Napoleonic Revolution Ms. Marenda

Napoleon Napoleon was born in 1769 on the island of Corsica. Character – brilliant, insightful, ambitious, unscrupulous. Ability – brilliant military scholar and tactician. 1793 – Young military officer drives English from Toulon. 1795 – Defends the NC against rioting mobs and is made General.

Map of Corsica

1796-97 – Defeats a larger Austrian army in Italy, now a national hero. 1798 – Invades Egypt, first defeat. 1799 – Stages a coup d’etat and becomes a military dictator. 1804 – Support of Fr. people is named emperor.

Domestic Reforms Centralized gov’t – local officials appointed by national gov’t talent rather than birth now determine high positions in army & gov’t. Public ed – created a system of colleges, elementary, secondary, and technical schools all under gov’t control. Financial – created Bank of Fr., improved tax collection, ended feudal exemptions.

Religion – Concordat of 1801 – agreement ended tension between the Pope and Fr. Fr. recognized Pope as head of the Catholic Church. Law – Napoleonic Code – streamlined Fr. laws. Provided equal treatment, abolished serfdom and feudal privileges, guaranteed trial by jury, became basis of Fr. law. Declaration of the Rights of Man – established basic civil rights.

Napoleon’s Empire 1799 – 1802 – N takes command of Fr. forces and defeats those countries who attempted to invade. 1803 – War breaks out in Europe. N defeats Austria, Russia, Prussia. Only England and its navy remained unconquered. Dominated most of Europe through 1812.

N downfall began in 1810. Empire was too large. Opposition from England and their control of the sea. Nationalism Exhaustion of Fr.’s economic & military sources.

1812 – N experiences several setbacks (Russia – lost ½ million men) allowed combined armies to defeat him and send him in exile on island of Elba. 1815 – March 1st, N escapes, returns to Fr. (100 days). Combined forces of Europe under Duke of Wellington defeat him at Waterloo. Exiled again to St. Helena and dies there in 1821.

Battle of Waterloo, 1815

Legacy of Napoleon & Fr. Revolution Spread revolutionary ideals throughout Europe (liberty, equality, and fraternity). Lessened power of the CC, nobles, monarchs, and clergy. Nationalism & liberalism became powerful forces in Europe. Changed map by destroying Holy Roman Empire and reducing number of German city-states.

The Restoration of Order – The Congress of Vienna After defeat of Napoleon, European countries strive to avoid war and maintain a balance of power. Congress of Vienna Goals: Restore peace. Suppress nationalism (demand by groups for independence) and liberalism (desire to make gov’t more democratic). Former monarchs should be put back on their thrones in countries once dominated by Napoleon. Compensate countries by giving them territory. Redraw European map so that no one country gains power over the others and create buffer states.

Members of Congress of Vienna England – Lord Castlereagh Prussia – King Frederick William III Russia – Czar Alexander I France – Charles Talleyrand Austria – Prince Metternich

Actions of the Congress of Vienna Quadruple Alliance – made up of Austria, Russia, Prussia, England, to enforce settlements made at Vienna and prevent other revolutions. Redrew the map: England received the Cape colony in southern Africa and other non-European territories. Holland was given Belgium. Austria got part of Italy. Russia/Prussia took parts of Poland.

Louis VXIII put on throne of Fr.. Congress of Vienna was an attempt to turn back the clock back to the days before the French Revolution. History shows that they were not the least bit successful in stopping the ideas of democracy and nationalism.