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Napoleon
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Napoleon Crossing the Alps
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Which Napoleon would you want as a ruler?
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Special Thanks to Ms. Stewart
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“The truest conquests, the only ones that give rise to no regrets, are those gained over ignorance. The most honorable as well as the most useful activity of nations is to contribute to the advancement of human knowledge. The real strength of the French Republic should henceforth lie in its determination to possess every new idea, without a single exception.” — Napoleon Bonaparte (upon his election to the National Institute of France)
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Vocabulary Meritocracy: leadership chosen on the basis of abilities and achievements rather than birthright Coup d’Etat: the sudden violent overthrow of a government and seizure of political power (especially by the military) Abdicate: to give up a high office formally or officially, especially the throne Nationalism: proud loyalty and devotion to a nation
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Meteoric Rise Napoleon wasn’t a revolutionary before the French Revolution, but he welcomed the changes He rose during the battles of the French Revolution due to meritocracy By the age of only 25, Napoleon was made a brigadier general by the Committee of Public Safety He won a series of victories as the French commander against armies in Italy
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Coup d’Etat Napoleon’s combination of intelligence, charm, wit, and decisiveness allowed him to win the support of his troops and other people Napoleon took part in the coup d’etat that overthrew the Directory Even though in theory France was a republic, Napoleon held absolute power as the first consul of a new government called the consulate
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"A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights."
– Napoleon, quoted in Thorpe, Scott, How to Think Like Einstein, Barnes & Noble Books, Inc., 2000, p.167.
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Dictator? Napoleon appointed members of the bureaucracy, controlled the army, conducted foreign affairs, and influenced the legislature Once in power, Napoleon employed generosity, flattery, and bribery to win over some of his enemies He was ruthless in suppressing opposition 1802: Napoleon made himself consul for life 1804: Crowned Emperor Napoleon I
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Crowned Himself Emperor of the French December 2, 1804 Notre Dame
Emperor Napoleon & Empress Josephine-1806 by David
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Napoleon placing the crown on his own head, instead of being crowned by the head of the Church. He then crowned Josephine.
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Consul vs. Emperor Note the plainer appearance of Napoleon when he first became Consul, as compared to the much more grand scene of him once his imperial ambition had been revealed and he had seated himself as Emperor
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Control! Napoleon shut down 60 of France’s 73 newspapers, insisting that the government view all manuscripts before they are published, and having government police read people’s mail He never stopped reminding the French that he preserved what was beneficial in the revolutionary program
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Napoleon’s Reforms Napoleonic Code – MOST IMPORTANT!
Centralized Government Normalized relations with the Catholic Church Bank of France New School System to educate the masses
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Napoleonic Code 1804 Napoleon’s most famous domestic achievement was codifying French laws Before the revolution France had up to 300 separate legal systems The most important part of the new unified codes was the Civil Code, or Napoleonic Code The Civil Code recognized equality of all citizens before the law
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The Civil Code Recognized equality before the law, the right to choose a profession, religious toleration, and the end of serfdom and feudalism Napoleon’s Civil Code also undid revolutionary changes, such as making divorce easy for both men and women, and allowing children, including daughters, to inherit property Napoleon's personal copy of the Civil Code
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Lycee System of Education
Established by Napoleon in 1801 as an educational reform – to educate the masses System of schools under strict government control to ensure well-trained government officials and military officers
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Concordat of 1801 Napoleon wanted to heal the divisions within the Catholic Church that had developed after the confiscation of Church property and the Civil Constitution of the Clergy Catholicism was declared the religion of the majority of the French
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Napoleon in the New World
Louisiana Purchase, 1803 Sold for $15,000,000-Napoleon needed to money to fight his foreign wars
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"I closed the gulf of anarchy and brought order out of chaos
"I closed the gulf of anarchy and brought order out of chaos. I rewarded merit regardless of birth or wealth, wherever I found it. I abolished feudalism and restored equality to all regardless of religion and before the law. I fought the decrepit monarchies of the Old Regime because the alternative was the destruction of all this. I purified the Revolution.“ – Napoleon Bonaparte
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Napoleon’s Empire Napoleon now could create a new world order
His Grand Empire had three parts: the French Empire, dependent states, and allied states The dependent states were kingdoms that Napoleon’s relatives ruled, including Spain, Holland, Italy, and the Grand Duchy of Warsaw The allied states were those Napoleon defeated and forced to join him in war against Britain, including Prussia, Austria, Russia, and Sweden
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Napoleonic Europe
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Napoleon’s Family Rules!
Jerome Bonaparte King of Westphalia. Joseph Bonaparte King of Spain Louise Bonaparte King of Holland Pauline Bonaparte Princess of Italy Napoléon Francis Joseph Charles (son) King of Rome Elisa Bonaparte Grand Duchess of Tuscany Caroline Bonaparte Queen of Naples
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Haitian Revolution, Slaves in the New World were inspired by the ideas of the French Revolution Toussaint L’Ouverture – a former slave led a revolt to free the slave in Haiti It was a brutal conflict Result: the elimination of slavery and the establishment of Haiti as the first republic ruled by people of African and black Caribbean ancestry.
