Napoleon Forges an Empire Chapter 23 Section 3

I Napoleon Grasps the Power A. hero of the Hour Napoleon was a lieutenant and joined the army of the new gov’t when the Rev. broke out Napoleon successfully defended delegates of the National Conventionhailed as the savior of the French republic Appointed to lead French army against Austria Victories in Italian Alps  “the general”= Napoleon

B. Coup d'état Napoleon created plot to take over control He was appointed head of army then drove out members of one chamber of the national legislature Legislature voted to dissolve the Directory and established a group of 3 consuls Napoleon seized doctoral powers as the 1st consul of French rep. Coup d'état (“blow of state”)= sudden seizure of power AKA a coup

At the time of Napoleon’s coup, France was still at war 2nd Coalition of anti French powers formed All 3 actions sign peace treaties w/ France Napoleon now free to focus on restoring order to France

II Napoleon Rules France A. Restoring Order at Home Plebiscite was held to approve a new constitution (4th in 8 yrs.) Plebiscite= vote of the people Napoleon had order and stability in his rule Kept many changes from the revolution His 1st focus was the economy Set up efficient tax collecting & national bankbetter control of econ 2nd was to reduce gov’t corruption & improve gov’t services Fired corrupt officials & set up lycees= gov’t run public schools

Peasants and clergy still wanted to return power of church in France All children edu. Togetherappointed to pub. Office based on merit rather than fam. Connections Peasants and clergy still wanted to return power of church in France Napoleon signs concordat (agreement)= gov’t recognize influence of church but rejected church control in Nat'l affairsearned him support of church & majority of French ppl His greatest goal= Napoleonic Codeuniform set of laws gave country uniformity but limited liberty & promoted order &authority of individual rights Took away rights of women won during rev. Freedom of press gained in rev was restricted Slavery reinstituted on French colonies in the Caribbean

B. Napoleon Crowned as Emperor Napoleon names himself emperor & the voter support him Takes crown from popes head and places it on himselfsignals that he is more powerful than the church

III Napoleon Creates an Empire A. New World Territories Napoleon wanted to control all of Europe and the New World He knew they key was sugar cane in French colony of Saint Domingue on island of Hispaniola Planters in Hispaniola hear of revolution and demand the same privileges be given to them by National Assemblyslaves demanding their freedom Civil war eruptsNapeleon sends in troops but they loose

When expedition in Hispaniola fails the US offers to buy New Orleans Napoleon realizes opp. To make $ and cut his loses in the Americas Napoleon offers to sell entire Louisiana terr. & Pres. Jefferson agrees Napoleon “killed two birds with one stone” Gained $ to finance operations in Europe Assured power of the US to rival GB (France’s competition in Europe)

B. Conquering Europe Annexed Austrian Netherlands, pats of Italy, and set up puppet gov’t in Switzerland and continued to add terr3rd Coalition against France Napoleon wins series of battles including Austria, Prussia, & Russia signing peace treaties w/ France Only ally standing in his way was GB and their powerful navy

C. Battle of Trafalgar In war against 3rd Coalition napoleon lost only one major battle: Battle of Trafalgar This defeat more important than all his victories on land because Assured supremacy of British navy for next hundred years Forced Napoleon to give up plans of invading Britain Napoleon’s effort to Crush Britain would lead to his demise

D. The French Empire His victories gave him control over most of Europe Controlled numerous independent lands & some formally under French Empire Some were puppet gov’ts & others were loosely attached by threats of mil. Actionlarge empire but it was unstable His threatsconquered ppl becoming aware of their loyalty to their own nations