napoleon creates an empire. napoleon seizes power born in 1769 on the island of corsica. sent to...
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Napoleon Creates an Empire
Napoleon seizes power
Born in 1769 on the island of Corsica. Sent to military school at the age of 9 1785 – finished school and became a
lieutenant in the artillery When the revolution broke out, he joined the
army of the new government
Napoleon
October 1795 – he was handed a chance of glory When royalist rebels marched on the National
Convention, an official told Napoleon to defend the delegates.
He greeted the royalists with a cannonade. In minutes, the royalists fled in panic and
confusion. He became a hero and was hailed throughout Paris
as the savior of the French republic
Napoleon
1796 – the Directory appointed Napoleon to lead a French army against Austria and Sardinia.
He crossed the Alps and won a series of remarkable victories in Italy
To protect French trade interests and disrupt British trade with India, he led an expedition to Egypt.
Did not repeat the same success he had in Europe.
These defeats did not hit newspapers and he remained a great hero.
Napoleon
1799 – Directory lost control of the political situation and the confidence of the people of France.
After he returned from Egypt, he was urged to seize political power.
His first action was in November 1799.
Under his command, troops surrounded the national legislature and drove out most of its members.
It was then voted upon to dissolved the Directory.
Established three consuls, one of whom was Napoleon
Napoleon seizes power
Napoleon took the title of the first consul and assumed the powers of a dictator.
This seizure of power is known as a coup, or a blow to the state
During this time, France is still at war
1799 – Britain, Austria, and Russia joined forces to drive Napoleon from power.
Eventually, the countries signed peace agreements
Europe was finally at peace for the first time in 10 years by 1802
Napoleon begins to focus on restoring order in France
Napoleon’s rule
He pretended to be the constitutionally chosen leader of a free republic in the beginning.
1800 – a plebiscite, vote of the people, was held to approve a new constitution.
Due to the need for a strong leader, people voted in favor of the constitution. All power granted to Napoleon
Kept many of the changes that came with the Revolution
Supported laws that would strengthen the central gov’t and achieve some goals of the Revolution
Restoring Order
First task – get the economy on solid footing.
Set up an efficient tax collection and established a national banking system.
As well as a steady supply of tax money, these actions promoted financial management and better control of the economy.
Also wanted to end corruption and inefficiency in gov’t
Dismissed corrupt officials and set up lycees, gov’t run public schools.
Open to male students of all backgrounds and appointed public office based on merit.
Restoring Order
Disregarded changes when it came to religion Clergy and peasants wanted to restore the position of
Church in France As a result, Napoleon signed a concordat, agreement,
with Pope Pius VII. Established a new relationship between church and
state. Recognized the influence of the Church, but rejected
the Church control in national affairs.
Restoring Order
Napoleon gained support from the concordat of the Church as well as the French people.
Created a system of laws, the Napoleonic Code
Gave the country a uniform set of laws and eliminated many injustices.
It limited liberty and promoted order and authority over individual rights. (Freedom of speech and press were restricted)
Restored slavery in the French colonies of the Caribbean
Napoleon creates an Empire
1804 – made himself emperor and French people supported him.
He was crowned by the pope and it signaled he was more powerful than the church
1801 – Napoleon wanted to take back the colony Saint Domingue and restore its sugar industry. The rebels were fierce fighters and it was a failure for Napoleon.
Napoleon eventually cuts ties with America.
He sells the Louisiana territory to the US for $15 million
Conquering Europe
After cutting ties with America, focuses on Europe.
Annexed Austrian Netherlands and part of Italy.
Looked to expand even further.
Britain persuaded Russia, Austria, and Sweden to join against France due to fear.
Napoleon crushed the opposition in a series of brilliant battles
The commanders of the enemies could not predict his next move and often took heavy losses
Primary Source
Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, he says “Soliders! I am pleased with you. On the day of Austerlitz, you justified everything that I was expecting of you…in less than four hours, an army of 100,000 men, commanded by emperors of Russia and Austria was cut up and dispersed…120 pieces of artillery, 20 generals, and more than 30,000 men taken prisoner – such are the results of this day which will forever be famous…And it will be enough for you to say “I was at Austerlitz” to hear the reply: “There is a brave man!”
