Transcript Chapter 19 - The French Revolution and Napoleon

Section 4 – The Age of Napoleon Begins
Napoleon Bonaparte I (1769-1821)
Emperor of France
Setting the Scene
Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica, a
French-ruled island in the Mediterranean.
He came from a family of minor nobles, but
they had little money. At age nine, he was
sent to France to be trained for a military
career. When the revolution broke out, he
was an ambitious 20-year-old lieutenant,
eager to make a name for himself.
I. Napoleon’s Rise to Power
Napoleon rose quickly in rank during the
revolution after winning major battles
I. Napoleon’s Rise to Power
1799 - he helped overthrow the Directory and
set up a three-man government – the Consulate
A portrait of the three Consuls (between 1799 and
1804) with Napoleon in the center
I. Napoleon’s Rise to Power
A new constitution was written and Napoleon
became First Consul. In 1802 he was named
consul for life
I. Napoleon’s Rise to Power
1804 - Napoleon acquired enough power to
assume the title Emperor of France
Napoleon on His
Imperial Throne
(1806)
I. Napoleon’s Rise to Power
During his rise to power, Napoleon held
plebiscites in which the French people strongly
supported him
December 2, 1804 - Napoleon took up the crown from the altar and
placed it upon his head. He then took Josephine's crown and
crowned the empress kneeling before him.
II. France Under Napoleon
He strengthened the central government and
restored order, security, and efficiency
"A Grateful France Proclaims Napoleon the First Emperor of the French"
II. France Under Napoleon
Napoleon controlled prices, encouraged new
industry, and built roads and canals to restore
the economy
II. France Under Napoleon
Government-controlled schools ensured
officials and military officers were well-trained
Leading the Way: Napoleon at school as a young man
II. France Under Napoleon
The Concordat of 1801 gave religious freedom
to Catholics and made peace with the Church
"Signature of the Concordat between the French Government and His
Holiness Pius VII for the re-establishment of the Catholic religion in
France"
II. France Under Napoleon
Napoleon gained the support of all social
classes with his reforms
II. France Under Napoleon
His most lasting reform was a new law code,
the Napoleonic Code
II. France Under Napoleon
The Code undid some of the reforms of the
French Revolution; women lost most of their
new rights
Napoleon and the
Woman Question: The
Other Sex in French
Education, Medicine,
and Medical Law, 17991815
III. Building an Empire
1804 to 1814 - Napoleon won many battles
against other European powers and created
an empire
III. Building an Empire
He annexed areas, abolished the Holy Roman
Empire, and created the Confederation of the
Rhine
The Confederation of the
Rhine was formed in
1806 when 16 German
minor states decided to
throw their nations'
futures in with Napoleon
Bonaparte and ally
themselves with France.
A further 19 joined later.
III. Building an Empire
1805 - Napoleon tried to invade England but his
fleet was destroyed at the Battle of Trafalgar
III. Building an Empire
Battle of Trafalgar
Trafalgar animation
Vice Admiral
Horatio Nelson
III. Building an Empire
The Continental System - economic warfare
which closed European ports to British goods
III. Building an Empire
Britain blockaded European ports and seized
neutral trading ships, triggering the War of
1812
Running the British blockade
III. Building an Empire
The Continental System failed - the British
navy kept trade routes open; prices rose in
Europe, creating resentment against France