Section 4 – The Age of Napoleon Begins Napoleon Bonaparte I ( ) Emperor of France

Setting the Scene Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica, a French-ruled island in the Mediterranean. He came from a family of minor nobles, but they had little money. At age nine, he was sent to France to be trained for a military career. When the revolution broke out, he was an ambitious 20-year-old lieutenant, eager to make a name for himself.

I. Napoleon’s Rise to Power Napoleon rose quickly in rank during the revolution after winning major battles

I. Napoleon’s Rise to Power he helped overthrow the Directory and set up a three-man government – the Consulate A portrait of the three Consuls (between 1799 and 1804) with Napoleon in the center

I. Napoleon’s Rise to Power A new constitution was written and Napoleon became First Consul. In 1802 he was named consul for life

I. Napoleon’s Rise to Power Napoleon acquired enough power to assume the title Emperor of France Napoleon on His Imperial Throne (1806)

I. Napoleon’s Rise to Power During his rise to power, Napoleon held plebiscites in which the French people strongly supported him December 2, Napoleon took up the crown from the altar and placed it upon his head. He then took Josephine's crown and crowned the empress kneeling before him.

II. France Under Napoleon He strengthened the central government and restored order, security, and efficiency "A Grateful France Proclaims Napoleon the First Emperor of the French"

II. France Under Napoleon Napoleon controlled prices, encouraged new industry, and built roads and canals to restore the economy

II. France Under Napoleon Government-controlled schools ensured officials and military officers were well-trained Leading the Way: Napoleon at school as a young man

II. France Under Napoleon The Concordat of 1801 gave religious freedom to Catholics and made peace with the Church "Signature of the Concordat between the French Government and His Holiness Pius VII for the re-establishment of the Catholic religion in France"

II. France Under Napoleon Napoleon gained the support of all social classes with his reforms

II. France Under Napoleon His most lasting reform was a new law code, the Napoleonic Code

II. France Under Napoleon The Code undid some of the reforms of the French Revolution; women lost most of their new rights Napoleon and the Woman Question: The Other Sex in French Education, Medicine, and Medical Law,

III. Building an Empire 1804 to Napoleon won many battles against other European powers and created an empire

III. Building an Empire He annexed areas, abolished the Holy Roman Empire, and created the Confederation of the Rhine The Confederation of the Rhine was formed in 1806 when 16 German minor states decided to throw their nations' futures in with Napoleon Bonaparte and ally themselves with France. A further 19 joined later.

III. Building an Empire Napoleon tried to invade England but his fleet was destroyed at the Battle of Trafalgar

III. Building an Empire Battle of Trafalgar Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson Trafalgar animation

III. Building an Empire The Continental System - economic warfare which closed European ports to British goods

III. Building an Empire Britain blockaded European ports and seized neutral trading ships, triggering the War of 1812 Running the British blockade

III. Building an Empire The Continental System failed - the British navy kept trade routes open; prices rose in Europe, creating resentment against France