THE AGE OF
NAPOLEON
Chapter 7 Sections 3 & 4
Napoleon’s Early Life
• Father was Corsica’s
representative to Louis
XVI’s court
• Admitted to military
school when 9
• Excelled in history,
geography, & math
• 1784 transferred to
Ecole Militarie
• When rev. broke out
joined army of new gov’t.
Hero of the Hour
• 1795 stopped royalist
rebels from attacking
National Convention
• Hailed as the savior of
the revolution
• 1796 led French Army
to series of victories in
Austria & Italy
Egyptian Struggles
• Sent to Egypt to disrupt
British trade and protect
French interest
• Suffered naval defeat at
hands of Horatio Nelson
• Was able to keep news
of defeats out of
newspaper
• Was still hailed as a hero
in Paris
Coup d’ Etat
• Despite not receiving
orders to left for France
8/1799
• Directory had lost
confidence of people &
bankrupted France
• 11/1799 his troops
surrounded legislature
• Forced to dissolve
directory create group of
counsels
• Napoleon was named
first counsel
Temporary Peace in Europe
• 1799 Britain, Austria,
Russia join forces to
drive Napoleon from
power
• Treaty of Amiens signed
with Britain 10/1801
• Through battle victories
and diplomacy Napoleon
able to bring peace for
first time in 10 years
Napoleon Rules France
• Plebiscite held to ratify
new constitution
• Gave first counsel
(Napoleon) all real
power
• French people were
desperate for
leadership
Restoring Order at Home
• How Napoleon improved the economy:
• Efficient tax collection
• National banking system
• Dismissed corrupt gov’t. officials
• Set up lycees graduates were appointed to positions
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based on merit
How Napoleon improved Church Relations:
Signed concordat with Pope Pius VII
Recognized influence of Church, but…
Denied Church control in government affairs
Napoleonic Code
• Comprehensive &
uniform system of laws
• Eliminated privileges of
birth, allowed freedom
of worship.
• But…
• Eliminated freedom of
press and speech
• Reinstituted slavery in
French Caribbean
Colonies
Napoleon Crowned as Emperor
• 12/2/1804 Napoleon is
crowned Emperor of
France
• Ceremony occurred at
Cathedral Notre Dame
• Traditionally Pope
crowned Emperor
• Napoleon took crown
from Pope and placed
on own head
Napoleon Creates an Empire
• Wanted to control Europe & reassert French power in
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Americas
Revolution ideas spread to colony of Saint Domingue
1789 won independence
Napoleon wanted to get back control of island
French forces devastated by disease
Offered to sell Louisiana Territory to USA for $15 million
Reasons were twofold:
1. Needed $ for wars fighting in Europe
2. Weaken British influence in Americas
Louisiana Purchase
Conquering Europe
• Annexed Austrian
Netherlands, & parts of
Italy
• Set up a controlled
gov’t in Switzerland
• Britain, Russia,
Austria, & Sweden
were opposed to
Napoleon
• Defeated them all in a
series of battles:
Reasons for French Military Dominance
• Leadership (Napoleon)
• Experience fighting
• Resources
• Motivation (worried
about foreign invasion)
• Strategy- go on the
Offensive
• Required military
service of men of
fighting age
Battle of Trafalgar
• Only loss France
suffered until 1809
• Took place off S/W coast
of Spain
• Opposed by G.B.
commander Nelson
• Split French fleet in two
• Ensured G.B. navy
supremacy
• Forced Napoleon to give
up plans conquering
G.B.
French Empire
• 1812 only independent
Euro. Countries: G.B.
Portugal, Sweden, &
Ottoman Empire
• Rulers of French
controlled countries
were puppets
• Some were Napoleon
family members
• Russia, Austria, &
Prussia were allied with
Napoleon
Continental System
• Background: Napoleon divorces wife,
Josephine and bears heir through Marie
Louise, Napoleon II
• Power Vice: “I love power as a
musician loves his violin”
>Napoleon orders blockade
(closing ports) between Great
Britain & Europe
>unsuccessful-smugglers
avoided blockade
>British responded w/ a blockade
-U.S. declared War of 1812
on Brits
>weakened France
Peninsular Wars
>Napoleon placed brother
Joseph on Spanish throne for
not cooperating w/ Continental
system
>Spanish worried Napoleon
would attack the Church
>Enraged Spanish- Guerilla
fighters struck at
French army for 5 years
>Nationalism helped the
Spanish to victory
> Lost 300,000+ men during
fighting
>British assisted
Invasion of Russia
• (3) The Invasion of Russia-1812
>Russia was French ally
>Alexander I continued trading
w/ British
>Napoleon and his mercenary
army invaded Russia
>Alexander retreated to
Moscow, practicing
“Scorched Earth Policy”
Battle of Borodino lost 30,000
Arriving at Moscow
>Russia attacked French at their
weakest point
>Started w/ 420,000 troops, ended
w/ 10,000
Why You Don’t Mess With Russia
Napoleon’s Downfall
• Fourth Coalition- Britain,
Russia, Prussia & Sweden
joined forces to combat
Napoleon
• Battle of Leipzig-Napoleon’s
inexperienced army was cut to
pieces
• 1814-Russian Czar & William
III of Prussia led parade
through Paris
• Napoleon wanted to fight on
but Generals didn’t
• Napoleon gave up his throne
and was banished to Elba
100 Days
• Louis XVIII ascends to French throne
• Napoleon escapes Elba on 3/1/1815
• Ascends to be Emperor within days
• British and Prussian army meets Napoleon at Waterloo,
Belgium
• Defeats French within two days
• Napoleon banished to St. Helena
• Dies of stomach aliment 1821