1. Napoleon Forges an Empire
Section 4
Napoleon Forges an Empire

2. Napoleon Forges and Empire
In four years Napoleon rose from an unknown army officer to the ruler of France
1796 the Directory appoints him to lead the French army against the Austrians and the Kingdom of Sardinia
Napoleon defeats them in Italy and is seen as a national hero
Napoleon is sent to Egypt to disrupt British trade
He is unable to repeat his success, but he manages to keep his defeat out of the newspapers in France, he returns to France as a national hero

3. Napoleon Forges an Empire
1799 the Directory had lost control and confidence of the French people
Napoleon forces the National Legislature to dissolve the Directory and change the government
He had the army behind his attempt to take power
Government was a group of three consuls
Napoleon was the first consul and he assumed the power of a dictator
At the time of Napoleons takeover France was still at war
Britain, Russia and Austria wanted to remove Napoleon from power
Napoleon used war and diplomacy to sign peace agreements with all three countries
1802 Europe was at peace for the first time in 10 years

4. Napoleon Forges an Empire
Napoleon kept many of the changes from the Revolution
Wanted to bring order and stability to France
Economy- set up an efficient method of tax collection, established a national banking system
Dismissed corrupt government officials and trained new officials in government run schools called lycees
Graduates were appointed to public office based on merit
Religion- Napoleon wanted to restore position of Catholic Church in France
Signed a Concordant (agreement) that gained the support of the church and many French people
Laws- Napoleon developed a system of uniform laws known as the Napoleonic Code
It limited liberty, and promoted order and authority over individual rights
Freedom of speech and the press was restricted

5. Napoleon Forges an Empire
1804 Napoleon has himself crowned emperor of France
Napoleon wanted to control the rest of Europe and reassert French power in the Americas
1801 A slave revolt on the island of Saint Domingue resulted in loss of French control
Napoleon tried to retake control and failed
Decided to cut losses in the Americas and sold the Louisiana Territory to the US for $15 million dollars (Louisiana Purchase)
Gave Napoleon money to Finance his wars in Europe
Also allowed him to keep the British from taking control of the territory

6. Napoleon Forges an Empire
Napoleon turned his attention to Europe
He had already annexed parts of Austria and Italy
Britain, Russia, Sweden declared war against France and Napoleon
Napoleon defeated them (except Britain) and forced them to sign peace treaties
Used rapid movement, surprise and the size of his army to defeat his enemies
He built the largest empire in Europe since the Roman Empire
France’s only major enemy left was England
England had the world’s most powerful navy and France had the world most powerful army

7. Napoleon Forges an Empire
Napoleon lost only one major battle
1805 Battle of Trafalgar he was defeated by the British navy
French navy was destroyed
Ensured the supremacy of the British navy for next 100 years
Forced Napoleon to give up plans to invade Britain
Napoleons victories across Europe gave him control over most of Europe
Put friends and relatives in charge of defeated countries
Areas he did not control he controlled through alliances and threats of military action
Lasted for only 5 years ( )