Napoleon Forges an Empire

Napoleon Seizes Power Napoleon Bonaparte 1.Short; 5’3” 2.Raised in a military school 3.Saved the National Convention in Appointed to lead the French army against Austria 5.In 4 years became the master of France

Hero of the Hour 10/1795: Royalists marched on the National Convention Napoleon was ordered to protect the convention He used cannon fire to disperse the crowd Napoleon became the hero of the hour He was hailed across France as the savior of the people

The Directory 1. The new government of France 2. Created in men held the power 4. Appointed Napoleon to the position of General of the Army in Napoleon won a series of victories in Italy 6. He then tried to repeat his success in Egypt but failed to defeat the British Lost to British commander Admiral Horatio Nelson

Coup d’Etat : the Directory had lost control politically in France. The French people had lost confidence in them too : Napoleon returned from Egypt and seized power; Bloodless 3. The national legislature voted to dissolve the Directory 4. Established 3 consuls; 1 was Napoleon a. He claimed the title 1 st Consul and assumed the powers of a dictator 5. Britain, Austria, & Russia fought to drive Napoleon from power but signed peace agreements by Europe at Peace

Napoleon rules France 1. The plebiscite: vote of the people 2. The vote approved a new constitution giving Napoleon all real power in France 3. Economic help: a. Efficient tax collection b. National banking system c. Created better economic control 4. Corruption was also ended a. Lycees: gov’t run schools b. Best graduates were appointed to public office

Napoleon and the Church 1. New agreement with the Pope a. concordat: the gov’t would recognize the influence of the church b. Church would not have any control of national affairs 2. Napoleon gained the support of the church and a majority of the people

The Napoleonic Code 1. A uniform set of laws, eliminating many injustices 2. Limited freedoms and promoted order over individual rights Freedom of speech was replaced by censorship 3. Restored slavery in the Caribbean colonies Napoleon makes himself Emperor of France and the people approve Actually crowned himself instead of being crowned by the Pope

New Laws

Creating an Empire 1. After a failed military campaign in Saint Domingue, Napoleon sold Louisiana territory to the US in Helped solidify the US power 3. Already controlled Switzerland, part of Italy, & the Netherlands 4. Austria, Russia, Britain, and Sweden joined together to defend against a French attack The Battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon won several victories against this newly formed alliance 6. Austria, Prussia, & Russia signed peace treaties after being routed by France

Creating an Empire con’t 1. The battle of Trafalgar a. Only loss for Napoleon during this campaign b. Admiral Horatio Nelson defeated the French navy c. Stopped Napoleon from being able to invade Great Britain d. Britain was the most powerful navy in the world for the next 100 years 2. By 1812, Napoleon controlled much of Europe 3. His military might kept most of the conquered nations loyal out of fear 4. The empire was huge, but unstable