The French Revolution

Napoleon

OBJECTIVE(S):• Explain how the rule of

Napoleon Bonaparte in France an upgrade or downgrade from the rule of Louis XVI

• Identify the lasting impact(s) of Napoleon’s reign

I.I. Napoleon Seizes PowerNapoleon Seizes PowerA.A. BackgroundBackground

1.1. France was in bad France was in bad shape after the shape after the Reign of Terror.Reign of Terror.

2.2. The new government, The new government, the Directory, was the Directory, was corrupt and unable—as corrupt and unable—as the failed governments the failed governments before it—to solve the before it—to solve the problems that caused problems that caused the Revolution.the Revolution.

3.3. The French people were The French people were tired of all of the chaos. tired of all of the chaos. They were ready for a They were ready for a strong leader that would strong leader that would solve all their problems.solve all their problems.

B.B. Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to powerpower

1.1. Military hero Napoleon Military hero Napoleon Bonaparte rose to national Bonaparte rose to national prominence and in 1799 staged prominence and in 1799 staged a coup d’etat—a sudden take a coup d’etat—a sudden take over of the government by the over of the government by the military—to become the ruler military—to become the ruler of France.of France.

a. Napoleon wrote a new constitution and put it before the people in a plebiscite—when the people of an entire country vote for or against a proposal, especially on a choice of government or ruler.

b.b. Napoleon ruled as a military Napoleon ruled as a military dictator, not that unlike the dictator, not that unlike the rule of Louis XVI. But rule of Louis XVI. But because Napoleon because Napoleon attempted to deal with attempted to deal with problems more than Louis problems more than Louis did, the people supported did, the people supported him.him.

c.c. The people loved The people loved Napoleon because he Napoleon because he was able to restore law was able to restore law and order in France, and order in France, giving it the stability it giving it the stability it lacked during the lacked during the Revolution.Revolution.

2.2. Napoleon crowned Napoleon crowned himself Emperor in himself Emperor in 1804. This was also 1804. This was also approved by the approved by the people in another people in another plebiscite.plebiscite.

3.3. The Napoleonic Wars (1803—The Napoleonic Wars (1803—1815)1815)

a.a. Napoleon—regarded as Napoleon—regarded as one of history’s military one of history’s military geniuses—fought a series geniuses—fought a series of wars, building a of wars, building a European empire in European empire in process.process.

b.b. When Napoleon took over When Napoleon took over France, the country was still France, the country was still at war with a coalition—a at war with a coalition—a multi-national military force multi-national military force under a single command—of under a single command—of Europe’s hereditary rulers Europe’s hereditary rulers determined to crush the determined to crush the French Revolution.French Revolution.

1)1) Austria, the Kingdom of Austria, the Kingdom of Sardinia (Italy), the Kingdom of Sardinia (Italy), the Kingdom of Naples (Italy), Prussia Naples (Italy), Prussia (Germany), Spain, and Great (Germany), Spain, and Great Britain formed the First Britain formed the First Coalition.Coalition.

2) Napoleon defeated the coalition.

c.c. Napoleon fought a series of wars, taking over Napoleon fought a series of wars, taking over much of Europe in the process. much of Europe in the process.

1)1) The wars increased French nationalism, but The wars increased French nationalism, but the people also got weary of constantly being the people also got weary of constantly being at war.at war.

2)2) Napoleon was welcomed in most conquered Napoleon was welcomed in most conquered territories as a liberator because he freed the territories as a liberator because he freed the people from oppressive absolute monarchs. people from oppressive absolute monarchs. But it quickly turned to resentment as these But it quickly turned to resentment as these other nations didn’t want to be controlled by other nations didn’t want to be controlled by France.France.

II.II. Napoleon’s EmpireNapoleon’s EmpireA.A. Napoleon sought Napoleon sought

to dominate to dominate European European politics.politics.

1.1. He installed friends in relatives in He installed friends in relatives in charge of the countries he charge of the countries he conquered. He also told the rulers conquered. He also told the rulers in other countries what to do andin other countries what to do and—out of fear of being taken over—out of fear of being taken over—they usually listened.—they usually listened.

2.2. England was France’s chief rival.England was France’s chief rival.

a. The British and French competed not just for political influence, but also economically.

b. Napoleon sought to remove British influence over continental Europe and told all the countries he controlled not to trade with them.

c.c. This policy of not trading with England, which was This policy of not trading with England, which was part of Napoleon’s Continental System, was widely part of Napoleon’s Continental System, was widely unpopular. Many of the countries ignored it, unpopular. Many of the countries ignored it, causing conflict with Napoleon.causing conflict with Napoleon.

B.B. Napoleon also sought Napoleon also sought to rebuild a French to rebuild a French colonial empire in the colonial empire in the Caribbean and the Caribbean and the Americas.Americas.

