23-3 “Napoleon Forges an Empire”

Napoleon Bonaparte 5ft, 3 inches tall Recognized as one of the world’s military geniuses along with Alexander and Julius Caesar Sent to military school in northern France at age , only 16 years old, finished school and became a lieutenant in the army

Hero of the Hour When the Revolution broke out, Napoleon joined the new government’s army Royalists stormed the National Convention, and Napoleon received orders to greet those protestors with fire Those attackers fled in panic and confusion Napoleon Bonaparte became the hero of the hour, and was hailed throughout Paris as the savior of the French Republic

1796, the Directory (France’s new government) appoints Napoleon to lead an army against Austria and the kingdom of Sardinia Napoleon’s army won a series of battles in Italy, crushing the threat of Austrian troops to France The newspapers praise Napoleon’s victories

Next, Napoleon’s army moved on to Egypt to disrupt trade between Britain and India Napoleon’s series of defeats would end, and his luck ran out His French troops were defeated by British admiral Horatio Nelson Napoleon was able to keep this defeat from the press Napoleon vs. Nelson

Directory Loses Control The French people had lost confidence in the Directory The only thing keeping the them in power was their control of the army The Abbe Sieyes urges Napoleon to seize political power Napoleon puts a plan in motion

Napoleon Takes Control It began on November 9, 1799, when Napoleon was put in charge of the military It ended the next day when his troops drove out the members of 1 chamber of the legislature, and then voted to dissolve the Directory Napoleon assumes dictatorial powers as one of three consuls Sudden seize of power called a coup- french phrase “coup d`e tat”

Napoleon’s Coup d’ E`tat

Europe at Peace France was still at war 1799, British Diplomats assemble the Second Coalition of anti-French powers- Britain, Austria and Russia- with the goal of driving Napoleon from power By 1802, as a result of war and diplomacy, all 3 countries had signed peace agreements with France and Europe was at peace for the first time in 10 years.

Napoleon could now focus on restoring France At first, he pretends to be the constitutionally chosen leader, but in 1800, Napoleon holds a plebiscite (vote of the people) to approve a new constitution This was the 4 th constitution in 8 years French people are so desperate for strong leadership, voted in favor for power to Napoleon

Stability and Order To get economy stable- sets up tax collection and national bank Dismissed corrupt officials Set up lycees, government run public schools to train officials Signed concordat (agreement) with Pope Pius VII, creating a new relationship between the Church and France Concordat gains Napoleon support from church and the French

Napoleon Established the Banque de France, 1800

Lycee System of Education Established by Napoleon in 1801 as an educational reform. Lycées initially enrolled the nation’s most talented students [they had to pay tuition, although there was some financial help available for poorer student]..Lycées trained the nation’s future bureaucrats.

Napoleonic Code The Napoleonic Code recognized: Equality before the law The right to choose a profession Religious toleration The end of serfdom and feudalism Outlawed unions and strikes Safeguarded all property rights. Government employment based upon ability.

Napoleonic Code The Code had several key concepts at its core: 1.Equality of all in the eyes of the law 2.No recognition of privileges of birth (i.e. noble rights inherited from ancestors.) 3.Freedom of religion 4.Separation of the church and the state 5.Freedom to work in an occupation of one's choice

Napoleonic Code 6. Strengthening the family by: Placing emphasis on the husband and father as the head of the family Restricting grounds for divorce to three reasons: adultery, conviction of a serious crime, and grave insults, excesses or cruelty; however divorce could be granted by mutual agreement, as long as the grounds were kept private. Defining who could inherit the family property

Napoleonic Codes: Accomplishments The Code in effect did several things: 1.It preserved the social aims of the Revolution. 2.It protected the interests of the rising middle class. 3.It guaranteed civil liberties.

Napoleonic Code: Weaknesses 1.A woman could not vote. 2.A wife owed obedience to her husband, who had total control over their property. 3.A unmarried woman had few rights and could not be a legal guardian or witness wills. 4.It was easier for a man to sue for divorce on grounds of adultery, while a man had to cohabit with his mistress for two years for his wife to justify a divorce.

