1. The Rise and Fall of Napoleon
How did Napoleon gain and eventually lose his empire?

2. Nov: Napoleon seizes power in a coup d’état
Napoleon Takes Power
War continues, Royalists try to take over the French Assembly
1795: Napoleon Bonaparte leads troops against Royalists
Easy win – seen as hero & appointed General of the Army
1796: leads troops to win over Austria but loses to British in Egypt
1799: people losing confidence in the Assembly
Nov: Napoleon seizes power in a coup d’état
Jan 1800: Plebiscite (vote of the people) approves a new constitution
New constitution gives unlimited power to Napoleon =

3. Napoleon Changes France
Napoleon begins public schools (Lycée)
Removes corrupt government officials
Creates new laws called Napoleonic Code
Code gave France “uniform” laws & eliminated injustices, but also limited freedoms gained in the revolution & restored slavery
1802: All wars in Europe end
1803: Napoleon loses slave revolt in St. Domingue & sells Louisiana Terr. to US, happy to gain $ from sale and make US a power
1804: Napoleon is crowned Emperor of France – people approve

4. Fights British Navy & loses Battle of Trafalgar
Napoleonic Wars
1804: Napoleon uses US money to establish an Empire in Europe
Annexes some Italian States & the Netherlands
Crushes Austrian Austerlitz
1805: Napoleon tries to cut off British supplies
Fights British Navy & loses Battle of Trafalgar
1808: Invades Spain and puts his brother Joseph on the throne
Spanish use “guerilla warfare” during Peninsular War
Countries that lose forced to sign peace treaties with France
Battle of
Austerlitz
Peninsular War
Battle of Trafalgar

5. Napoleon tries to Blockade Britain – Continental System
US may help Napoleon
Britain & US fight War of 1812
Napoleon’s Empire Collapsing
Russian Czar against Continental System
June 1812: France invades Russia
Czar Alexander used “scorched-earth policy”
Dec 1812: Cold Russian winter then sets in, Russians start attacking Napoleon’s tired & hungry army (422K to start – 28K left to retreat)

6. Napoleon’s Final Chapter
1814: Napoleon defeated in Napoleonic Wars & is exiled to Elba
Louis XVIII (Louis XVI brother) takes the throne, becomes Absolute Monarch, people upset
1815: Napoleon escapes from Elba and returns to France
People happy, Napoleon quickly recruits an army and retakes France starting the 100 Days
Britain & Prussia form alliance to stop Napoleon
Napoleon’s forces fight the British army at Battle of Waterloo
Britain holds Napoleon’s army until arrival of Prussia’s army
Napoleon is defeated and the British send him to a remote island (St. Helena) in the South Atlantic Ocean
On the island, Napoleon lives alone and dies of a stomach ailment in 1821

7. Voices from the Past: Napoleon’s Mysterious End
What was the original diagnosis about Napoleon's death?
What is the new theory of Napoleon’s death? How do we know this information?
Who are the suspects in Napoleon’s death? (four answers)
Which theory do you believe and why?