Transcript File - BOUCHY`S WORLD HISTORY

Napoleon Forges an Empire
&
Napoleon’s Empire Collapses 
Hero of the Hour





Oct 1795
Defends National Convention
from rebels
“savior of the French
republic”
Victorious against Austria &
Kingdom of Sardinia
Loses against Egypt
but…keeps it out of the
papers
Coup D’etat






Nov 1799
Troops surround national legislature – drive out most
members
Remaining members vote to dissolve Directory
Three consuls take their place – Napoleon takes title of
First Consul & assumes power of dictator
Brits, Austria, Russia join together to force Napoleon from
power…sign treaties
1802: Europe at peace for 1st time in ten years thanks to
NAPOLEON!
Restoring Order at Home



Keeps changes from the Revolution – supports laws that
strengthen central govt.
1st step: efficient tax collection & national banking
system (better financial management = better economy)
2nd step: end corruption & inefficiency in govt:
 Dismisses corrupt officials
 Starts lycees (govt. run public schools)
 Graduates appointed to public office on basis of merit
vs family connection
Restoring Order at Home (con’t)




Concordat with Pope establishes
new relationship with Church
Govt. recognized Church influence
but rejects Church control in
national affairs
Napoleonic Code: uniform set of
laws that eliminates many injustices
Actually limits free speech & press
and restores slavery in Caribbean
Napoleon Crowned Emperor




Dec 2, 1804 Notre Dame
Pope waits for him with
crown
Takes it from the pope &
crowns himself
Signals he’s more
powerful than the Church
New World Territories



1801: Saint Dominique
revolt led by Toussaint
L’Ouverture
1803: sells LA territory to
TJ for $15 million
2 major benefits
 Gains $ to finance
operations in Europe
 Punish the British
Conquering Europe






Annexed Austrian Netherland, parts of Italy & puppet
govt. in Switzerland
Brits get Russia, Austria & Sweden to help against him
Crushes them – other armies never able to predict his
new move and suffered heavy losses
Austria, Russia, Prussia sign peace treaties
Helps Napoleon built BIGGEST EMPIRE SINCE
ROMAN EMPIRE!
Only remaining enemy: British (great naval power!)
Battle of Trafalgar




One & only defeat
1805 off coast of Spain
Brits led by Horatio Nelson
Two major results:
 Ensured supremacy of Brit
navy for 100+ years
 Forces Napoleon to give
up hopes of invading
Britain
The French Empire





1812: only area free was Britain, Portugal, Sweden &
Ottoman Empire
Napoleon controls French Empire & “independent”
countries
Spain, Warsaw, German Kingdoms – rulers mostly
family members
Huge empire but unstable
Only able to maintain huge size from 1807-1812
Continental System




Blockade to prevent all trade &
communication between Brits and
continental Europe
Smugglers ignore, allies ignore
Weakens Brit trade but doesn’t
destroy
Brits stop neutral ships, force
them to Brit port for search &
tax…leds to War of 1812
Peninsula War (1808)




Sends troops through Spain
to Portugal
Removes Spanish king puts
brother on throne
Spanish guerrillas &
nationalism hit Napoleon’s
men hard (300,000 men
lost)
Feel abused by foreign
conqueror…want to retake
their lands!
Invasion of Russia (1812)




Russian czar refuses to stop selling grain to Brits
Napoleon decides to invade with 420,000 soldiers
Alexander I pulls back his troops and burn grain fields
and slaughter livestock “scorched earth policy”
Dec: remaining troops straggle out of Russia (10,000)
Coalition Defeats Napoleon





Brits, Russia, Prussia, Sweden & Austria all against him
Jan 1814 – army marching steadily towards Paris
Napoleon’s generals refuse to fight on
April 1814 – accepts terms of surrender & gives up
throne
Given small pension, exiled to Elba (Italian coast)
A Comeback Fails






Escapes from Elba
Crowds welcome him back
and he’s emperor again
June 18, 1815 attacks
Waterloo (Britain)
Prussians arrive to help
Brits
Napoleon’s defeated
Shipped off to St. Helena&
died in 1821
Napoleon