The Legacy of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna

Napoleon Great general Small man - 5’6’’ Joined 16 Became successful military leader Took over France during Reign of Terror

Napoleon Fought enemies of France all across Europe. Placed relatives on thrones in Spain, Italy & Netherlands – Napoleon invaded Russia Russian winter! 1815 – Napoleon defeated at Battle of Waterloo Napoleon sent to exile!

The Napoleonic Era

Napoleon’s Background Born in Corsica in 1769 Military education Favored Jacobins and republicanism Military hero – Drove British forces from port of Toulon in 1793 – Captured northern Italy and forced Austrian Hapsburgs to make peace – 1798 – Egyptian expedition

Napoleon’s Rise to Power 1799 – Snuck past British blockade in Mediterranean – Took control of the Directory by coup d’état (sudden overthrow of the government) – Set up three-man Consulate With himself as First Consul 1802 – Consul for life 1803 – Wanted a massive French Empire, including Louisiana, Florida, and the West Indies, but slaves were difficult to control (Haiti) and France needed money so he sold the “Louisiana Purchase” to the U.S – Crowned himself emperor – Popular vote done by ballot – Everyone always voted for his policies granting him a Democratic Despotism (elected absolute ruler)

Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which was erected in 1806 to honor the soldiers of Napoleon. Its nationalistic style set the tone for public monuments until World War I.

Napoleon’s Reforms Émigrés could return if swore loyalty to new French gov’t. Peasants kept lands they’d bought from Church and nobles New nobility established through a meritocracy (e.g., Legion of Honor) Class System Controlled prices Encouraged industrial growth Strengthened the nation’s infrastructure Economy Nationally-controlled public schools Education Strengthened the national government Ran an efficient bureaucracy Government Equality before the law Religious tolerance End to feudalism But women lost many of their rights Laws – Napoleonic Code Church under government control Religious freedom Religion – Concordat of 1801

Napoleon’s Empire : Military successes due to leadership skills, large armies, and surprise tactics Annexed parts of Germany and Italy as well as Belgium and the Netherlands Replaced Holy Roman Empire with French-controlled Federation of the Rhine Treaty of Tilsit: Agreement with Russia to split Prussia in half to form Grand Duchy of Warsaw (historical Poland) Placed puppet rulers on conquered thrones (e.g., Joseph Bonaparte as king of Spain) Formed alliances – Including divorcing Josephine de Beauharnais to marry Marie Louise of Austria Nationalism grew with Napoleon’s successes – Both in France and in the areas he conquered

Map of Europe in 1812

Napoleon’s Costly Mistakes Continental System: In order to make continental Europe more self-sufficient and destroy Britain, Napoleon ordered a blockade against England. England’s navy was stronger than France’s though, so Britain was able to defy France. This embarrassed & weakened Napoleon. The Peninsular War: Because Portugal was ignoring the Continental System, Napoleon sent troops through Spain to fight Portugal. Spain was incensed at this invasion, especially when Napoleon put his own brother on the Spanish throne. Also, Spain resisted France’s state-controlled church; they were and still are a fiercely Catholic country. Spain fought back with guerillas whom Napoleon couldn’t defeat and who also weakened his empire.

Napoleon’s Biggest Mistake: The Invasion of Russia Of Napoleon’s original nearly 600,000 soldiers, only 20,000 survived the cold, hungry trek back across Eastern Europe (the rest died or deserted). It worked. Napoleon pulled out in October, Russians abandoned Moscow and used the scorched-earth policy when retreating to starve the Grande Armée. Napoleon assembled the Grande Armée from 20 nations (almost 600,000 soldiers) to invade Russia in Tsar Alexander I withdrew from the French alliance because of the unpopularity of the Continental System and Grand Duchy of Warsaw.

The Hundred Days March 20, 1815 ◦ Napoleon marched triumphantly into Paris June 18, 1815 ◦ Battle of Waterloo (in Belgium) Napoleon was defeated ◦ Exiled to the island of Elba off the coast of Italy

Russian Campaign ( )

Napoleon’s Legacy on Europe 1. He attempted to unify Europe under French domination but was unsuccessful

Napoleon’s Legacy on Europe 2. Napoleonic Code a. gave France a uniform set of laws b. eliminated many injustices c. but it limited people’s freedom

Napoleon’s Legacy on Europe 3. Awakening of feelings of national pride and growth of nationalism in Europe

The Congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna attempted to restore Europe as it had been before the French Revolution and Napoleonic conquests.

The Legacy of the Congress of Vienna 1. “Balance of power” doctrine – no single country should be powerful enough to take over Europe (they should all be balanced)

The Legacy of the Congress of Vienna 2. Restoration of monarchies – Kings were put back in power Louis XVIII of France

The Legacy of the Congress of Vienna 3. The new political map of Europe balanced the size of the countries to limit their power

The Legacy of the Congress of Vienna 4. New political philosophies a. Liberalism (liked the ideas of the French revolution) b. Conservatism – Concert of Europe (alliance of conservative monarchs)

19 th Century Europe Nationalism and Unification

NATIONALISM

What is Nationalism? 1.Extreme pride in: a)Nationality (one’s country and culture) b)Ethnicity (people with common heritage) c)Culture, history, beliefs

The Growth of Nationalism 1.Stimulated by: a)National pride b)Economic competition c)Democratic ideals

How does the Congress of Vienna fit in? 1.Results in: a)Widespread discontent in Europe i.Especially in Germany and Italy b)Unsuccessful revolutions of 1848 i.Liberal uprisings pushed for more democracy

What was going on in the UK? 1.The United Kingdom: a)Expands political rights through legislative means instead of revolution b)Makes slavery illegal in the British Empire (1833)

Unification of Italy (1866) 1.Count Camillo di Cavour a)Unified Northern Italy 2.Giuseppe Garibaldi a)Joined southern Italy to northern Italy 3.The Papal States (inluding Rome) were the last to join Italy

Unification of Germany (1871) 1.Otto von Bismarck a)Led Prussia in the unification of Germany b)Fought wars and appealed to nationalist feelings 2.Used Realpolitik a)Justifies all means to achieve and hold power 3.The Franco-Prussian War led to the creation of the German State