1. The Rise of Napoleon

2. Napoleon was a self mad man of immense talent and ambition
From a minor Italian noble family on the island of Corsica
Set out to prove he was equal of every Frenchman he encountered in his military academy and the army
Had a quick mind that excelled in practical subjects that combined with supreme confidence

3. Napoleon earned his first fame with the Italian campaigns
Followed up his success with a bold move by invading Egypt in
He abandoned his men in Egypt and found his way to France in time to take part in the overthrow of the Directory

4. Napoleon’s coup d’etat of Brumaire succeeded in creating a new government, the Consulate
He was chosen 1st consul, and quickly outmaneuvered the other two consuls
In 1801 proclaimed himself consul for life

5. Napoleon’s Domestic Policies
He consolidated his power and in 1804 crowned himself emperor
He implemented policies from the top down with little democratic input and disregarding individual rights

6. Governance and Administration
Created a constitution for the Consulate and then the Empire
Laws were enacted by the Legislative Corps but could not be debated
Centralized his administration by having prefects that ran each of the 83 departments and reported directly to Paris

7. Napoleon used plebiscites to show that people agreed with Napoleon’s proclamations for the empire
He would not stand any interference with his rule

8. Legal and Social Policies
Napoleon announced “careers open to talent”
Created a Legion of Honor to recognize the contributions of those who served in the revolutionary wars

9. Napoleonic Code Perhaps his most significant accomplishment
Created a single law code for all of France, and the nations which he conquered
Reinforced patriarchy and limited the rights of women

10. Economic and financial policies
Modernized the infrastructure of France
However, his efforts at industrial stimulation proved less successful

11. Educational policies
Established a nationwide system of secondary schools, called the lycee
National system of technical universities were also begun

12. Religious Policies
Ended the war between the Revolution and the RCC with the Concordat of 1801
The pope regained some control of the French clergy and Catholicsm was recognized as the majority religion of France
The Church acknowledged the loss of its properties, and the French government retained a veto power over clerical appointments