Napoleon & Congress of Vienna 1795-1821

Napoleon: Fun Facts Short-5’3”… “napoleon complex” Born in Corsica One of the greatest military leaders in history Love affair with Josephine Not sure how he died. (May have been poisoned???)

Young Napoleon Sent to military school at age 9 At 16, finished & became lieutenant When revolution breaks out, Napoleon joins new government

Napoleon the Hero 1795 Royalist rebels (favored the king) marched on National Convention Napoleon defends the delegates in the government Rebels run in panic & confusion Becomes HERO! Cheered throughout Paris as savior of French Republic

Early Military Successes 1796-1797 1796-Government appoints Napoleon to lead French army against Austria & Sardinia Wins huge victories in Italy 1797-leads expedition to Egypt to disrupt British trade w/ India Not successful, Navy defeated Keeps stories of failures out of media Still considered a great hero

COUP D’ETAT 1799 French government is weak Napoleon’s friends encourage him to take power His troops surround National Convention & drive out most lawmakers Create a group of 3 Consuls (leaders), Napoleon is one COUP D’ETAT=sudden seizure of power Britain, Austria, & Russia join forces to drive Napoleon out of power Napoleon leads the troops Sign peace treaty w/ France 1st time for peace in 10 yrs

Taking Power & New Changes At first, he pretends to be chosen leader of free republic Plebiscite-vote of the people Give all power to Napoleon (want strong leader) Changes Fix economy (efficient tax system) End corruption in gov’t Set up public schools Establishes new relationship w/ church Napoleonic Code + Law code & eliminated many injustices - BUT focused on authority, not rights More power for Napoleon (no freedom on speech or press, reinstates slavery in colonies)

Louisiana Purchase 1803 2 reasons Sold Louisiana Territory to President Jefferson for $15 million 2 reasons Use $ to finance operations in Europe Punish Britain (US becomes powerful)

NAPOLEON CROWNS HIMSELF EMPEROR - 1804 Decides to make himself Emperor of France French people support him! Takes crown from Pope & puts it on his own head More powerful than the church

European Takeover Napoleon begins taking over parts of Europe Annexed Netherlands & parts of Italy Sets up puppet government in Switzerland Britain is nervous so ask Russia, Austria, & Sweden to join forces Napoleon crushes them! Russia, Austria, Prussia forced to sign peace treaties Napoleon builds the largest European empire since the Romans

Battle of Trafalgar 1805 Only major battle Napoleon lost off Spanish coast, brilliant British Naval Commander Horatio Nelson destroys French navy Guaranteed British navy would dominate over the next 100 yrs *Napoleon gave up his plans to invade Britain

Continental System 1806 Set up blockade-forcing ports to close Tries to cut off all trade & communication between Britain & Europe Purpose to destroy British economy Britain sets up its own blockade & had stronger navy to make it happen Rerouted ships sailing for Europe into British ports, searched & taxed them Continental System was unsuccessful & a mistake

Peninsular War 1808 To force Portugal to follow the Continental System, Napoleon sends an army though Spain. Spanish people protest Napoleon removes King of Spain from power & puts his brother on throne Spanish are outraged!!! Stirs Nationalism: pride in and loyalty to your country Spanish guerrilla attacks against French troops Britain sends troops to help Spanish 300,000 French troops lost Severely weakens French military & eventually the empire

Invasion of Russia:1812 420,000 French soldiers march into Russia Russian troops pull back SCORCHED EARTH POLICY: burning everything to starve out enemy Napoleon invades Moscow Russians burn the city! Napoleon stays in Moscow & retreats in winter (what!?!) Russians mercilessly attack French army on their way out Die of hunger, fighting, exhaustion, & cold ONLY 10,000 MAKE IT OUT ALIVE! French army is nearly destroyed

Napoleon: "Of the fifty battles I have fought, the most terrible was that before Moscow. The French showed themselves to be worthy victors, and the Russians can rightly call themselves invincible."

More Attacks 1813-1814 Britain, Russia, Sweden, & Prussia join forces to attack France Napoleon raises new army ill equipped & poorly trained Battle of Leipzig French army easily defeated January 1814: armies marching on Paris Napoleon wants to fight but generals refuse April 1814: Napoleon surrenders & gives up throne Exiled to island of Elba

The Hundred Days:1815 Louis XVI’s brother becomes King quickly becomes unpopular March 1815: Napoleon escapes Elba & lands in France Crows welcome him back, thousands volunteer to join his army, become Emperor again

Battle of Waterloo: 1815 Allies quickly gather forces to put down Napoleon Battle of Waterloo: Britain & Prussia defeat Napoleon Napoleon’s last fight (“met his waterloo”) Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena (Atlantic) 1821 dies of stomach ailment (cancer? poisoned?)

CONGRESS OF VIENNA Representatives & Goals 1814-1815-representatives from Russia, Prussia, Austria, Britain, & France meet Most powerful: Prince KLEMENS VON METTERNICH from Austria Series of meetings for 8 months Goal: TO CREATE A BALANCE OF POWER IN EUROPE

Actions Taken New Countries Created Netherlands is created Austrian Netherlands + Dutch Republic 39 German states unite to create Germany Switzerland is independent country Countries surrounding France are strengthened To prevent future aggression by France Rulers overthrown by Napoleon are returned to power Creates peace for 40 yrs

Concert of Europe Monarchs throughout Europe are nervous that French Rev ideas will spread to their countries Primary Purpose of “concert of Europe”: TO PREVENT FUTURE REVOLUTIONS Holy Alliance: Austria, Russia, & Prussia sign alliance to protect each other if revolution would happen Too late: revolutionary ideas have spread LATIN AMERICA!!!