Transcript the_age_of_napoleonx

The Rise of
Napoleon
Napoleon Rises to Power
Napoleon was born in
Corsica, a French Rule island
in the Mediterranean. When
the revolution broke out he
was only 20 years of age and
worked as a lieutenant in the
military.
-During the revolution he
quickly rose through the ranks
-By 1799, he changed is his
career from that of a military
man to a politician
Napoleon Crowns Himself
Emperor
In 1781, Napoleon has gained
enough power to crown himself,
Emperor of the French
-During his rise to power
Napoleon had held a plebiscite:
a popular support by ballot
-Although the people had a
vote/say in the government
Napoleon was a absolute ruler
Napoleon Makes Changes….
Napoleon restored order and prosperity and strengthened
the central government. He:
•
Controlled prices
•
Encouraged industry
•
Built roads and canals
•
Set up public schools
•
Recognized peasants right to lands they had gained
•
Made peace with the Church
Napoleonic Code
His most lasting reform was a new code
of laws known as the Napoleonic Code:
a body of French civil laws introduced in
1804; served as model for many nations’
civil codes. It embodied enlightenment
principles.
•
Equality of all male citizens before
the law
•
Religious toleration
•
Abolition of feudalism
Napoleon Build An Empire
From 1804 to 1812, Napoleon
successfully battled most of
Europe and created an empire.
• France annexed the
Netherlands, Belgium, and
parts of Italy and Germany.
• Napoleon cut Prussian
territory in half and abolished
the Holy Roman Empire.
• He placed his own relatives on
some European thrones.
Napoleon Plans to Invade
France
Britain was the only major European power to remain
outside of Napoleon’s empire.
•
France’s navy was no match for Britain's superior navy.
So with invasion out of the question Napoleon
institutes the Continental System: which closed all
European ports to British good.
•
The blockades created some hardships but Britain was
able to maintain its trade routes in India and the
Americas.
Napoleon’s Empire Faces
Challenges
Many Europeans who had welcomed the ideas of the French
Revolution saw Napoleon and his army as oppressors.
• In Spain, people resisted reforms that undermined the king and the
Catholic Church.
• Nationalism in occupied countries created revolts and patriotic
resistance through guerrilla warfare: hit-and-run raids
Napoleon Attempts to Invade
Russia
When Napoleon attacked, the retreating Russian army
used a scorched-earth policy: a military tactic in which
soldiers destroy everything in it’s path to hurt the enemy
This tactic made it impossible for Napoleon’s army to
survive on what they left.
Napoleon Abdicates
•
Napoleon abdicated: stepped down from power, in
1814 and Louis XVIII was recognized as king of France.
•
But Napoleon returned to France in triumph after
Louis XVIII’s return rekindled fears of the old regime.
After Frances defeat at the Battle of Waterloo,
Napoleon was forced to abdicate a second and final
time.
•
•
The final defeat and exile of Napoleon ended the
period of the French Revolution
The Congress of Vienna
After the Battle of Waterloo, diplomats and heads of state
at the Congress of Vienna: assembly of European leaders
that met after the Napoleonic era to piece Europe back
together, and redrew the map of Europe.
The Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna promoted the principle of
legitimacy and restored monarchies in nations throughout
Europe.
•
The creation of the Concert of Europe enabled the
powers to meet periodically to address any new
problems affecting the peace of Europe.
•
The Concert of Europe kept peace in Europe for over
100 years.