Accomplishment, Mistakes, and downfall Napoleon Accomplishment, Mistakes, and downfall
Accomplishments 1. economics: a national bank and honest tax collection 2. appointments to offices based on merit 3. Concordat with the Pope Pius VII 4. The Code Napoleon – his most enduring work
Military Sucesses Defeated Austria, Sweden, Prussia and Russia at the Battles of Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena, and Eulau (1805-1807) He gains control of most of Europe
Military Failures the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) A. French fleet destroyed B. Ended any chance of invading Great Britain
Mistakes and Downfall A. the Continental System 1. purpose: to hurt Britain economically 2. result: a. economic damage to the French Empire b. anger and opposition to Napoleon c. tension between Napoleon and Czar Alexander of Russia
B. Joseph Bonaparte placed on the throne of Spain, which led to the Peninsular War RESULTS: 1. loss of 300,000 troops 2. growth of nationalism within the Empire
C. Invasion of Russia – 1812 PROBLEMS: 1. The Grand Army 2. “scorched earth” tactic 3. the Russian winter
Napoleon’s downfall A. 1813 – Battle of Leipzig (the Battle of the Nations) B. April, 1814 – Napoleon abdicated and is exiled to Elba C. March 1, 1815 – Napoleon returned to France; the beginning of the “Hundred Days” D. June 18, 1815 – the Battle of Waterloo E. Napoleon exiled as a prisoner to St. Helena