1. Napoleon at St. Bernard/Napoleon Crossing the Alps
Painted in 1800 by Jacques-Louis David
In May 1800 he led his troops across the Alps in a military campaign against the Austrians which ended in their defeat in June
Napoleon wanted an equestrian portrait: typical of royalty.
What better way, after all, to demonstrate Napoleon's ability than to wield power with sound judgment and composure.
The fact that Napoleon did not actually lead his troops over the Alps but followed a couple of days after them, travelling on a narrow path on the back of a mule is not the point! It is a portrait of authority. Napoleon is pictured astride a rearing Arabian stallion. Before him to his left we see a mountain, while in the background, largely obscured by rocks, French troops haul along a large canon and further down the line fly the tricolore (the national flag of France) . Bonaparte’s gloveless left hand points up towards the invisible summit, more for us to follow, one feels, than the soldiers in the distance.
On the rock to the bottom left, for instance, the name of Napoleon is carved beside the names of Hannibal and Charlemagne, two other notable figures who led their troops over the Alps.
Shows that war is wonderful. Napoleon is great, heroic.
Look at the vibrant colors. The red cape Napoleon wears, his white Arabian stallion.
A very dynamic portrayal of war.
Notice there is no dead soldiers or civilians.
What do you think is missing from the scene?

2. NAPOLEON
Today and tomorrow we will trace the rise and fall of a leader who had a great impact on France, democracy, and Europe.
Over 200,000 books and many shorter works have been written about Napoleon. Some historians have devoted their lives to studying what he did and how he did it.
There is no agreement as to whether France and Europe were better off or worse off as a result of his rule.
What we do know, is that the world was dominated by his personality when he was in power.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Napoleon was considered the greatest soldier of his time by most people and the greatest of all by many.
He had a reputation for strategic brilliance, indomitable courage, and inspiring leadership. Nothing was beyond his reach.
“You wrote that it’s impossible,” he told one of his generals. “The word is not French.”
Yet for all his military genius, Napoleon is not universally honored as a leader today. He enriched France by literally stealing the treasures of other lands. He spoke of spreading freedom while enslaving a continent. He brought great glory to France, yet also great hardship. And when he fell from power, France’s borders were smaller than when he took command. Historians debate his greatness as a man and question whether he used it more for good or for evil. He was an important shaper of the modern world.
His contributions were: military science, Code Napoleon – basic law in France and much of Europe today, centralization of France’s government has been the model for countless dictatorships and his foreign policies led directly to the creation of the modern European states Italy, Germany and Poland.
Napoleon, without a doubt, was though for only a short period of time, the most powerful individual on the face of the earth.
What’s important to note here was that he was not born into power or money. He created it all on his own.
Words of Napoleon, “I … lover power. I love it as a musician loves his violin.”

3. FOCUS QUESTION Explain Napoleon’s rise to power in Europe, his subsequent defeat, and how the outcome still affects Europe today.

4. Objectives Explain how Napoleon came to power.
Describe the changes Napoleon made in France.
Explain why the French strongly supported Napoleon.
Analyze the events that led to Napoleon’s downfall.

5. Early Life Born in Corsica Attends military school
Trained for a military career
Eager to make a name for himself
Born August 15, 1769 in Corsica. Corsica was one Italian, but in 1768 it became a part of France.
Second of 8 children
Father, Carlo Maria Buonaparte, lawyer/poor nobility, but achieved prosperity later
Loved his mother Letizia
Dropped the n from his name to make it sound more French
At age 9 enters Military Academy of Brienne in northern France
Doesn’t fit in well with the other kids
Studied hard
His father wrangled a scholarship for him to Ecole Militaire in Paris. Finishes his studies in one year. Usually takes 2 or 3.
At age 16 he’s commissioned as a second lieutenant in the artillery.

6. Hero of the Hour
In 1795, Napoleon defeats royalist rebels attacking National Convention
Wins stunning victories against the British in Toulon, and conquers most of Italy from the Austrians
Back home gains popularity
Lost battles against British in Egypt, but hid the news from the press
1795- Rewarded for protecting the French Republic and the Directory makes his commander-in-chief of the Army of the Interior.
Leads army against Austria and the Kingdom of Sardina
Very successful victories
Earned him the respect and admiration of his soldiers. He’s not afraid. They call him the “Little Corporal.”
The Italians don’t believe he is there to spread liberty and freedom to all b/c he takes gold, silver, and paintings to France. Mona Lisa hangs in the Louvre.
He feels he has a little star and is destined to do great things.
Makes sure his victories are well publicized in France.
Leads expedition to Egypt because British are disrupting trade
Less than successful but able to keep it a secret.
In fight with Britain, Russians, and Austria he is able to come to a peaceful agreement.
France is at peace for the first time in 10 years.

7. Coup d’Etat
In November 1799, he carries out a coup d’etat – seizure of power – against the Directory
Sets up a three-man governing board called the Consulate
- By 1799, things are not going as planned and the Directory loses control of political situation
Friends urge him to take power
Surrounds building with his troops and easily takes over.
The Directory is dissolved and they establish a group of three counsels – Napoleon is one.
“blow to the state”
Why is this successful? People are tired of fighting – 10 years. They want a stable government, honesty, etc. They believe N is the answer.

