1. Napoleon Bonaparte
Scoundrel or Savior?

2. Born on French ruled island of Corsica (in the Mediterranean)
Napoleon Bonaparte
Born on French ruled island of Corsica (in the Mediterranean)
Minor aristocrat (noble).
Poor noble but attended schools with the privileged.
Discouraged he could not find acceptance by the upper class students.
He struggled with the idea that he was brighter than most of his classmates but did not receive the recognition due to his lack of status. This drove him to study harder and fueled his ambitions.

3. 1789 Napoleon was a French lieutenant during the French Revolutionary war.
Fought the British in 1793 and helped drive them out of France. The French Revolutionary War years proved to be successful ones for Napoleon. He finds himself on the battlefield. VERY POPULAR
Promoted to General and given an army.
Defeats Austria, then invades Egypt. WHY Egypt??

5. His First Defeat (Egypt)
British Navy defeats French at Battle of the Nile.
Napoleon is cut off. Can not hope to take over the Middle East
Hears things are going bad in Paris

6. Napoleon Returns to France
1799 he leaves Egypt, returns to France and helps overthrow the weakened Directory (Govt).
1802 Napoleon names himself First Consul for life.
1804 named himself “Emperor of the French”.
Crowned Himself

7. Political Accomplishments
Maintained firm control over France – stability
Napoleonic Code – a unified legal system people could understand
Created a national bank, schools, 1st “modern” hospitals

8. Napoleonic Wars 1804-1812 Defeats Austria – again
Takes over most of Europe > Spain, Prussia (Eastern Germany), Holy Roman Empire (western Germany), Italy.
Could never manage to invade England.
British Navy defeats him again at Battle of Trafalgar (off the coast of Spain)
Imposes Continental System to blockade Britain
Backfires – British navy cuts off supplies to France
Also results in US and Britain going to war – the war of 1812

9. Stirrings of discontent
People in conquered nations not happy
Guerrilla warfare in Spain (hit and run)
Prussians raising their army secretly
Russia stops playing by Continental System
Starts trading w/ Britain

10. This Continental System Stinks!
Spanish Guerrilla

11. 1812 He invades Russia Estimated 600,000 soldiers
His troops draw close to Russian troops, only to find them constantly retreating
Russians use “scorched Earth policy”
Nothing left to eat
All houses burned

12. Napoleon meets “General Winter” and “General Mud”

13. Ooops! By Oct. 1812 Napoleon’s army reaches Moscow
Hollow victory because the city is empty
As soon as Napoleon’s army enters the city the Russian army set it on fire.
Winter sets in
Napoleon must retreat
Thousands of soldiers die

14. Ooops Continued
His army must endure the trek home through the brutal European winter w/o supplies or adequate clothing
This is when the Russian army finally strikes
They begin attacking Napoleon’s retreating army
Only approx 200,000 made it back to France

15. Defeated and Exiled Napoleon can not defend France Allies gang up
Defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Nations
Napoleon Exiled to Elba

16. The 100 Days – The Return of Napoleon
Napoleon escapes exile
June 18, 1815 – Battle of Waterloo
Largest battle up to that time
Finally defeated by The British “Duke of Wellington”

17. Waterloo – the end
Sent to exile again on St. Helena

18. St. Helena

19. Who was Napoleon? His Glory Days
He said, "I am a superior individual."
He said, “Since one must take sides, one might as well choose the side that is victorious, the side which devastates, loots, and burns. Considering the alternative, it is better to eat than be eaten."

20. In Exile
Paraphrase - He said, "I know men and Jesus Christ was no mere man. I, Charlemagne, Hannibal, and others have devoted our lives accumulating power, and we have no followers. Jesus Christ has died, and at this very moment millions would die for him."