Napoleon: Master of Europe

Something to Ponder… If you can’t invade the Island of Britain what other options do you have? Why for even socially forward thinking people in history was equality for women something they resisted?

The Continental System With his invasion of England a failure, Napoleon decided to change tactics and wage an Economic War on Britain November 1806 – Berlin Decree ◦ The British isles were in a state of blockade ◦ All commerce was to be stopped ◦ British goods on the continent were to be seized ◦ Persons in possession of British goods were imprisoned ◦ No British ships were allowed into port ◦ This plan was called The Continental System

British Response The British responded with the Orders in Council ◦ Decrees issued by the government, forbidding neutral countries to trade with the French or their allies or between ports that observed the Berlin Decree

Milan Decrees Napoleon then responded to Britain’s response with the Milan Decrees ◦ Called for the capture of any neutral ship obeying the Orders in Council The Continental System failed. England developed other markets, especially in Latin America, and used its wealth from the Industrial Revolution to finance anti- French schemes in Europe

Continental system favoured French goods over others and this caused resentment It also required Napoleon to have control over more of Europe, so he had to expand his empire leading him into trouble in Spain and Russia

Nepotism Napoleon placed family members in key positions all over Europe to consolidate his power ◦ Louis (brother) King of Holland ◦ Joseph (brother) King of Italy (Naples and Sicily) and later Spain ◦ Jerome (brother) King of State of Westphalia ◦ Eugene de Beauhamais (son in Law) Viceroy of Italy

Societal Changes Education under the Empire ◦ Education was changed to suit the emperor and his form of gov’t ◦ In 1808, the “University of France” was established – board of education to control teachers, licenses, pay, libraries ◦ each Lycee (secondary school) was to have a library of 1500 volumes. The police enforced what contents were acceptable ◦ This highly centralized education system, though modified from time to time is still used in France today

Napoleonic Code Wherever Napoleon gained control, he introduced the ideas and reforms of the Revolution His greatest influence was in the area of Law The Code Napoleon was introduced in every conquered state

The Code Napoleon, completed in 1804, was the first uniform set of laws that the French nation ever had It preserved many of the principles of 1789, affirming: ◦ Freedom of conscience ◦ Supremacy of the state ◦ Equality of all citizens before the law ◦ The right of individuals to choose their own profession ◦ Sought to maintain social order by protecting property and family ◦ Property rights held sacred and husband was given absolute authority over the family

Women not Equal Men controlled property, a women could not buy or sell property without husbands permission, and any income she earned would pass to his descendants, not hers. A women workers wage went to her husband “In France women are considered too highly. They should not be regarded as equal to men. In reality they are nothing more than machines for producing children” Napoleon

Despite its many flaws, the Napoleonic Code served as the basis for the codification of laws and the reorganization of judicial systems in many different countries in Europe “My glory is not to have won forty battles…but what nothing will destroy, what will live eternally, is my Civil Code” Napoleon