WHII: SOL 8a Rise of Napoleon, Congress of Vienna

Rise of Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte was a military hero who rose quickly through the army. He favored republican rule Overthrew the Directory and set up a three-man governing board known as the Consulate In 1802, Napoleon became consul for life. Two years later, he crowned himself Emperor of the French. At each step, Napoleon had held a plebiscite and been strongly supported by the French people.

Steps taken by Napoleon: Controlled prices Encouraged industry Built roads and canals Set up public schools Made peace with the Church Encouraged émigrés to return Recognized peasants’ right to lands they had gained Opened jobs to all based on talent

Napoleonic Code His most lasting reform was a new code of laws known as the Napoleonic Code. Napoleonic Code Equality of all male citizens before the law Religious toleration Abolition of feudalism From 1804 to 1812, Napoleon successfully battled most of Europe and created an empire Defeated at the Battle of Waterloo

Legacy of Napoleon Unsuccessful attempt to unify Europe under French domination Napoleonic Code Awakening of feelings of national pride and growth of nationalism

Congress of Vienna This was a meeting of the victorious powers, after Napoleon’s exile, whose objective was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, and the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire.

Congress of Vienna The decisions the participants had to make included whether to keep Napoleon’s reforms or undo many of them and how to redraw the map of Europe after Napoleon’s military conquests

Members Five European “great powers” – Austria – Prussia – Russia – Great Britain – France

Representatives of Austria Foreign Minister, Prince Klemens von Metternich Emperor Francis I of Austria

Representatives of Prussia Karl von Hardenberg Wilhelm von Humboldt King Frederick William III of Prussia

Representatives of Russia Czar Alexander I of Russia Count Karl Nesselrode

Representatives of Great Britain Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Richard Trench, 2nd Earl of Clancarty

Representatives of France Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

Goals Establish lasting peace and stability in Europe Prevent future French aggression Restore balance of power Restore royal families to thrones

Actions Taken Formed Kingdom of the Netherlands Created German Confederation Recognized independence of Switzerland Added Genoa to Kingdom of Sardinia Required France to return territories conquered by Napoleon but left France a major power Affirmed principle of legitimacy (royal families)

Congress of Vienna The agreements conflicted with the rising desire for democracy. Different ethnic groups were spread throughout several countries (e.g., Slavs could be found in Germany, Austria, Russia, and Italy). The agreements did not appeal to the increasing number of supporters of liberalism, who were found among the middle class, college students, and factory workers

Klemens von Metternich’s efforts to establish peace and stability Metternich sought to maintain peace between European nations by creating a balance of power among rival countries so no country would be a threat to the others. To guard against revolutions, he set up a series of alliances called the Concert of Europe, which required nations to help one another if a revolution erupted.

Legacy of the Congress of Vienna “Balance of power” doctrine Restoration of monarchies New political map of Europe New political philosophies (liberalism, conservatism)

Map of Europe 1815