1. An overview of Napoleon Bonaparte
Modern History 11-1, 11-2
An overview of Napoleon Bonaparte

2. Agenda for the day Introduction Learning Targets
Warm-Up Exercise: Accessing Prior Knowledge
Overview of the lesson
Napoleon’s Timeline: Early Life and Career ( )
Exit Slip

3. Learning Targets
You will be able to identify the Historical Significance of Napoleon Bonaparte: who he was, what he did, where it happened, when it happened, why did it happened, and how did it happen.

4. Accessing Prior Knowledge
Everyone has important and essential information to add to this class, I cannot overstate this enough. I cannot emphasize enough how much more we all benefit when we are all share the relevant information that we know. So, before we get into the lesson plan for today, I want to take this opportunity to access the prior knowledge that you may have of Napoleon.
WHO was he?
WHAT did he do?
WHERE did he do this?
WHEN did he do it?
…WHY should we care?
I will give you a few minutes to discuss with a partner before we start sharing as a collective group

5. List of Facts That we Know about Napoleon:
Who was Napoleon?
What did he do?
Where was it?
When was it?
Why should we care?

6. Overview of the lesson
This lesson will be part one of two in critically looking at the French General, and eventual Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte ( ).
In this lesson, we will be specifically looking at Napoleon’s early life, his rise in the military (including the most important military moments), and the effective establishment of the Consulate (the form of government in place before Napoleon crowned himself Emperor).

7. Overview of the lesson (2)
It is important to take the time to comprehensively understand Napoleon’s early career, and effective rise up the ranks, as his career trajectory is clearly intertwined and reflected with the changing social structure in France.
It is important to understand that Napoleon – a very skilled and intelligent military leader – needed the French Revolution to take place to be successful, just as France needed a leader such as Napoleon to finally fill the power vacuum created by the execution of Louis XVI in 1793.

8. Overview of the lesson (3)
It is within the context of this lesson that we will explore the upward mobility of a man who came from the Third Estate to become the eventual ruler of all of France, and how, in the grand scheme represented what France had been fought over, and was now becoming: a country in which all men could be successful – not because of family birth and position, but because of individual ability. (And, it should be noted, much more in line with how modern society operates).

9. Timeline of Napoleon’s Background
Napoleon was born August 15, 1769 in Ajaccio Corsica.
His father was a lawyer, which meant that the family had money but were of the Third Estate.
1779: He was enrolled in the Military Academy of Brienne at age ten.
1784: After excelling at the academy, he was transferred to the Royal Military Academy in Paris.
1785: Graduated in one year from the academy (it normally took three).
1793: Promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.
1795: Defends the National Convention from Royalist uprisings
1799: Returns from military campaign(s) to abolish the Directory and establish the Consulate.

10. Napoleon’s Rise of Power
1793
The Siege of Toulon: At only 24 years old, and still a subordinate officer, Napoleon takes command of the Republic’s army and uses his artillery to drive the British navy – which had been supporting the Royalist cause - from the southern French port.
This is an important victory for the Republic, as it drives out the British in an important port, but more specifically it shows the grit and determination that would quickly become a big part of Napoleon’s identity.
Having his acting general effectively retreat, Napoleon assumes control of the siege and is successful in his attempts.
Napoleon is therefore credited with the victory, and it begins his ascendancy in the French military.

14. Napoleon’s Rise of Power (2)
1795
13 Vendémiaire: a battle between the French Revolutionary troops and the Royalist forces in the streets of Paris.
This is considered a pivotal moment of the revolution, as it presented the last popular uprising against the Republicans and the National Convention.
Napoleon, with forces being outnumbered 6:1 is successful at repelling the uprising by having his cannons fire grapeshot into the crowds.
Due to his success, Napoleon is promoted to the rank of General de Division, and is soon thereafter given command of the French army conducting operations in Italy.

15. The Overthrow of The Directory, and the Implementation of The First Consulate
1799
Having been successfully defended in 1795 by Napoleon, the National Convention implemented the new Constitution and a new form of government was created: The Directory ( ).
Napoleon was put in place to lead successful military campaigns in Italy, and he campaigned as far away as Egypt.
The Directory, however, did not solve France’s problems: it was marred by corruption, financial difficulties, political purges, and a fateful dependence on the army to maintain control.
Discontent with Directory rule was increased by military reverses. In 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte, the hero of the Italian campaign, returned from his Egyptian expedition and, with the support of the army and several government members, overthrew the Directory, and established the Consulate.
This would effectively begin Napoleon’s rule of France, and it is considered the end of the French Revolution.

18. Exit Slip
The French Revolution saw a drastic change in the way that French individuals would be governed. Ten years, many lives lost, and a number of attempts at a ruling government that had failed; the National Assembly, the National Convention, the Directory, and now the First Consulate.
So, it is with these thoughts in place, I want you to take a look at two pictures:
The first is of Louis XVI in 1779
The second is of Napoleon in 1804.
Focus Question: With as much that had changed during the French Revolution, what do these two pictures say about change?
In a half to full page, describe to me the importance of comparing the picture of Louis XVI and Napoleon. What do you feel the significance could be of comparing the two pictures? What does the picture say about Napoleon’s rule?