1. Napoleon Bonaparte Consul, Emperor of France 1799-1815

2. Learning Objectives for the Unit
Describe Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power
Identify the characteristics of Napoleon
Recognize the military tactics that Napoleon used to conqueror and annex land
List the political reforms that Napoleon established in French Society
Describe the rise and fall of Napoleon – causes for the downfall and defeat at Waterloo

3. Napoleon’s Rise to Power
Military Training – 9 yrs
Lieutenant – 20 yrs. Old
Brigadier General – 24 yrs. Old
Capture of Toulon
Military Success
1795 – “Saves” the Directory – nicknamed the “Savior of France”

4. Napoleon Gains Political Control
1798 – Egyptian Campaign is a failure
Arrives in France to find out he is still a hero of France
1799 – Plans to overthrow Directory and later names himself “First Consul”

5. Characteristics of Napoleon Bonaparte
Determined
Power Hungry
“Military Genius”
Dedicated to his Work
Meticulous
Self- Sufficient
Demanding
Highly Respected by his Soldiers

6. Josephine and Napoleon
Napoleon “truly” loved Josephine
While Napoleon was on his Military Campaigns she was unfaithful to him
However, he did take her back for a period of time.

7. Military Strategies Napoleon Bonaparte Adapted to battle field
Use tactics that would work best
Make offensive moves
Keep the army well-supplied (and fed) and encourage them that they will win the fight!

8. Napoleon’s Tactics “Military Genius”
Divide and Conquer – Split the enemy in two and flank them from one side.
The enemy will be literally half the size after the one side is annihilated
Reconnaissance – Search for gaps
Concentrate artillery fire on these gaps
Napoleon increased the use of artillery

9. Napoleon – Building an Empire
Annexed Land – added areas to France
Netherlands, Belgium, parts of Italy, and Germany
Napoleon conquered most of Europe
Was this enough for Napoleon?

11. Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon’s actions during the Coronation were very symbolic
He took the crown from the Pope and placed it on himself
Symbolized that he does not owe his success to anyone

12. Napoleon’s Problems with Great Britain
Battle of Trafalgar – Goal – End trade between England and Europe
Heratio Nelson – British admiral of Navy
Great Britain’s Navy was too strong

13. The Napoleonic Code Political Reforms in France
Equality of all in the eyes of the law
No recognition of birthright (nobility)
Freedom of Religion
Opened govt. offices to anyone of talent, regardless of class (Meritocracy)
Freedom to find an occupation of choice
Strengthened the role of the family
Emphasis on the husband/father as the head of the family

14. Napoleonic Code Strengths and Weaknesses
Guaranteed civil liberties
Meritocracy
Continued the social aims towards the French Revolution
Protected the interest of the middle class
Weaknesses
Women could not vote
Wife owed obedience to her husband
Minors had few rights
Males were given more freedoms than Women in French Society

15. Napoleon in Power “Order, Security, and Efficiency”
Concordat of 1801 – Peace with the Church
Recognizes Catholic Church and religious toleration
Napoleonic Code – Reflects Enlightenment ideas
All MEN are Equal
The state is more important than one man
Order and Authority over individual rights.
Economic Reforms in France -
Controlled prices – Improved Transportation
Public Schools – Abolished Serfdom

16. Napoleon’s Empire 1812

17. Napoleon’s Downfall

18. It worked. Napoleon pulled out in October, 1812.
Tsar Alexander I withdrew from the French alliance because of the unpopularity of the Continental System and Grand Duchy of Warsaw.
Napoleon assembled the Grande Armée from 20 nations (almost 600,000 soldiers) to invade Russia in 1812.
Russians abandoned Moscow and used the scorched-earth policy when retreating to starve the Grande Armée.
It worked. Napoleon pulled out in October, 1812.
Of Napoleon’s original nearly 600,000 soldiers, only 20,000 survived the cold, hungry trek back across Eastern Europe (the rest died or deserted).

19. Napoleon Invades Russia
THE INVASION OF RUSSIA
Collapse of Russian alliance
Invaded June, 1812 with nearly ,000 troops
Many soldiers died of Typhus
Scorched Earth Policy. As Russians retreated into its interior it burned all crops and killed livestock. Napoleon’s troops could not find food to eat.
Napoleon occupied the abandoned and burning Capitol Moscow.
Tsar would not surrender or negotiate

20. Napoleon Invades Russia
Harsh winter conditions set in
Forced to withdraw, losing 563,000 men
563,000 lost: (including POWs) 300,000 French “Grand Armee” 72,000 Poles, 80,000 Germans, 50,000 Italians 61,000 Other Nations

21. Napoleon’s Abdication
1813 – Quadruple Alliance of Austria, Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia defeated Napoleon at the Battle of the Nations in Leipzig.
1814 – Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean.
Louis XVIII, brother of the guillotined Louis XVI, was made king of France. Louis XVIII was disliked, and the returning émigrés were distrusted.
During the peace conference in Vienna, Napoleon escaped from Elba and Louis XVIII fled.

22. 1814 – Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean.

23. Napoleon Escapes from Elba “Last 100 Days”
Napoleon escapes from Elba and returns to France
March 20, 1815
Napoleon marched triumphantly into Paris
Rebuilds Military
Soldiers are Loyal to Napoleon not the King
King Louis XVIII flees and Napoleon regains power

24. Battle of Waterloo - 1815 Napoleon was defeated
Napoleon attacked Belgium, where the British and Prussian armies were camped. His hope was that he could separately destroy these armies before the Russians and Austrians arrived. 
June , the British, aided by the Prussians, defeated Napoleon for the last time. 
Napoleon abdicated on June 22, 1815, 
Tried to flee to America, British Navy stopped all ships trying to leave the port.
The British exiled Napoleon to the island of St. Helena in the South Pacific where he died on May 5, 1821.

26. Success or Failure? Hero or Villain?
Won many victories at the tactical and strategic level
Strategic greed may have caused his downfall
Rise of Nationalism in French Society

27. Napoleon the “True Leader”
Morale – Napoleon knew his soldiers on a first name basis – He gained their respect by fighting!
“All men who value life more than the glory of the nation and the esteem of their comrades should not be members of the French army.”
“If you should see for the moment uncertain of victory, your emperor will be on the front line.”
“Control man’s imagination & you control their heart and soul..”-- Napoleon Bonaparte

28. Legacy of the Revolution
Influenced other countries to demand:
Constitution
Individual Rights
Liberty and Equality
Strong beliefs in Nationalism
Desire to break away from foreign rule

29. Other Influences of the Napoleonic Era and French Revolution
Serfdom and Feudalism abolished everywhere (ex. Russia)
Religious Toleration
Modern Warfare “nations at arms”
Louisiana Purchase
In France-
Public Schools
Meritocracy
Law codes (civil rights)
National bank system
Public Works
Draft for national army