Born in 1769 on Corsica Sent to military school at 9 y.o. Joined army artillery at 16 Joined army of the new gov t when the Revolution began VIDEO: 25 Trivia facts about Napoleon
Oct. 1795 royalist rebels march on the National Convention Napoleon ordered to defend greets the mob of thousands with artillery fire QUOTE: give them a whiff of grapeshot mob flees hailed as hero of France Changes last name so it sounds less Italian & more French
1796 Directory appoints Napoleon to lead army vs. Austria & Sardinia Crosses Alps into Italy & wins a series of victories Leads expedition to Egypt to protect French trading interests & disrupt English trade with India Unable to duplicate success Horatio Nelson (English) defeats French navy Napoleon controls flow of information and failures aren t reported in newspapers THEREFORE he remains a hero in France
In addition to his army, Napoleon brought 167 scholars and scientists Topographical surveys Native animals and plants studied Minerals were collected and classified Most famously, ancient Egypt was discovered the temples and tombs of the pharaohs Perhaps the most important discovery was
Rosetta Stone Greek, Egyptian demotic, and Egyptian hieroglyphic
1799 Directory has lost control of the political situation & confidence of the people On return from Egypt, his friends urge him to seize political power He orders his troops to march on nat l legislature Some legislatures flee remainder dissolve Directory A group of 3 consuls is appointed Napoleon is one takes title of First Consul Assumes dictatorial powers
France still at war in 1799 Britain, Austria & Russia join forces to drive Napoleon from power Napoleon leads army in battle Via war & diplomacy a peace agreement is signed By 1802 ten years of war is over
Napoleon PRETENDS to be the constitutionally chosen leader of a free republic 1800 a plebiscite (vote of the people) is ordered to approve the new constitution It is overwhelmingly approved Napoleon given all real power
Chooses to keep many of the Revolution s changes Supports laws that strengthen central gov t First task stabilize economy Bank of France: Central Financial Institution for France. Will guide financial system of France Efficient Tax Collection Dismisses corrupt officials
Lycees: Public Education System Government run schools for male students of ALL backgrounds. Sought France s most talented students. Seeks *meritocracy* Specialized: classical studies, modern studies, and scientific-technological studies.
1801 Concordat with the Pope: Agreement between Napoleon and the Pope Restored Roman Catholic Church as the majority church of France Restored some of Catholic Church civil status Gov t recognized influence of the Church, BUT rejected its control of nat l affairs This gained Napoleon the support of both the Church & the people
Napoleonic Code: (1804) Eliminated 360 sets of local laws Revised & organized in a uniform French Law THE GOOD : forbade privileges based on birth allowed freedom of religion government jobs go to the most qualified uniform set of laws eliminated injustices major step in establishing the rule of law after the Revolution copied through out Europe
Napoleonic Code: THE BAD : ACTUALLY limited liberty & promoted order & authority over individual rights (ex: secret police) LIMITED freedom of speech & the press RESTORED slavery in the French Caribbean colonies
Envisioned a Western Empire: All of Europe, LA, FLA, French Guinea & French West Indies KEY: Saint Dominigue (Haiti) sugar producer Problem in the French Colonies in the Caribbean Inhabitants know of Principles of the Revolution Colonists and Slaves wanted more rights
Saint Dominigue Toussaint L Ouverture 1791-1793 - Led enslaved Africans to victory over Europeans. Abolished slavery and became governor of colony in 1797. 1801 Napoleon tried & failed to take back the colony
Louisiana Territory: Napoleon/France faced by imminent war against Britain and bankruptcy REALIZATION French possessions in mainland N. America would be difficult and expensive to defend Money will finance operations in Europe Punishes British The sale assures forever the power of the United States and I have given England a rival who, sooner or later, will humble her pride 1803 - Sells Louisiana Territory to US for $15 million (less than three cents per acre)
In January 1804, Napoleon s police uncovered an assassination plot against him Napoleon used the plot to justify the re-creation of a monarchy in France Napoleon crowned himself Emperor at Notre Dame Cathedral December 1804. Then crowned his wife Joséphine as Empress.
By 1804 France had already annexed Austrian Netherlands & most of Italy. Established puppet gov ts in Switzerland & Spain Looked to expand the French empire 1801 Britain persuades Russia, Prussia, Austria & Sweden to join them to stop Napoleon
1803: Britain persuades Russia, Prussia, Austria & Sweden to join a Third Coalition against France. No action taken until 1805
"Plumb Pudding in Danger (1805). The cartoon shows William Pitt and Napoleon dividing the world between them. Pitt takes the ocean: symbolically, his fork resembles a trident. Napoleon takes Europe, with the exception of Britain, Sweden, and Russia. This division of the world symbolizes the difficulty each sides experienced in defeating the other. Napoleon possessed a great army, but he could accomplish little at sea. The British possessed a strong navy, but made little headway on the continent. Ironically enough, this etching appeared in the same year although prior to a time when both sides enjoyed their greatest victories in their respective spheres: ie, the battles of Trafalgar & Austerlitz.
Napoleon Bonaparte was determined to invade Britain To do so, Napoleon had to destroy the Royal Navy Would allow land forces to cross the English Channel. Battle of Trafalgar: October 1805 - Naval battle between the British & French British Navy led by heroic Admiral Horatio Nelson
Nelson s plan Attack the French/Spanish navies head on INSTEAD OF BROADSIDE! Splits the French fleet and surrounds them Engage enemy ships in a mêlée Nelson fatally wounded during the battle and dies on his ship.
The battle ensured the supremacy of Great Britain s Navy for the next 100 years Napoleon must give up plans for invading Great Britain Empowers Great Britain & shows that Napoleon can be beaten
December 1805 - Battle of Austerlitz (aka The Battle of the Three Emperors vs. Austria & Russia Napoleon Outnumbered 68,000 to 90,000
Napoleon gave the impression that his army was weak Deliberately evacuates The Pratzen Heights Allows Allies to attack his right & his left He holds them off He attacks the under-defended Pratzen Heights & splits / surrounds Allies and DEFEATS THEM!!
Napoleon considered Austerlitz his greatest battle. Austerlitz effectively destroys the Third Coalition Results: Treaty of Pressburg: ends the war Creates Confederation of the Rhine: collection of German states as a buffer zone between France and central What is a buffer zone?
French Empire Grows: 1810 Napoleon controls/aligned with most of Europe Alliances: Austria, Sweden, Norway The major enemy left? Great Britain French Empire reaches largest extent 1807 1812 Only non-french controlled areas of Europe: Britain, Portugal, Sweden & the Ottoman Empire