1. The Age of Napoleon
Chapter 3 Section 3

2. Question
What are some things that you have learned which France tried to accomplish in the French Revolution?

3. The Rise of Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte started as a lieutenant in the French army
In 1794, he became a general of the Committee of Public Safety
In Italy he won many battles and became well-known and respected by his men

4. In Paris, he participated in the coup de’ etat of and overthrew the government
He established a consulate, in theory it was a republic, but Napoleon had absolute power
He was called the first consul and he appointed officials, controlled the military, and influenced legislature
In 1804, he crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I of France

5. Napoleon’s Domestic Policies
Napoleon’s first order of business is to mend relations with the Catholic Church
Napoleon was a believer of reason himself, but knew most of France was Catholic
He made a deal with the Pope
-he said that the Catholic church was allowed to be the major religion
-in return, the Pope would not ask for lands taken during the revolution to be returned
This won Napoleon great support

6. Codification of the Laws
Because of the revolution, there were several confusing law systems
Napoleon codified the laws and made one system called the Napoleonic Code
-it represented many things the revolution had fought for
-equality of all citizens, religious toleration, no monarchy
-women’s rights took a step back under the Napoleonic code

7. A New Bureaucracy Napoleon was well-known for his capable officials
People in office were there because they were qualified
He also created a new kind of nobility
New nobles were intelligent, hard-working people from the middle class

8. Preserver of the Revolution?
Napoleon believed he preserved the Revolution
1. He did make all citizens equal before the law
2. He made gov’t careers open to more people
Ways he did NOT preserve the union:
1. censored the freedom of press
2. shut down 60, of the 73 French newspapers
3. also censored private mail

9. Napoleon’s Empire
When Napoleon took power, he was at war w/ Russia, Britain, and Austria
Napoleon’s Grand Army won many battles
From , Napoleon ruled a large empire
Dependent States
Kingdoms ruled by Napoleon’s relatives
Spain, Italy, Holland, Prussia and others
Allied State
Countries Napoleon defeated and forced to join his fight against Britain

10. Spreading the Principles of Revolution
Every territory conquered, Napoleon replaced all rules and laws w/ French Revolution ideas
Legal Equality, religious toleration, economic freedom, etc
Napoleonic / Civil Code
In doing so, he destroyed traditions and customs of conquered nations
This will anger many countries

11. The European Response to Napoleon
Two reasons why Napoleon ultimately failed:
1) Great Britain
2) Nationalism
Britain had most powerful navy in the world
Defeated Napoleon at Trafalgar
Napoleon attempted to make all of his empire cut of trade w/ Britain
Called the Continental System
This angered the allied states who began to smuggle

12. Most people didn’t like being ruled by Napoleon
Resented him trying to change their cultures (Nationalism)
Soon, the conquered people will unite against Napoleon

13. The Fall of Napoleon
Russia says “no” to continental system, so Napoleon decides to invade (VERY BAD IDEA)
1812, Grand Army enters Russia w/ 600,000 troops
Russians refused to fight, instead retreated and burned their country to the ground
As winter set in, Napoleon could find no food/supplies
Then, Russians began to attack and French began to retreat
Only 40,000 made it out alive

14. Napoleon’s army now decimated, Britain and others joined the attack, defeated, and exiled Napoleon to the island of Elba
France puts Louis XVI’s brother Louis XVIII on the throne
Napoleon snuck out of Elba and returned to France and his army joined him in 1815
However, he tried again to fight the British, but a coalition of British and Belgium troops defeated him at the Battle of Waterloo
He was then exiled to St. Helena, where he died of Syphilis