Napoleon Forges Napoleon Forges an Empirean Empire

Napoleon BonaparteNapoleon Bonaparte 5ft, 3 inches tall5ft, 3 inches tall One of the worldOne of the world’’s s

military geniuses military geniuses During the Revolution, During the Revolution,

Napoleon joined the new Napoleon joined the new governmentgovernment’’s armys army

Royalists stormed the Royalists stormed the National Convention, National Convention, and Napoleon received and Napoleon received orders to defend the orders to defend the ConventionConvention

Becomes a heroBecomes a hero

1796, the Directory appoints Napoleon to lead 1796, the Directory appoints Napoleon to lead an army against Austria and the kingdom of an army against Austria and the kingdom of SardiniaSardinia

NapoleonNapoleon’’s army won a series of battles in s army won a series of battles in Italy, crushing the threat of Austrian troops to Italy, crushing the threat of Austrian troops to FranceFrance

The newspapers praise NapoleonThe newspapers praise Napoleon’’s victoriess victories

Next, NapoleonNext, Napoleon’’s army moved on to Egypt to s army moved on to Egypt to disrupt trade between Britain and Indiadisrupt trade between Britain and India

NapoleonNapoleon’’s series of victories ends, and his s series of victories ends, and his luck ran outluck ran out

His troops were defeated by British, but His troops were defeated by British, but Napoleon was able to keep this defeat from the Napoleon was able to keep this defeat from the presspress

Napoleon vs. NelsonNapoleon vs. Nelson

Directory Loses ControlDirectory Loses Control The French people had lost confidence in The French people had lost confidence in

the Directorythe Directory Napoleon puts a plan in motionNapoleon puts a plan in motion His troops drove out the members of the His troops drove out the members of the

legislature and then voted to dissolve the legislature and then voted to dissolve the DirectoryDirectory

Napoleon assumes dictatorial powers as Napoleon assumes dictatorial powers as 1 of 3 consuls1 of 3 consuls

Sudden seizure of power called a Sudden seizure of power called a coup coup d’etatd’etat

NapoleonNapoleon’’s Coup ds Coup d’’EtatEtat

Europe at PeaceEurope at Peace

France was still at warFrance was still at war 1799 Britain, Austria and Russia join to drive 1799 Britain, Austria and Russia join to drive

Napoleon from powerNapoleon from power By 1802, as a result of war and diplomacy, all 3 By 1802, as a result of war and diplomacy, all 3

countries had signed peace agreements with countries had signed peace agreements with France and Europe was at peace for the first France and Europe was at peace for the first time in 10 years.time in 10 years.

Napoleon could now focus on restoring Napoleon could now focus on restoring FranceFrance

To stabilize the economy:To stabilize the economy: Sets up tax collection and national bankSets up tax collection and national bank Dismissed corrupt officialsDismissed corrupt officials Sets up Sets up lycéeslycées, government run public schools to , government run public schools to

train officialstrain officials Signed Signed concordatconcordat (agreement) with (agreement) with

Pope which restores the church in Pope which restores the church in FranceFrance Concordat gains Napoleon support from Concordat gains Napoleon support from

church and the Frenchchurch and the French

Napoleon Restores France

Napoleonic CodeNapoleonic Code

He was most proud of Napoleonic Code, gave He was most proud of Napoleonic Code, gave France a uniform set of lawsFrance a uniform set of laws

-eliminated many injustices-eliminated many injustices-limited and promoted order and authority over -limited and promoted order and authority over individual rightsindividual rights-freedom of speech and press restricted, as -freedom of speech and press restricted, as well as womenwell as women’’s rightss rights-restored slavery in French colonies in the -restored slavery in French colonies in the Caribbean where slavery had been abolishedCaribbean where slavery had been abolished

Napoleon Crowned as Napoleon Crowned as EmperorEmperor

In 1804, In 1804, Napoleon Napoleon makes makes himself himself emperoremperor

Napoleon Creates an Napoleon Creates an EmpireEmpire

Napoleon wants to create an empire and Napoleon wants to create an empire and control all of Europe control all of Europe and reassert French and reassert French power in the Americaspower in the Americas Napoleon sends troops to St. Domingue to put down Napoleon sends troops to St. Domingue to put down

slave rebellionslave rebellion Thousands of soldiers die from yellow feverThousands of soldiers die from yellow fever

Napoleon decides to cut his losses in the AmericasNapoleon decides to cut his losses in the Americas

Louisiana PurchaseLouisiana Purchase He offers to sell all of the Louisiana territory He offers to sell all of the Louisiana territory

to the U.S. for $15 million.to the U.S. for $15 million. This benefited Napoleon 2 ways:This benefited Napoleon 2 ways:

1) France gains money to finance 1) France gains money to finance operations in Europeoperations in Europe

2) punished Britain by giving them another 2) punished Britain by giving them another rival (the U.S.)rival (the U.S.)

Napoleon Focuses on Napoleon Focuses on Conquering EuropeConquering Europe

Napoleon had already annexed the Napoleon had already annexed the Austrian Netherlands, parts of Italy and Austrian Netherlands, parts of Italy and set up a puppet government in set up a puppet government in SwitzerlandSwitzerland

Fearful of his ambitions, Britain Fearful of his ambitions, Britain persuaded Russia, Austria and Sweden persuaded Russia, Austria and Sweden to join against Franceto join against France

Napoleon has a series of brilliant battles Napoleon has a series of brilliant battles and crushes his oppositionand crushes his opposition

All rulers sign a peace treaty with France All rulers sign a peace treaty with France except Britainexcept Britain

Napoleon has the biggest empire since Napoleon has the biggest empire since the Romansthe Romans

The only threat is BritainThe only threat is Britain’’s Navys Navy

Hey… Why do you think Britain needs to

have a strong Navy??

Yep- it’s an island and surrounded by water!

Yep- it’s an island and surrounded by water!

In his war against the third coalition, In his war against the third coalition, Napoleon lost just one major battle, the Napoleon lost just one major battle, the Battle of TrafalgarBattle of Trafalgar

This naval defeat was more important This naval defeat was more important than all of Napoleonthan all of Napoleon’’s victories on lands victories on land

1804 off coast of Spain1804 off coast of Spain British led by Admiral NelsonBritish led by Admiral Nelson Nelson outmaneuvered the much bigger fleet Nelson outmaneuvered the much bigger fleet

of French-Spanish fleetof French-Spanish fleet Destruction of French fleets had 2 major Destruction of French fleets had 2 major

results:results:1) assured supremacy of British navy for the 1) assured supremacy of British navy for the next hundred yearsnext hundred years2) Napoleon had to give up idea of invading 2) Napoleon had to give up idea of invading BritainBritain

Battle of TrafalgarBattle of Trafalgar

NapoleonNapoleon’’s Empires Empire

By 1812, the only major European countries By 1812, the only major European countries free from Napoleonfree from Napoleon’’s control were Britain, s control were Britain, Ottoman Empire, Portugal and SwedenOttoman Empire, Portugal and Sweden

Other countries in Europe had rulers who were Other countries in Europe had rulers who were puppets of Napoleons, or even relatedpuppets of Napoleons, or even related

French Empire is huge, but unstable.French Empire is huge, but unstable. Napoleon was able to maintain the empire for Napoleon was able to maintain the empire for

just 5 years (1807-1812), but caused the just 5 years (1807-1812), but caused the collapse himself collapse himself