1. How was Napoleon defeated?
The Napoleonic Era
Chapter 4: Section 5
Essential Questions:
What course did Napoleon’s career take between 1799 and 1804? What powers did he hold?
What effect did Napoleon have on the rest of Europe, and what conflicts emerged?
How was Napoleon defeated?

2. Napoleon
Bonaparte

3. What course did Napoleon’s career take between 1799 and 1804?
His government kept the form of a “republic”, however, the coup d’etat of 1799 made him a dictator of France
, Napoleon influenced events in France/Europe so much that the time period is known as the Napoleonic Era or the Age of Napoleon

4. Why did the people accept his dictatorship?
They wanted stability
Others were afraid to protest
Napoleon supported many ideas of the revolution
However, “liberty” under Napoleon meant strict control because he believed that the people should obey the orders given by a leader

5. Napoleon and the Consulate
Napoleon reorganized France and gave himself unlimited power
The executive branch, made up of three consuls, gave its name to the first five years of Napoleon’s rule – the Consulate
He took the title First Consul (Ancient Rome)
Commanded army/navy
Appointed/dismissed any officials
Proposed new laws

6. Consulate = Real Power???
Not exactly, the legislative bodies had no real power; they simply passed all of Napoleon’s decrees!
Napoleon submitted his new constitution to the people for a vote; procedure known as a plebiscite (yes or no vote - could not make any changes to it)
Even with these limitations, majority of French voters approved new consitution!

7. What is Napoleon BEST remembered for?
Napoleon’s work in government had more importance than his military victories
French law system was reorganized and called the Napoleonic Code
Napoleon did all of the following…
Established the Bank of France
Established a public education system
Mended relationship with Roman Catholic Church and French gov.
With skillful diplomacy, Napoleon destroyed the Second Coalition and signed a peace treaty with Great Britain.

8. Napoleon as Emperor
Napoleon’s supporters wanted to increase his power (make it permanent/hereditary)
In another plebiscite, people voted to declare France an empire in 1804
He became Emperor Napoleon I
Pope came to Paris to crown new emperor
Napoleon seized crown from the Pope to show that he gave himself total power and authority and NO ONE ELSE!
Throughout Europe, nations wanted to destroy his empire

10. Third Coalition
Great Britain became Napoleon’s most determined adversary, feared his empire would threaten their…
Commerce, Empire, and Control of the seas!
Third Coalition was formed to defeat Napoleon in 1805
Austria, Russia, and Sweden allied themselves with Great Britain (Spain allied with France)
British naval fleet defeated a combined French/Spanish fleet in 1805
Napoleon was more successful with land battles in Austria and Russia

12. The Continental System
Napoleon ordered a blockade of the British and forbade anyone from French Empire to trade with the British
Called the Continental System… because Napoleon controlled so much of the continent of Europe
British responded with their own blockade; ordered ships of neutral countries to stop at British ports to get license before trading with France or its allies
Both blockades affected the United States; British ships did most damage to American trade (conflict helped bring about War of 1812 with British)
December 1805, Napoleon smashed combined forces of Russia and Austria at Austerlitz…soon Coalition collapsed

13. The Reorganization of Europe
By 1808, Napoleon completely dominated Europe
Forced Austria and Prussia to sign humiliating peace treaties
Organized German states into the Confederation of the Rhine
Abolished the Holy Roman Empire in 1806
Organized Italian States
Placed members of his family on the thrones of the countries he had conquered!

15. Nationalism and Napoleon
Wherever the French army went, they put the Napoleonic Code into effect
Without intending to, the French also helped awaken in the people they conquered a spirit of nationalism (or love of one’s country rather than of one’s native region)
This led to the people wanting to rid themselves of French rule
Now Napoleon’s enemies grew stronger and they will reassemble!

16. The Peninsula War
1807 Portugal refused to observe the Continental System; needed trade with Great Britain
French army occupied Portugal in retaliation and drove king into exile
Napoleon then decided to conquer Spain
Forced Spanish king to abdicate and put his brother (Joseph) in charge
Spanish rose up with the help of the British
1814, the Spanish drove out the French (including Joseph)
The Peninsula War drained French military resources