1. Fall, Exile, Return, & Legacy
Napoleon Bonaparte
Fall, Exile, Return, & Legacy

2. Why was Napoleon so popular?
Strengthened French government and restored order
Improved economy and encouraged new industry
Built roads and canals
Supported public education
Reform Lycee system
Meritocracy – careers open to anyone with ability
Napoleonic Code
Built a grand empire from

3. Napoleon Loses Power
French armies spread the ideas of the French Revolution across Europe
Overthrew monarchs and set up their own
Many Europeans welcomed the ideas of the French Revolution, but did not welcome the French rulers
Nationalism caused conquered people to reject French control
People rebelled against the French
Continental System backfired
Great Britain was able to produce goods cheaper and better
Alexander I of Russia withdraws from system and is blamed for it failure so Napoleon attacks Russia

4. Attacking Russia Napoleon crosses into Russia in June 1812
Russians retreat, no real battle
Moscow – retreating Russian army set the city on fire
Napoleon had no resources for the troops
October 1812 – begin retreat after waiting for Alexander to offer peace
Bitter winter killed many troops, Russian soldiers killed others
600,000 troops went… 30,000 made it back alive
Austria, Britain, Russia, Prussia, Sweden allied against Napoleon
Foreign minister of Austria offered Napoleon a peace treaty if he reduced France to its original size. Napoleon refused

5. Napoleon’s Defeat
Harsh winter coupled with the pursuing Russian troops destroyed army in Moscow
Napoleon abandoned men and returned to Paris to raise more troops
Coalition attacked and defeated Napoleon at Leipzig in Germany
Coalition defeated Napoleon’s allies in Spain
One last fight near Paris and totally defeated

6. Exile to Elba After Napoleon’s defeat
Abdicated (gave up the throne) at Fontainebleau on April 11, 1814
Allies restored power in France, gave Napoleon Elba
Elba
Island in the Mediterranean
Ruled an army of 400 men
Allowed to keep imperial title
Begins planning his return
Cartoon reading

7. Return to Power Napoleon unhappy in Elba; wanted his grand empire back
Planned an escape with some of his most trusted advisors
February 1815 – sails away from island
March 1815 – begins march toward Paris gathering supporters along the way
Louis XVIII (brother of Louis XVI) now king and sends an army to stop Napoleon
Army joins Napoleon instead of stopping him
March 20, 1815 – Return to Paris and begins the Hundred Days

8. Hundred Days Monarchy fled as Napoleon returned to Paris
People welcomed back their hero, but not his dictatorship
Proclaimed a new constitution that limited his power
He was later going to change that constitution to have more power
Military Battles
Ligny – French defeat Prussians
Waterloo – French lose to British
British army under the Duke of Wellington
On the verge of winning but Britain arrived with reinforcements and the French suffered a devastating defeat

9. Exiled… again Napoleon fled to Paris and abdicated again on June 22
End the Hundred Days
Attempted to flee to the US but failed
Imprisoned on the island of St. Helena off the southern coast of Africa
Nothing for Napoleon to do but write his memoirs
Died May 5, 1821

10. Congress of Vienna
After the defeat of Napoleon, European leaders met at the Congress of Vienna
They hoped to create peace after 25 years of war
One of their goals was to return Europe to the way it was in 1792, before Napoleon
So gave power back to the monarchs of Europe
Took steps to create a balance of power
To prevent France from going to war again, they strengthened the countries around it
To protect the new order, European states formed a peacekeeping organization
The peace lasted 100 years

11. Congress of Vienna Goal Action
To prevent France from going to war again
Strengthen countries around France
To return Europe to the way it was in 1792, before Napoleon
Give power back to the monarchs of Europe
To protect the new system and maintain peace
Create the Concert of Europe, an organization to maintain peace in Europe

12. Napoleon: Hero or Tyrant?
Did Napoleon do more to preserve or destroy the legacy of the French Revolution?
Should the fact Napoleon became emperor by support of the people affect how we judge him as tyrant?
Are all conquerors tyrants? Are some heroes?
Did Napoleon conquer for a higher purpose or for his own glory?
Should personal life be factored into the assessment? Why or why not?
Let’s debate!