Napoleon Builds an Empire Ch. 7, Section 3

The Man, the Myth, the Legend Born in Corsica (Italy) – Poor, noble family – 2 nd of 8 kids – Small, very short Goes to French boarding school – Not a good student Enters army at 16

Rise to Fame Supported the Revolution but jailed during Reign of Terror Becomes a general at age 24 Helps Directory defeat Austria & conquer Northern Italy The Egyptian Campaign: – Defeated by British Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of the Nile. – Napoleon abandoned his troops in Egypt, but returns to France and receives a hero’s welcome!

Married Josephine, a noble widow with 2 children

Coup d’etat Returns from Egypt and stages a coup d’etat against Directory Establishes the Consultate, a gov’t run by a group of 3 consuls – Holds a plebiscite & becomes 1 st Consul – Makes peace with Britain, Austria, Russia – Becomes “Consul for Life” (dictator)

Napoleon Rules France Brings order to France with strong leadership Keeps reforms of the Revolution, makes new ones – Establishes national bank; makes tax system more efficient – Eliminates corruption in govt. – Establishes lycees – Restores Catholic Church in France – Napoleonic Code which limits personal freedoms in exchange for law and order

The French Empire 1804 – Napoleon becomes emperor Elaborate, dramatic ceremony Napoleon crowns himself Wants to build an American empire – Haiti – Louisiana – Florida – French West Indies

The French Empire (cont.) Haiti is key  Sugar plantations = $$$$$ Toussaint L’Overture leads slave rebellion After Napoleon loses, he decides to cut his losses in the America

The French Empire (cont.) Louisiana Purchase –Sold to Pres. Jefferson for $15 million Why? – Needed the money – Punish the British Napoleon turns his attention to Europe

French Empire (cont.) Annexed Netherlands, Italy Established puppet government in Switzerland Forces Austria, Prussia, Russia to be his allies Only loss is to the British at Battle of Trafalgar

The French Empire

Battle of Trafalgar Napoleon = #1 on land Horatio Nelson = #1 on the sea Nelson divides & destroys the French fleet Results – British navy will be #1 for over 100 years – Napoleon gives up on invading Britain

Napoleon’s Family Rules! Jerome Bonaparte  King of Westphalia. Joseph Bonaparte  King of Spain Louis Bonaparte  King of Holland Pauline Bonaparte  Princess of Italy Napoléon Francis Joseph Charles (son)  King of Rome Elisa Bonaparte  Grand Duchess of Tuscany Caroline Bonaparte  Queen of Naples

Napoleon's own opinion of his career: “I closed the gulf of anarchy and brought order out of chaos. I rewarded merit regardless of birth or wealth, wherever I found it. I abolished feudalism and restored equality to all regardless of religion and before the law. I fought the decrepit monarchies of the Old Regime because the alternative was the destruction of all this. I purified the Revolution.”