The Age of Napoleon
Early Life Born in Corsica Age 9 – Military School Age 16 – Lieutenant Joins the French Army when the Revolution breaks out
Man of the Hour 1795-Napoleon defends the National Convention from Royalist rebels 1796-Directory appoints Napoleon to lead French Army against Austria & Sardinia
1799-Coup d’Etat (blow to the state) Napoleon seizes power from the Directory – becomes First Consul and assumes power of a dictator
Napoleon takes power as First Consul The plebiscite (Vote of the people) gives Napoleon the power to rule as a dictator/enlightened despot
Napoleon’s Changes *Taxes: Collection fair & orderly Reliable steady supply of $$$ *Dishonest government workers removed *Lycees: Public school for citizenry *Concordat with Pope: returns some power to the church
“Code Civil” Napoleonic Code: new set of laws gave all French citizens the same rights Free speech & press limited Restored slavery in French colonies
Emperor 1804 – Takes crown from Pope and places on own head!
1803: Set Backs to Empire Haiti: Yellow fever & fierce resistance destroys army and leaves French possession in N.America indefensible
Louisiana Purchase 1803 – the Louisiana Territory is sold to the U.S. (Pres. Thomas Jefferson’s Admin.) for $15 million (3 cents an acre)
1804 The Battle of Trafalgar The French Fleet is defeated off the S.W. Coast of Spain by The British navy commanded by Admiral Horatio Nelson
Humiliating Defeat for France Prevents Napoleon from invading England
1806 The Continental System Napoleon blockades British ports to make the continent more self sufficient British respond with their own blockade around Europe weakening the economy
1808 The Peninsular War Napoleon made his brother Joseph King of Spain. Spanish loyal to own King Guerrilla warfare – peasant fighters wage war against Napoleon
1812 Doomed March to Russia Scorched-earth Policy – Russians retreat leaving no lovestock or grain for the French Army Russian Winter – only 10,000 of the original 400,000 troops survive
1813 The Battle of Leipzig (Battle of Nations) Britain, Russia, Prussia,Sweden & Austria defeat Napoleon Largest conflict of Napoleonic Wars Fought on Germany soil
Exiled to Elba
The Hundred Days After 10 months in exile, Napoleon escapes – Returns to France, gains support on his way to Paris Returns to Power
Waterloo, Belgium 1815 British Army led by the Duke of Wellington with help from the Prussian Army hand Napoleon his final defeat
St. Helena Napoleons final exile
The Congress of Vienna Europeans meet to restore order to Europe Five Great Powers: Russia, Prussia, Austria, Great Britain, & France Prince Klemens von Metternich takes the lead
3 Goals France would not attack another country again Balance of Power between nations – no one country would be a threat to another Legitimacy – restore former monarchs to their rightful thrones
The HOLY ALLIANCE Czar Alexander of Russia, Emperor Francis I of Austria, King Frederick William III of Prussia
Before & After