defeat▫ Needed the $ to

fight Britain▫ Feared Britain

would attack from Canada and just take it.

▫ Felt US possession of the territory would become a strategic nightmare for Britain

Conquering Europe• Annexed some countries • Puppet governments set up in others• British convinced Russia, Austria & Sweden to join

them against France• Battle of Austerlitz was stunning success for

Napoleon• Forced Russia, Prussia & Austria to sign peace

treaties• Battle of Trafalgar was naval defeat however and

ensured British naval superiority for the next 100+ years.

• Battle of Trafalgar ended Napoleon’s ambitions to conquer England

• Now he focuses on Europe

The following is a map at the height of Napoleon’s empire in 1810.

Identify which areas are not under French control.

Napoleon’s Costly Mistakes

Continental System• Blockade known as Continental System• Designed for 2 reasons:

▫ To destroy Britain’s commercial and industrial economy

▫ To make continental Europe more self-sufficient

• Was not successful - Blockade proved to be minor inconvenience for Britain

• Britain responded with its own blockade which was easier to enforce due to naval superiority

• Continental System failed for the following reasons▫ 1. Substantial smuggling took

place (with British aid)▫ 2. Napoleon’s allies & families

disregarded the blockade▫ 3. The blockade hurt Europe more

than Britain by depriving them of markets

▫ 4. When Russia refused to participate in the blockade Napoleon will make a costly mistake and declare war on Russia

• *US History Review

• *To enforce the embargo Britain and France both interfered with the US leading the US to adopt the following policies▫ US Embargo Act ▫ Non-Intercourse Act

*Seizure of US vessels*Impressment *War of 1812

Peninsular War 1808

•Napoleon’s second costly mistake was to depose the Spanish King and place his brother on the throne.

•This outraged the Spanish who were loyal to their king and the Catholic Church.

•Leads to guerilla warfare•British aided the Spanish•Unleashed Spanish nationalism.•French were no longer seen as liberators

but as occupiers.• This war will dramatically impact Latin

America

Goya’s Third of May

Invasion of Russia 1812• Breakdown in the alliance due

to failure of the Czar to enforce Continental System & Poland.

• Napoleon and army of 420,000 – 600,000 march into Russia which practices scorch-earth policy as they retreat.

• Rather than hand over Moscow to Napoleon the Czar orders it burned to the ground.

• Napoleon turns back and the harsh winter climate takes its’ toll.

• By the time the Grand Army returns only 10,000 soldiers .

• Your text says 100,000.• Recognizing Napoleon’s

weakness Russia & Prussia take him out.

Rise of Nationalism

•Nationalism became a powerful weapon against Napoleon

•Once he was seen as a liberal liberator who eliminated ghettos, abolished feudalism, promoted religious tolerance and equality under the law.

•Later he was seen as an oppressive conqueror.

•Nationalism sparks wars of liberation (guerrilla wars) throughout Europe

Downfall & Exile of Napoleon

• The Russian campaign revealed his weakness

• Could not raise a well-trained army

• Faced allied armies of Europe

• Defeated at the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig.

• Exiled to Elba (island in the Mediterranean.

The Hundred Days• Attempt by Napoleon to

regain power ended once again in defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium in 1815.

• This last attempt is known as the 100 days because it lasted from Mar to June.

• This time Napoleon was exiled to a remote island in the South Atlantic.

• He died 6 years later at the age of 52

St Helena – Where he died.

Returned to France in 1850 - Buried in tomb in 1861

Legacy of Napoleon•Napoleonic Code•Nationalism which would later lead to the

unification of Italy & Germany•Independence Movements in Latin

American•Louisiana Purchase•Congress of Vienna

▫Restoration of legitimate monarch▫Balance of power▫New borders▫Concert of Europe