1. Age of Napoleon
CH. 3.4

2. Napoleon Rises to Power
Bio
Born on the Island of Corsica
Began training in France for a military career at age 9
Was eager to make a name for himself
Charismatic and dominant leader
Victories Cloud Losses
December 1793, drove British forces out of the French port of Toulon

3. Napoleon Rises to Power cont.
Victories Cloud Losses cont.
Followed w/ victories against Austria,
captured most of northern Italy, & forced the Hapsburg emperor to make peace
1798, led his forces to Egypt, & faced disastrous results
1799, he moved from military leader to politician.
Helped overthrow the directory and est. a three man governing board-”Consulate”
New constitution is written
Napoleon makes himself First Consul
1802 names himself Consul for life

4. Napoleon Rises to Power cont.
Napoleon Crowns Himself Emperor
1804 Napoleon assumes the title of Emperor of the French
(Takes the crown from the Pope’s hands & placed it on his own head)
With each step in his rise to power Napoleon held a plebiscite – popular vote by ballot.
He was strongly supported by the French (still held absolute power)

5. Napoleon’s Reforms France
Napoleon’s Government
He valued order and authority
He made reforms to improve the economy
Controlled prices, encouraged new industry, built roads & canals
public school system (to ensure well trained officials and military officers)
Improved relations w/ the Catholic Church
Concordat of kept church under state control, allowed for religious freedom

6. Napoleon’s Reforms France cont.
Napoleonic Code
New code of laws.
Equality of all citizens before the law, religious toleration, absolution of feudalism, advancement based on merit (embodies enlightenment principles).
Undid some rights women gained during the Revolution
Napoleon favored authority & order over individual rights

7. Napoleon Builds an Empire
Map of Europe is Redrawn
Napoleon invades & annex the Netherlands, Belgium, parts of Italy, and Germany.
Abolishes Holy Roman Empire, created a 38 member Confederation of the Rhine River under French protection, and cut the Prussian territory in 1/2
Used friends and family through forceful diplomacy to control much of Europe.

8. Napoleon Builds an Empire cont.
Napoleon strikes Britain
1805 Napoleon prepares to invade Britain
Battle of Trafalgar
British admiral Nelson smash the French fleet.
Napoleon focuses on warfare w/ Continental System
Closed European ports to British goods.
Britain responded w/ its own blockade of European goods.
Continental System failed to bring Britain down

9. Napoleon’s Empire Faces Challenges
Nationalism works against Napoleon
Europeans begin to see Napoleon and his armies as foreign oppressors
Resentment of Continental system & French culture
Revolts begin against France (Rome, Madrid, Netherlands, etc.)
Spain & Austria Battle the French
Reforms with Catholic Church spur Spaniards to be loyal to their king and the Church
Spanish are met w/ brutal repression by French forces
use guerilla warfare
Austria is encouraged to resume war as well

10. Napoleon’s Empire Faces Challenges cont.
Russian Winter stops the Army
1812 Napoleon invades Russia
Russian army retreats eastward using a scorched-earth policy.
Unable to feed his army (through winter)Napoleon turns homeward in Oct.
Napoleon’s reputation for success is shattered

11. Napoleon falls from Power
Napoleon abdicates Briefly
1814 Napoleon steps down from power
Louis XVIII is crowned king of France
Agreed to keep Napoleonic code, & honor land settlements
Economic depression and fear of the return to the old regime, help rekindle loyalty to Napoleon
1815 Napoleon re-enters Paris in triumph

12. Napoleon falls from Power cont.
Crushed at the Battle of Waterloo
Jan. 18, 1815 French & British forces meet
British forces under the Duke of Wellington crush the French
Again Napoleon is forced to abdicate (step down)
Napoleon’s Legacy
Napoleonic Codes consolidated many of the changes of the Revolution
Created a centralized state w/ a constitution

13. Napoleon falls from Power cont.
Napoleon’s Legacy cont.
More citizens had a right to property & access to education
Napoleon's conquests spread the ideas of revolution & Nationalism across Europe

14. Congress of Vienna Meeting of Europe’s leaders
Had the task of restoring stability to Europe
Met to 10 months Sept June 1815
Many diplomats spent the time socializing
Congress Strives for Peace
Peace is created by establishing a balance of power
Map of Europe is re-drawn
Leaders agree to meet periodically to discuss issues to avoid war