III. The fall of Napoleon

A. Napoleon’s downfall was triggered by two bad decisions.

1.1. When the King of Spain and Portugal When the King of Spain and Portugal didn’t follow Napoleon’s edict to not didn’t follow Napoleon’s edict to not trade with Britain, Napoleon invaded. trade with Britain, Napoleon invaded. The resulting Peninsular War—during The resulting Peninsular War—during which the French struggled against which the French struggled against guerrilla warfare—ended with the guerrilla warfare—ended with the expulsion of the French from both expulsion of the French from both countries.countries.

2.2. In 1812, Napoleon was invaded Russia when In 1812, Napoleon was invaded Russia when the czar refused to comply with his demand the czar refused to comply with his demand that no one trade with England.that no one trade with England.

a.a. The French Army—the largest in the The French Army—the largest in the world at the time—quickly pushed to world at the time—quickly pushed to Moscow. Because of their past success, Moscow. Because of their past success, they thought this would be an easy they thought this would be an easy victory and didn’t even consider victory and didn’t even consider ordering winter supplies, since they ordering winter supplies, since they invaded in spring.invaded in spring.

b.b. The Russians did not surrender as The Russians did not surrender as the French expected. In fact, the the French expected. In fact, the Russians practice a type of warfare Russians practice a type of warfare called “scorched earth policy,” called “scorched earth policy,” which means that they destroyed which means that they destroyed all the resources of an area before all the resources of an area before it fell into enemy hands.it fell into enemy hands.

c.c. As the French waited for the As the French waited for the czar to surrender, the Russian czar to surrender, the Russian winter hit. Under supplied, the winter hit. Under supplied, the French Army was forced to French Army was forced to retreat in miserable conditions. retreat in miserable conditions. Napoleon lost three-quarters of Napoleon lost three-quarters of his Army in the retreat.his Army in the retreat.

B.B. Napoleon was now Napoleon was now weak, with his Army in weak, with his Army in disarray. On the retreat disarray. On the retreat from Russia, many from Russia, many troops deserted. The troops deserted. The Allies saw the chance Allies saw the chance and attacked.and attacked.

2. These Allies invaded France and removed Napoleon from power. He was exiled to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean.

1. In 1813, a coalition force of Russian, Prussian, and Austrian troops defeated Napoleon at Leipzig in modern-day Germany.

C.C. In 1815, Napoleon made a In 1815, Napoleon made a comeback. He escaped comeback. He escaped house arrest in Elba and house arrest in Elba and returned to France, taking returned to France, taking over the government over the government again. He ruled for one-again. He ruled for one-hundred more days.hundred more days.

2.2. Napoleon was again Napoleon was again removed from power and removed from power and put under house arrest on put under house arrest on the island of St. Helena, the island of St. Helena, where he died a short time where he died a short time later.later.

1.1. A coalition force led by the A coalition force led by the British defeated Napoleon at the British defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.Battle of Waterloo.

III.III. The impact of NapoleonThe impact of Napoleon

A.A. Napoleon has had Napoleon has had a lasting impact a lasting impact on European on European history for several history for several reasons.reasons.

2.2. Napoleon made some of the Napoleon made some of the ideals of the French Revolution ideals of the French Revolution part of the legal systems of part of the legal systems of Europe.Europe.

1.1. Napoleon brought back economic Napoleon brought back economic stability and law and order after stability and law and order after the chaos of the French the chaos of the French Revolution.Revolution.

1)1) It provided for legal It provided for legal equality for all social equality for all social classes.classes.

a.a. In France, Napoleon In France, Napoleon established his own law established his own law code called Code Napoleon code called Code Napoleon (or the Napoleonic Code).(or the Napoleonic Code).

2)2) It also established other It also established other key rights for all people key rights for all people that came from the ideas of that came from the ideas of the Enlightenment, such as the Enlightenment, such as freedom of religion and freedom of religion and trial by jury, etc.trial by jury, etc.

b.b. When Napoleon conquered When Napoleon conquered the other countries of the other countries of France, the Napoleonic France, the Napoleonic Code became the law in Code became the law in those territories too. Even those territories too. Even after the French left, after the French left, people’s expectation for people’s expectation for equality and rights equality and rights remained.remained.

c. Napoleon also instituted public schools run by the state. This idea also spread throughout Europe.

B.B. Napoleon helped Napoleon helped cause a general rise cause a general rise in nationalism in nationalism throughout Europe.throughout Europe.

a.a. Nationalism is the Nationalism is the belief that the belief that the people of a nation people of a nation should rule should rule themselves.themselves.

b.b. The nationalism Napoleon The nationalism Napoleon caused in the countries the caused in the countries the French conquered would later French conquered would later help cause the revolutions of help cause the revolutions of the 1800’s and the rise of the the 1800’s and the rise of the new nations of Italy and new nations of Italy and Germany in the 1870’s.Germany in the 1870’s.