Napoleon’s Empire Succeeds
Napoleon’s successes forced Austria, Prussia, and Russia to sign peace treaties.
It also enabled him to build the largest empire in Europe since Rome. His only other major enemy was Britain
To create the European empire, he had one major defeat – Battle of Trafalgar.
It was a naval defeat that was more important than all his victories on land.
Took place in 1805 off the southwest coast of Spain
Battle of Trafalgar
British commander, Horatio Nelson, was brilliant in warfare at sea.
He split the French fleet and captured many ships
Two major results from this
Ensured supremacy of British navy
Forced Napoleon to give up his plans of invading Britain
Due to his efforts to crush Britain, it eventually leads to his downfall
The French Empire
Napoleon’s victories in the first decade of the 1800’s had given him mastery over most of Europe
Only countries free of French control – Britain, Portugal, Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire.
The empire was huge, but very unstable Napoleon was able to control the empire for only 5
years until 1812.
Napoleon’s Mistakes
His own personality was his greatest danger
His desire for power raised him to great heights and this led to his doom
1806 – He set up a blockade to prevent all traded and communication with Great Britain
Was meant to make continental Europe more self-sufficient
It was not a tight blockade and people were able to smuggle items
British responded with their own blockade, which was stronger due to its navy
British would also stop neutral ships going to Europe and forced them to sail to a British port
Peninsular War
US ships were stopped by the British navy and this angered the US and the US Congress declared war on Britain in 1812
1808 – Napoleon made a second mistake
Sent an invasion force through Spain to capture Portugal
Spanish people protested this action.
In response, Napoleon removed the Spanish King and put his own brother in power.
This again outraged the Spanish people and they also feared Napoleon would attack the church.
Peninsular War
For six years, Spanish peasant fighters, guerillas, would strike at the French army in Spain
British then sent troops to aid the Spanish
Napoleon lost 300,000 men during this war. Weakened the French Empire
In Spain and elsewhere, nationalism was becoming a powerful weapon against Napoleon. Nationalism was loyalty to one’s country
People began to feel abused by the French conqueror
His biggest mistakes was in 1812, when he invaded Russia
Invasion of Russia
Alexander I was Napoleon’s ally, but he refused to stop selling grain to Britain
They both also suspected each other of having competing designs on Poland.
This resulted in the breakdown of their friendship and Napoleon decided to invade Russia
June 1812 – Napoleon and an army of 420,000 marched into Russia
As he advanced, Alexander pulled back his troops, refusing to fight an equal battle.
Practiced Scorched-Earth policy – burned grain field and killed live-stock
Invasion of Russia
September 7, 1812, armies clashed at Battle of Borodino – the Russian fell back and Napoleon moved to Moscow.
After entering Moscow, 7 days later, the city was in flames.
Alexander destroyed the city instead of allowing Napoleon to capture it
In the middle of October, he decided to move back toward France
His enemies were quick to take advantage of his weakness.
Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Sweden joined forces against him
Austria later declared war
In a few months, Napoleon had raised another army
Napoleon’s Downfall
His troops were mostly untrained and ill-prepared for battle.
October 1813 – faced the allied forces in Leipzig, Germany
Easily was defeated and French resistance crumbled quickly
January 1814 – allied forces pushing towards Paris and the King of Prussia and Alexander I of Russia led a parade through the French capital
Napoleon wanted to continue fighting, but his generals refused
April 1814 – he surrendered and gave up his throne
Napoleon was given a small pension and exiled to Elba.
Louis XVI’s brother, Louis XVIII assumed the throne
Hundreds Days
He quickly became unpopular, especially among the peasants and they suspected him of undoing the Revolution’s land reforms
This news was all Napoleon needed to try and regain power.
Within days, Napoleon marched to Paris and was again emperor of France
The European allies quickly marshaled their armies. The British army prepared for the Battle at Waterloo
June 18, 1815 – he attacked and the British defended their ground all day.
Two days later, his troops gave way and the British and Prussian forces chased them from the field.
This was his last bid for power – the Hundred Days
Defeat
Napoleon was sent to St. Helena.
He lived there for six years, eventually dying in 1812 from a stomach ailment