Rise of Napoleon!

Review: Reign of Terror  Robespierre takes control  Firm believer in “Reason” - Wanted to wipe out all traces of old france  In July 1793, Robespierre becomes leader of the Committee of Public Safety  For the next year, he governs as a dictator in order to “protect the Revolution”  About 40,000 people executed during ‘the terror’  Most on weak charges

Review: Reign of Terror  In July 1974, National Convention turned on Robespierre  Robespierre was sent to the Guillotine shortly thereafter  In 1795, a new Moderate group of leaders in the National convention draft a new government  Placed power firmly in the hands of the upper middle class  Gave country a period of order  Led to Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte  Rising to power in a short amount of time

Early success  At an early age, Napoleon gained respect as a military man  At the same time, there is political upheaval in France  Napoleon uses troops to drive out members of nat’l legislature (1799)  Established a group of three consuls  Napoleon makes himself the 1 st consul Write this down

The People Want a Leader  Napoleon gains respect by forcing Britain, Austria, and Russia to sign peace treaty in  French citizens desperate for strong leader  Napoleon proposes new constitution  Citizens accept  Constitution gives all power to Napoleon Write this down

Napoleon’s early rule  Napoleon keeps many changes from F.R.  First, he fixes economy  Sets up nat’l banking system  Creates efficient taxing system  Eliminated corruption in govt.  Fired corrupt govt. officials  Hired based on merit, not relationships Write this down

Napoleonic Code  Napoleon considered this his greatest accomplishment  Positives:  Gave France a standard set of laws  Eliminated many injustices  Negatives:  Limited liberty and individual rights  e.g. freedom of speech/press restricted  Gave much more power to nat’l govt Write this down

The New Emperor  1804: Napoleon decides to make himself emperor  French citizens like his rule, so they agree  Napoleon crowned by the Pope  This event shows that Napoleon is more powerful than the Church Write this down