Transcript Napoleon SOL8

History of Napoleon

Napoleon Bonapart was born in Corsica, a
French-ruled island in the Mediterranean.
His family were minor nobles but had little
money.
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At age 9, 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.
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Napoleon rose quickly in the army and led
them to several dazzling victories.
Napoleon eventually gained enough power
to assume the title emperor of the French.
Legacy of Napoleon

Unsuccessful attempt to unify Europe under
French domination. Much of Europe seen
Napoleon as a foreign oppressor therefore they
revolted against his authority.
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Napoleonic Code: Codified or systemically
arranged French laws. His laws ensured
equality of all citizens before the law, religious
toleration, and advancement based on merit.
These laws reflected some of the ideals of the
enlightenment and the French revolution.
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Awakened feelings of national pride and
growth of nationalism

Napoleon was a European ruler who
conquered most of Europe resulting in the
Congress of Vienna.
Congress of Vienna

The Congress of Vienna was held in 1814 with
Austrian chief minister Prince Klemens von Metternich
serving as host.
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The goal of the Congress of Vienna was to “turn back
the clock” or restore Europe to the way it was before
the French Revolution and before the Napoleonic
conquests.
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Looking back over the legacies of the Congress of
Vienna it is clear that the goals were at least
temporarily met. However, the new feelings of
nationalism that were part of Napoleon’s legacy and
the new political philosophy of liberalism would prove
to be powerful forces in the years to come.
The Congress of
Vienna

The Congress of Vienna attempted to restore
Europe as it had been before the French
Revolution and Napoleonic conquests.
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Balance of power” doctrine- tried to keep any
one nation from becoming too powerful.
This successful diplomatic effort prevented
major wars in Europe for most of the century.
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Restoration of monarchies:
 For example Louis XVIII of the Bourbon
Dynasty to France (Louis XVI’s brother)
was restored as the monarch.
 Royal Dynasties were reestablished in
Portugal, Spain, Naples, Sardinia, and
Sicily.
Legacy of the Congress of
Vienna
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“New political philosophies:
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Liberalism- Political philosophy that emphasizes
freedom of the individual with a representative
government that protects individual and civil rights.
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Conservatism- political philosophy that emphasizes
the preserving of traditions and established
institutions.
Legacy of the Congress of
Vienna
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New political map of
Europe

Reduced the size of France
to its pre-Revolution
boundaries.
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Netherlands was united
under Dutch ruler.
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German Confederation
formed from 39
independent German states.
Nationalism

The rise of nationalism was a powerful force
behind European politics during the nineteenth
century.

National pride, economic competition, and
democratic ideals stimulated the growth of
nationalism

The terms of the Congress of Vienna led to
widespread discontent in Europe.
Unsuccessful revolutions in 1848 increased
nationalistic tensions.

In contrast to continental Europe, Great Britain
expanded political rights through legislative
means and made slavery illegal in the British
Empire.
Unification of Italy

Count Cavour unified Northern
Italy.

Giuseppe Garibaldi joined
southern Italy to northern Italy

The Papal States (including
Rome) became the last to join
Italy
Unification of
Germany

Otto von Bismark led Prussia in
the unification of Germany
through war and by appealing to
nationalist feelings.

Bismark’s actions were seen as an
example of Realpolitik, which
justifies all means to achieve and
hold power.
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The Franco-Prussian War led to
the creation of the German state.