1. Napoleon Bonaparte

2. Early Life Born August 15, 1769 Corsica.
Father was Corsica's representative to the court of Louis XVI.
Origins from minor Italian nobility.
The room where Napoleon Bonaparte was born.

4. Early Life Age 10- school in France. Goal - learn French language.
Later the same year, he was admitted to a military preparatory school.

5. The Beginning of a Legend
Protected The Directory during a revolt
Seized a few batteries of large cannons
Cleared the streets with "a whiff of grapeshot".
Earned sudden fame and wealth.
Became a favorite of the Directory.
Defeated the Austrians in Italy

6. The Plan Led a campaign into Egypt
Undermine Britain's access to trade interests in India
Establish a French presence in the Middle East
Led a campaign into Egypt
Troops found Rosetta Stone

7. Coup d'état Established a group of 3 Consuls
Joined in a coup d'état against the Directory in 1799
Established a group of 3 Consuls
Napoleon was appointed as one of the Consuls.
Was made First Consul.
In 1800, a plebiscite (yes/no public vote) was held to approve a new constitution
He assumed dictatorial powers as a result.

8. Rise to power
Restored peace in France

9. Accomplishments Created Bank of France
Required all citizens to pay taxes
Overthrew corrupt officials and replaced them
Set up gov’t run public school system - lycees
Set up Napoleonic Code
Uniform set of laws
Included ideas from the Enlightenment

10. 1804- Declared himself “Emperor for Life”

11. The Louisiana Purchase
Maintaining American possessions proved to be too hard & costly
France was facing bankruptcy
Another war with Britain
Needed money
Decided to sell N. American possessions.
Sold territory to the United States (The Louisiana Purchase)
Faced with another war with Britain and the bankruptcy of France, he realized that French possessions in North America would be indefensible.
Sold them to the United States in The Louisiana Purchase. 11

12. Made his brother King of Spain Expanded French Empire
Divorced his wife Josephine and married an Austrian princess to create his own “Bonapartist nobility”
Wanted a royal heir
Made his brother King of Spain
Expanded French Empire

13. Napoleon’s Downfall Three costly mistakes Continental System
Peninsular War
Invasion of Russia

14. Continental System Blockade against Great Britain Weakened the British
Closed all ports between GB and Europe
Weakened the British
Forced neutral countries to choose sides b/w GB and France
Weakened France’s economy more
                                           

15. Peninsular War Napoleon crowned his brother King of Spain
Spanish were angry and began guerilla warfare
Napoleon lost 300,000 men
Caused nationalism among the conquered countries to rise

16. Invasion of Russia Russia’s scorched earth policy
Burn grain fields, slaughter livestock
Winter hit during his retreat
Troops freezing, no food
100,000 French troops retreat, 40,000 survive!

17. Exile
Britain, Russia, Prussia, Sweden, and Austria made a coalition against Napoleon
Napoleon was defeated, gave up his throne and was exiled to Elba Island
Louis XVI’s brother became King

18. Napoleon escaped Elba and landed in France on March 1, 1815  the beginning of his Hundred Days
Soldiers still loyal to Napoleon
Last defeat was at Waterloo 1815

19. He was then exiled to St. Helena where he died in 1821 of “stomach cancer”

20. Les Invalides, is the location of Napoleon’s tomb
Les Invalides, is the location of Napoleon’s tomb. It was built in 1679 and today it is a war museum.

21. Napoleon’s Tomb

22. Hitler Visits Napoleon’s Tomb
June 28, 1940

23. What is Napoleon’s Legacy?