Transcript The Age of Napoleon

The Age of Napoleon
Napoleon’s Rise to Power
 Born in 1769 as Napoleon Bonaparte in Corsica
 At the age of nine, placed in Military School
 By 16 at become an artillery officer
 By 1795 was the Savior of French Republic
 Defeated royalist rebels attacking National Convention
 Appointed to lead an army against enemies
 Wins against Italy help gain popularity
 By 1799 Seized power with the use of troops (coup d’
etat)
 Defeats British, Russians, Austrians who join forces against
him
Napoleon Rules France
 In 1800 New Constitution is approved through plebiscite (vote of
the people)
 Rebuilt government by
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Fixing economy = national banking system and efficient taxes
Removed dishonest gov’t, promotion based on ability
Establishes lycées—government-run public schools to train officials
Signs concordat—agreement—with pope restoring Catholicism
Creates Napoleonic Code—uniform system of laws (Equal rights)
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Preserved equality for all citizens
Right of the individual to choose a profession
Religious tolerations
Abolition of feudalism
Limited Rights under
Napoleonic Code
 Limited Rights
 Women Rights
 Divorce allowed but difficult (Property belonged to
husband)
 Treated as minors
 Liberty replaced by despotism (Tyrant)
 Eliminated Freedom of the Press (60/73 papers)
 Approval before publication
 Mail opened by gov’t officials
Napoleon Creates an
Empire
 Need for more land
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In 1801, attempts to retake colony of Saint Domingue but fails
Sells the Louisiana Territory to United States for $15 million in 1803
In December 1804, Napoleon crowns himself emperor of France
Gives up on the Americas and concentrates on Europe
 Empire consists of:
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French Empire (Rhine to half of Italy), Dependent states (controlled
by relatives), and Allied States (defeated and forced to fight)
 The Battle of Trafalgar
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In 1805, ensures British naval superiority and ruins ideas of invading
Britain
Fall of Napoleon’s Empire
 Napoleon’s Costly Mistakes - threatened by his own personality
and need to expamnnd
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Desire to crush Britain
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Ordered a blockade—forced closing of ports
Fail of the Continental System—economic plan to strengthen Europe,
weaken Britain
Britain by its stronger navy
Made Brother King of Spain
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Spanish fight as guerrillas with support from Britain—small groups
that attacked and then disappear
Lost 300,000 troops to The Peninsular War
 Tries to Conquer Russia
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In June 1812, Napoleon’s army marches into Russia with 420,000 men
Russians use scorched-earth policy—destroying crops, livestock
Napoleon retreats, losing thousands of soldiers to raids, cold weather
Fall of Napoleon’s Empire
Continues
 Napoleon Suffers Defeat
 Britain, Prussia, Sweden, Russia, Austria join forces against
Napoleon
 Battle of Leipzig -raises another army, but defeat due to
inexperience
 Napoleon finally surrenders and is exiled to island of Elba
 King Louis XVIII is crowned King of France and struggles
 The Hundred Days: Napoleon’s last attempt at power
 Louis XVIII is overthrown and Napoleon returns
 Battle of Waterloo—British, Prussian forces defeat
Napoleon
Congress of Vienna
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A Meeting of Nations
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Congress of Vienna—series of meetings that reshape Europe
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Kingdom of the Netherlands formed, and Switzerland made independent
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Austria dominates new German Confederation of 39 German states
Klemens von Metternich—foreign minister of Austria, influential at Congress
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French couldn’t attack another country
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Balance of power—a chief Metternich goal, with no one country a threat L
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egitimacy—monarchs deposed by Napoleon are returned to thrones Leaders hope to restore order through these
changes
European nations agree to preserve peace, which lasts almost 40 years
Political Changes
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Holy Alliance—Russia, Prussia, Austria pledge to fight revolution
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Concert of Europe—European nations pledge to help fight revolutions
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Conservative governments rule across Europe, but new ideas have impact
Revolutions in Latin America
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Napoleon’s replacing king of Spain set off rebellions in Spanish America
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Many former colonies of Spain and Portugal gain independence
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Britain, Prussia gain power; spreading nationalism leads to revolutions