IV. Napoleon Creates an Empire

Napoleon is Dynamite

Napoleon Bonaparte

A. Napoleon’s Accomplishments 1 – Creates a new constitution –Allows people to vote on it –Plebiscite – People are allowed to vote yes or no on an issue –Over 90% of French citizens voted yes

2 – Creates an efficient tax system and a national bank –Provides government with a steady supply of money

3 – Creates government-run schools 4 – Ends a feud with Catholic Church –Proclaims that France is a Catholic country –Helps Napoleon win widespread support among common people

5 – Napoleonic Codes – Establishes a uniform set of laws throughout France –Limited personal liberties like freedom of speech and freedom of press

B. Napoleon is Crowned Emperor 1804 – Napoleon decides to make himself emperor Calls another plebiscite Over 90% of French people vote yes

Napoleon took the crown from the Pope and crowned himself emperor Signaled that he was more powerful than the church

Napoleon Crowns himself Emperor

C. Napoleon Creates an Empire 1802 – Napoleon defeated all opponents in the 1 st Coalition and the newly formed 2 nd Coalition Napoleon wanted to control all of Europe

Louisiana Purchase Treaty, 1803 – Primary Source

Leads to the formation of the 3 rd Coalition –Britain –Russia –Austria –Sweden

Napoleon met these new challenges with a series of military victories 1805 – Forces Russia, Austria, & Sweden to sue for peace Only major enemy left was Great Britain

D. Battle of Trafalgar Only battle Napoleon lost against the 3 rd Coalition Napoleon planned to defeat the British navy and invade Britain Horatio Nelson – British command who defeats Napoleon’s navy Nelson dies during the battle

Death of Horatio Nelson

2 Results of the Battle 1 – Assures the dominance of the British navy for the next 100 years 2 – Forced Napoleon to give up his plans of invading Britain

E. Height of Power – Napoleon creates the largest empire in Europe since the Roman Empire However, the French Empire was unstable and Napoleon would not be able to maintain power

Napoleon Ruler of Europe