NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

No, not that napoleon

Essential questions

• What was the legacy of Napoleon?
• What was the significance of the Congress of Vienna?

By 1794, France was at war with Austria, Prussia, Spain, Sweden, Holland, England, Russia, and the Kingdoms of Sardinia, Naples, Sicily & others.

Untitled Slide

The directory

Napoleon's background

• Born in Corsica in 1769
• Stood 5'6 and had a strong personality
• Quickly rose through the ranks as a military officer
• Supported the Directory
• Excellent skills at commanding French troops
• Rose to power through continuing wars with other European countries

Untitled Slide

The RISE OF NAPOLEON

• Recognized as one of the world's great military geniuses
• Napoleon had great success as a general and won the hearts of the French men and women
• By 1799, the Directory government lost control of the political situation and the confidence of the French people
• People urged Napoleon to take over

coup d'etat

Coup d'etat- meaning "blow to the state" is a swift seizure of government usually by someone from within

nationalism spreads

what is nationalism?

• Strong feelings of pride and devotion to one's country
• Napoleon's success made people feel PROUD to be from France
• Revolution and war gave people a strong sense of national identity

War in france

• During Napoleon’s coup, France was still at war with Britain, Austria, and Russia
• Napoleon was able to sign peace agreements with all three countries
• By 1802, France was at peace for the first time in 10 years
• Napoleon was ready to focus on restoring order to France

In 1800, a plebiscite (vote of the people) was held to approve a new Constitution. This gave all real power to Napoleon as First Consul.

Restoring order

• Napoleon kept many changes from the revolution
• Strengthened the central government
• Set up an efficient method of tax collection and established a national banking system
• Took steps to end corruption, dismissing many officials
• Set up government-run public schools

Separation of church and state

• The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII
• Sought reconciliation between revolutionaries and Catholics
• Solidified the Catholic Church as the majority church of France
• Recognized the influence of the church but rejected control in nation

Untitled Slide

The Napoleonic code

The napoleonic code

• According to Napoleon - "my greatest achievement"
• Comprehensive set of laws
• Forbade privileges based on birth
• Allowed freedom of religion
• Government jobs would go to those best qualified
• Eliminated many injustices

The Downsides: The Code limited liberty and promoted order and authority.

Also, restored slavery in the French colonies in the Caribbean.

In 1803, France sold the U.S. the Louisiana Purchase for less than $.03 per acre. Thanks Haiti!

NAPOLEON I

Napoleon crowns his wife Josephine, Empress of france

Untitled Slide

Untitled Slide

Napoleon plans to expand

• Will not just be ruler of France, he plans to be Emperor of Europe
• He had already annexed the Austrian Netherlands, parts of Italy, and set up a puppet government in Switzerland
• England, fearful of Napoleon’s plan, banded together with Russia, Austria, and Sweden to fight France

Napoleon: Military leader

• Napoleon met the challenge and acted with a skilled boldness
• In brilliant battles he crushed the opposition
• Rulers of Austria, Prussia, and Russia were forced to sign peace treaties with France
• Only Britain was left standing in his way

These successes enabled Napoleon to build the largest European empire since that of the Romans!

Untitled Slide

Untitled Slide

In 1805, Napoleon lost the naval Battle of Trafalgar, ending any hopes of invading England.

Untitled Slide

napoleon's empire collapses

• Napoleon was only able to maintain control for five years
• 1807-1812
• He will make costly mistakes that will cause his empire to fall to pieces
• Power led Napoleon to great heights, but his love of power will also led to his demise

Untitled Slide

In an effort to extend the French Empire and crush Great Britain, Napoleon made three costly mistakes…

Napoleon's mistakes

• The Continental System
• The Peninsular War
• The Invasion of Russia

1. The Continental System was a naval blockade to prevent trade and communication between Europe and England. FAILED.

Untitled Slide

2. Spain rebelled against France for six years. Napoleon could not defeat the Spanish guerillas!

3. NAPOLEON's BIGGEST MISTAKE

• Napoleon was angry that Russia had not obeyed the Continental System
• Napoleon invaded Russia with an army of 680,000 men in June 1812
• The Russians retreated and Napoleon continued to pursue long into the winter months
• Only 120,000 soldiers returned
• Napoleon retreated to Paris

Untitled Slide

Untitled Slide

REMEMBER!

Napoleon's downfall

In 1814, Frederick William III of Prussia and Czar Alexander I marched into the French capital of Paris

Napoleon Surrenders

Exiled to a small island called Elba

Napoleon is not done yet!

• Louis XVI’s brother assumed the French throne and became known as Louis XVIII
• The people of France believed he was going to try to undo the advances of the French Revolution
• Napoleon took this as his chance to reclaim his throne
• Escaped from Elba -March 1, 1815

Second exile

• French people welcomed Napoleon back as Emperor
• British and Prussian forces crushed Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo
• Europeans sent Napoleon away again
• He lived on the island of St. Helena for six years before he died of a stomach ailment

Battle of waterloo

St. HElena

The Green wallpaper

• The wallpaper in his room was dyed with Scheele's Green, a coloring pigment that had been used in fabrics and wallpapers from around 1770.
• Named after the Swedish chemist who invented it the dye contained copper arsenite.

Possible cause

• In 1893 an Italian biochemist called Gosio discovered that if wallpaper containing Scheele's Green became damp, the mold converted the copper arsenite to a poisonous vapor form of arsenic.
• Breathing the arsenic on its own might not have been enough to kill Napoleon, but he already was ill with a stomach ulcer. He died May 5, 1821

The legacy of napoleon

• Unsuccessful attempt to unify Europe under French domination
• Napoleonic Code
• Awakened feelings of national pride - Growth of Nationalism

The Congress of vienna

The Congress of vienna

• Napoleon’s defeat opened the door for the freed European countries to establish a new order
• Long-lasting peace and stability
• The GOAL: Collective security and stability for the entire continent
• A series of meetings in Vienna, known as the Congress of Vienna, was set up by Klemens von Metternich of Austria

A series of meetings in Vienna, known as the Congress of Vienna, was set up by Klemens von Metternich of Austria

Legacy of the Congress of Vienna

• "Balance of power" doctrine
• Restoration of monarchies
• Redraw new political map of Europe
• New political philosophies of liberalism/conservatism emerge

Balance of power

Restoration of monarchies

redrew political boundaries

Untitled Slide

Liberalism

• Progressive
• Focuses on society
• Personal freedom
• Fair trade
• Supports workers
• "The world can be improved. Bring in the new.

Conservatism

• Traditional
• Focuses on the individual
• Economic freedom
• Free trade
• Supports employers
• "Protect the good things about the world."

Turning back the clock