N APOLEON F ORGES AN E MPIRE Section 3 Ch.23

Napoleon Seizes Power  A five-man group called the Directory became the new government after Robespierre’s execution.  Napoleon Bonaparte became known as the savior of the French republic when in 1795 he defended the National Convention against royalist rebels.

Napoleon Seizes Power  By 1799, the Directory had lost control of the political situation and the confidence of the French people.  Napoleon seized power in a coup d'état in Nov by surrounding the legislative building with troops.  They set up a group of three consuls of which Napoleon was first consul.

Napoleon Rules France  Napoleon held a plebiscite to approve a new constitution.  France made peace with its enemies in  He set up an efficient method of tax collection and established a national banking system.  He set up lycees (government-run public schools) to provide government with trained officials.

Restoring Order to France  Napoleon signed a concordat, or agreement, with Pope Pius VII recognizing the influence of the Church, but rejecting Church control in national affairs.  He also established a comprehensive set of laws known as the Napoleonic Code, which gave the country a set of uniform laws.

Napoleon Crowned as Emperor  In 1804, Napoleon decided to make himself emperor.  The pope was in Paris to crown him, but Napoleon took the crown from him and crowned himself.

Loss of American Territories  Napoleon wanted to create an empire in Europe and the Americas.  A successful slave revolt in Haiti led Napoleon to sell French territory in North America to the United States and focus on Europe.  President Jefferson paid $15 million to purchase the Louisiana territory.

Conquering Europe  Napoleon had taken over the Austrian Netherlands, parts of Italy and set up a puppet government in Switzerland.  England, Russia, Austria, and Sweden joined together to try and stop him.  He was able to beat all the military powers except Britain, who defeated him at the naval Battle of Trafalgar, destroying the French fleet.

The French Empire  By 1812 the only areas in Europe free from Napoleon’s control were Britain, Portugal, Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire.  The French Empire was huge but unstable.  Napoleon had the greatest control over the lands from 1807 to 1812.