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Haitian Independence 1804 Of the many rebellions that occurred in the New World during the centuries of slavery, only Haiti was successful in achieving permanent independence under a new nation The Haitian Revolution is regarded as a defining moment in the history of Africans in the New World
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Spread of Liberal Ideals
Napoleon sought to spread some of the principles of the French Revolution, including equality before the law, religious toleration, and economic freedom, through his empire He tried to destroy the feudal, hierarchical order in the French Empire and his dependent states: Nobility and clergy lost privileges, and equality of opportunity was declared, along with religious toleration and equality before the law Napoleon’s spread of French revolutionary principles to these countries was an important factor in the development of liberal traditions in them
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The Continental System
One of Napoleon’s goals was to destroy Great Britain Napoleon banned British goods in the lands he controlled in order to hurt their economy The Continental System was intended to stop British goods from reaching continental markets The main flaw in the Continental Plan was that Britain still had naval dominance Allied states resented being told they could not buy British goods, and this strategy failed as well
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The Continental System
GOAL to isolate Britain and promote Napoleon’s mastery over Europe Berlin Decrees (1806) British ships were not allowed in European ports “Order in Council” (1806) Britain proclaimed any ship stopping in Britain would be seized when it entered the Continent Milan Decree (1807) Napoleon proclaimed any ship stopping in Britain would be seized when it entered the Continent These edicts eventually led to the United States declaring war on Britain WAR OF 1812
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The Continental System 1806-1810
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Fall of Napoleon Napoleon’s fall began with his invasion of Russia, which had refused to remain in the Continental System In 1812, a Grand Army of over 600,000 men entered Russia Napoleon needed to score a quick, decisive victory The Russians would not fight: they retreated to Moscow, drawing the French into the interior of Russia (hoping that Russia’s size and weather would support the Russian cause) The Russians burned crops and villages along the way: this scorched-earth policy left the French without food or shelter
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Defeat in Russia The “Great Retreat” – the French retreated from Moscow through the Russian winter (terrible conditions) Only about 20,000 of 600,000 soldiers made it back to France alive Other European nations rose up to attack the crippled French army
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Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow
Painting by Adolf Northern
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Route of the Great Retreat
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First Exile Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to the island of Elba
Louis XVIII, Louis XVI’s brother, restored the Bourbon monarchy The king had little support Louis XVIII r
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Escape from Elba February 26, 1815, Napoleon snuck past his guards, escaped from Elba, and returned to France Paris welcomed him with celebration, and Louis XVIII, the new king, fled to Belgium With Louis XVIII gone, Napoleon moved back into the Tuileries The period known as the Hundred Days had begun
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The Hundred Days (1815) Escape from Elba King Louis XVIII fled France
Ruled for short period Battle of Waterloo Sent to St. Helena
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Waterloo At the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium in 1815, Napoleon was defeated by a combined British and Prussian army under the Duke of Wellington.
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Napoleon’s Defeat at Waterloo June 18, 1815
At Waterloo in Belgium in 1815, Napoleon was defeated by a combined British and Prussian army under the Duke of Wellington Duke of Wellington
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Painting by Clément-Auguste Andrieux
Waterloo Painting by Clément-Auguste Andrieux
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Permanent Exile The allies exiled him to St. Helena, a small island in the south Atlantic Napoleon’s power ended
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Legacy of Napoleon France was a centralized state with a Constitution
Citizens had rights to property and access to education Napoleonic Code consolidated many changes of the Revolution Awakening of feelings of national pride and growth of nationalism
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Napoleon: Overview Rose during the battles of the French Revolution due to meritocracy Took part in the coup d’etat that overthrew the Directory 1799: Became the first consul of France (despite being a republic, Napoleon held absolute power and was ruthless in suppressing opposition) 1801: Lycee – a system of education 1802: Named himself ‘Consul for Life” 1804: Crowned himself ‘Emperor of France’ 1804: Napoleonic Code – a civil code that recognized the equality of all citizens before the law Napoleon’s Grand Empire French Empire Dependent States = kingdoms ruled by Napoleon’s relatives Allied States = those defeated by Napoleon and forced to join in war against Great Britain
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Napoleon: Overview (cntd.)
The Continental System: Napoleon banned British goods in the lands he controlled in order to hurt the British economy (problems: Britain had naval dominance and allied states resented being told what they could/not buy) Invasion of Russia: Scorched-earth policy: Russians burned crops and villages along their path inland to leave the French without food or shelter) “Great Retreat”: French retreated from Moscow through the Russian winter (thousands didn’t make it back) First Exile (Elba): Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to Elba Escaped from Elba and returned to France (Louis XVIII fled and Napoleon resumed power) Waterloo: Napoleon was defeated by a combined British and Prussian army Permanent Exile (St. Helena): Napoleon’s power ended
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