1. How did Napoleon gain power in France ?
Topic:Napoleon
How did Napoleon gain power in France ?
Napoleon

2. Napoleon Takes Power
After execution of Robespierre, Committee of Public Safety abolished
Royalists try to take over the French Assembly
1795: Napoleon Bonaparte leads troops against Royalists
Easy win – seen as hero so he is appointed General of the Army
1796: leads troops to win over Austria but loses to British in Egypt
By 1799, people were losing confidence in the Assembly
Nov: Napoleon seizes power in a coup d’état
Jan: Plebiscite (vote of the people) approves a new constitution
New constitution gives power to Napoleon =

3. Napoleon Changes France
Napoleon begins public schools (Lycée)
He removes corrupt Government Officials
Napoleon forms new laws called the Napoleonic Code
Code gives France “uniform” laws and eliminated injustices, the code also limited freedoms gained in the revolution & restored slavery
1802: All wars in Europe end
1803: Napoleon loses slave revolt in Haiti & sells Louisiana Territory to US
Napoleon happy to gain $ from sale and make US a power (slap at Britain)
1804: Napoleon is crowned Emperor of France – people approve

4. Win @ Austerlitz Napoleonic Wars
Having given up on his Empire in the Americas, Napoleon plans to establish an Empire in Europe – starts taking small Italian States
He annexes the Austrian Netherlands and puts a puppet govt. in Switzerland
He invades Spain and puts his brother Joseph on the throne
Spanish resist using “guerilla warfare”
Napoleon attacks other countries in Europe, incl. major Austerlitz
After victories against Austria, Prussia, and Russia he forces those countries to sign peace treaties with France
Austerlitz
Guerilla Warfare

5. Loses Battle of Traflagar (1805)
Napoleon attempts to Blockade Britain
Unsuccessful
Loss/failed blockade proves British navy best in world
By 1812, Napoleon’s empire was starting to collapse
Other key mistakes:
Invasion of Russia
Czar Alexander uses “scorched-earth policy”
The cold Russian winter then sets in and then the Russians begin attacking Napoleon’s tired and hungry army (422K to start – 28K retreat)

6. Napoleon’s Final Chapter
Napoleon loses war and is exiled to Elba
Louis XVIII (the brother of Louis XVI) takes the throne in France
People do not like the new King and think he will try to return Absolutism
Napoleon escapes from Elba and returns to France. French people are happy to see his return – this starts the “100 days”
He quickly recruits an army and once again he takes over France
Rest of Europe quickly get their armies together to put a stop to Napoleon once and for all
Napoleon’s forces fight the British army at Waterloo, Belgium
Britain holds Napoleon’s army until the arrival of Prussia’s army (1815)
Napoleon is defeated and the British ship him to a remote island (St. Helena) in the South Atlantic Ocean
On the island, Napoleon lives alone and dies of a stomach ailment (probably cancer) in 1821