Napoleonic Code: Weaknesses 5.If a man surprised his wife in bed with another man, he could kill her legally. If a woman did so, she could be tried for murder. 6.Minors had few rights. (A father even could place his child in jail for up to six months.) 7.Illegitimate children had no rights of inheritance.

Napoleon Brings Order After the Revolution The Economy!!! Goals of the Revolution Equal taxation Lower inflation Napoleon’s Actions Set up fairer tax code Set up national bank Stabilized currency Gave state loans to businesses Results Equal taxation Stable economy

Napoleon Brings Order After the Revolution Government & Society Goals of the Revolution Less Government Corruption Equal Opportunity in Government Napoleon’s Actions Appointed officials by merit Fired corrupt officials Created lycées: Government Run Public Schools Created Code of Law Results Honest Competent Officials Equal opportunity in government Public education

Napoleon Brings Order After the Revolution: Religion Goals of the Revolution Less powerful Catholic Church Religious tolerance Napoleon’s Actions Recognized Catholicism as “faith of Frenchmen Signed concordat with the Pope Retained seized church lands Results Religious tolerance Government control of church lands Government recognition of church influence,

Napoleon Crowned as Emperor In 1804, Napoleon decided to make himself emperor In a flashy ceremony, wearing a long robe, he walked slowly down the aisle of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris He takes the crown out of the pope’s hands, and puts it on his own head This arrogant gesture showed Napoleon had more power than the Church

Napoleon taking the crown from the pope instead of following tradition and allowing the Pope to crown him

Napoleon Creates an Empire Napoleon wants to create an empire and control all of Europe and reassert French power in the new world (Americas) He envisions his western empire to include Florida, Louisiana and the French West Indies To do this, he needs support from the French colony St. Domingue (now Haiti) There’s a civil war going on in St. Domingue because slaves want their freedom back, along with the same privileges of French citizens

Napoleon Creates an Empire Loss of American Territories In 1801 Napoleon attempts to retake colony of Saint Domingue (Haiti) but fails Gives up on the Americas and focuses on Europe

St. Domingue (Haiti)

Louisiana Purchase Napoleon sends over troops to get control over the island Thousands of soldiers die from yellow fever Napoleon realizes the long obstacle facing him and doesn’t want the trouble He offers to sell all of the Louisiana territory to the U.S. This benefited Napoleon 2 ways: -France gains money to finance European operations -punished Britain by giving them another rival (the U.S.)

Louisiana Purchase

Napoleon Focuses on Conquering Europe Napoleon had already annexed the Austrian Netherlands, parts of Italy and set up a puppet government in Switzerland Fearful of his ambitions, Britain persuaded Russia, Austria and Sweden to join a third coalition against France

Napoleon has a series of brilliant battles and crushes his opposition All rulers sign a peace treaty with France except Britain Napoleon has the biggest empire since the Romans The only threat is Britain’s Navy Hey… Why do you think Britain needs to have a strong Navy?? Yep- it’s an island and surrounded by water!

Battle of Trafalgar In his war against the third coalition, Napoleon lost just one major battle, the Battle of Trafalgar This naval defeat was more important than all of Napoleon’s victories on land

Battle took place in 1804 off coast of Spain British admiral who defeated Napoleon in 1798 in charge of British fleet Nelson outmaneuvered the much bigger fleet of French-Spanish fleet Nelson was wounded by a French sharpshooter, but heard the news of defeating Napoleon once again before he died “Now I am satisfied,” whispered the admiral. “Thank God, I have done my duty”. Napoleon vs. Nelson Round 2

The Battle of Trafalgar in 1804 was a humiliating defeat for France The defeat prevented any possibility of an invasion of England for Napoleon.

Destruction of French fleets had 2 major results: 1) assured supremacy of British navy for the next hundred years 2) Napoleon had to give up idea of invading Britain nE&feature=related

Napoleon’s Empire By 1812, the only major European countries free from Napoleon’s control were Britain, Ottoman Empire, Portugal and Sweden

Other countries in Europe had rulers who were puppets of Napoleons, or even related French Empire is huge, but unstable. Napoleon was able to maintain the empire for just 5 years ( ), but caused the collapse himself

Has puppet rulers in some countries, alliances with others