8. 1796 – marries Josephine de Beauharnais. She’s 32, widow, 2 children
1796 – marries Josephine de Beauharnais. She’s 32, widow, 2 children. Has lots of debt and wants someone to take care of her.
After they get married, he spends only 2 days with her b/c he’s off to war and she won’t come with him.
He was not too popular with the women.

9. Napoleon Reforms France
Immediate Changes
New constitution is approved through plebiscite - vote of the people
Takes the title First Consul – FOR LIFE!
They vote to make Napoleon first counsel.
Takes steps to eliminate corruption and inefficiency in government.
Each time a vote was held, the French strongly supported him.
It looked like the people had a say in government through their votes, but N still held absolute power.
So why did the people support him?

10. In 1804 Napoleon crowns himself Emperor
Decides he wants to be emperor.
Pope won’t place the crown and he does it himself.

11. Restoring Order Centralizes the government Builds roads and canals
To fix economy, sets up national banking system, efficient tax collection
Establishes lycées – government run public schools to train officials
- to restore economic prosperity, N controls prices, encouraged new industry
Lycees are open to all male students. Wanted ensure well-trained officials and military officers

12. Creates Napoleonic Code - uniform system of laws
Signs concordat - agreement - with pope restoring Catholicism in France
Creates Napoleonic Code - uniform system of laws
These laws limited liberty, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and reestablished slavery in the French colonies
Concordat – clergy and peasants are vey happy about new arrangement

13. French people are ecstatic
French people are ecstatic! Napoleon gains support among all social classes.
Napoleon wins support from all classes
He encourages the émigrés to return home
Middle class like him b/c he opened jobs to all, based on talent

14. Napoleon Builds an Empire 1804-1812
In 1801, he attempts to retake colony of Saint Domingue but fails
Sells the Louisiana Territory to US for $ 15 million in 1803
Gives up on the Americas and concentrates on Europe
Wants to restore the productive sugar industry.
The people here want the same freedoms given to the French people and civil war erupts.
Unable to take back colony because of disease
Needs $ to fund wars in Europe, sells territory

15. Redraws the map of Europe
France annexed the Netherlands, Belgium, and parts of Italy and Germany
Cuts Prussian territory in half and abolished Holy Roman Empire
Napoleon forces Russia, Austria, Sweden to sign peace treaties
The expanding empire made the French happy
As a military leader, N valued rapid movements and made effective use of his large armies.
Made new plans for each battle.
N controlled much of Europe through forceful diplomacy. One tactic was placing friends and relatives on the thrones of Europe.
Spain, for example, had his brother, Joseph on the throne.
At various times, the rulers of Austria, Prussia and Russia reluctantly signed peace treaties. They called him the “Corsican ogre.”
This increased the spirit of nationalism at home. The French people were very proud of their large empire.

16. Only Britain Remains Untouched
The British navy SMASHED the French fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, ending Napoleon’s plans to invade Britain.
Napoleon then imposed the Continental System to close European ports to British goods.
The blockades created some hardships but Britain was able to maintain its trade routes in India and the Americas.
- N wanted Britain and he planned to invade.
- But, the Battle of Trafalgar was fought on October 21, 1805 off the Cape of Trafalgar on the Spanish coast between the combined fleets of Spain and France and the Royal Navy.
This is the only battle Napoleon loses, the French ships cannot compete w/ the British navy. The British have reigned superior since they beat the Spanish Armada.
So he decides to wage economic warfare and try to destroy their commercial and industrial economy. No state under his control can import British goods.
Did it work? No. GB had a strong navy and its own blockade. Stopped French ships and taxed them.
US declares war on GB for impressment of US sailors, War of 1812, lasts 2 years. But it was nothing compared to what B was handling against France.
The blockade created a scarcity of goods in Europe, prices soar, and it intensified resentment against French power.

18. The French Empire
Napoleon controls Europe except for Britain, Portugal, Sweden, Ottomans
Has puppet rulers in some countries, alliances with others
French Empire reaches largest extent from 1807 to 1812
So at this point France is the most powerful nation in Europe.

20. Esto es peor (This is worse)
Esto es peor (This is worse). In the aftermath of battle, the mutilated torsos and limbs of civilian victims were mounted on trees, like "fragments of marble sculpture

21. Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746–1828) is regarded as the most important Spanish artist of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Over the course of his long career, Goya moved from jolly and lighthearted to deeply pessimistic and searching in his paintings, drawings, etchings, and frescoes
Some of the most graphic images to come out of the brutal guerrilla war in the Peninsular War were penned by Francisco de Goya.
85 prints between 1810 and 1820

23. Lo mismo (The same). A man about to cut off the head of a soldier with an axe

24. The 2nd of May – Spanish Uprising Against Napoleon

25. The Third of May 1808 by Francisco de Goya
On the 2nd of May 1808, France invaded Spain. This painting is Goya's reaction to that event.