How did Napoleon Bonaparte become a hero in France? How was Napoleon able to conquer such a large...
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Transcript of How did Napoleon Bonaparte become a hero in France? How was Napoleon able to conquer such a large...
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS How did Napoleon Bonaparte become a
hero in France? How was Napoleon able to conquer such
a large empire? What forces led to the eventual collapse
of Napoleon’s empire? Was Napoleon a hero of the French
Revolution or a dictator interested in only in glory for himself?
THE CHARACTER A born leader, with a sense of his own
importance A sense of pride and honor Charismatic Generous Smaller physically than the other boys,
but always in fights- a Corsican trait Extraordinary intelligence (photographic
memory?) Above all…ambitious!
NAPOLEON’S RISE TO POWER Born in 1769 on the Mediterranean
island of Corsica (France seized Corsica from Italy)
Parents were nobles, but not wealthy Seen as an outsider because of his
Corsican birth Attended a French military academy @
age 16; becomes a lieutenant in the artillery
Fought on the side of the revolutionaries during the French Revolution
October 1795, Napoleon “saves” the revolution by protecting the National Convention from royalists. Becomes the hero of the hour!
VICTORIES ABROAD! 1796- Napoleon
takes a ragtag French army, whips them into shape, and defeats superior Austrian forces in northern Italy
VICTORIES ABROAD…EGYPT??? 1798-1801
Napoleon goes to Egypt in order to:protect French
trade interests disrupt British
trade in India establish
scientific enterprise in the region-the Rosetta Stone is discovered!
VICTORY ON LAND; DEFEAT AT SEA
LAND SEA
Napoleon and French forces defeat enemy forces at the “Battle of the Pyramids”
Napoleon’s forces continue to occupy Egypt but never really control it completely
British Navy defeats the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile
13 out of 17 French ships either captured or destroyed; remaining four ships put to flight
Napoleon abandons his army and returns to France “a hero”
TIME FOR CHANGE By 1799, France is facing inflation,
corruption, and inefficiency under the Directory government
Napoleon returns France from Egypt as a hero and is urged by his friends to seize power
Coup d'état- a sudden seizure of power Napoleon and two others name
themselves “consuls” with Napoleon taking the title of First Consul. He basically assumes dictatorial power!
Many consider this the unofficial end of the French Revolution
WAR AND DIPLOMACY EQUALS PEACE From 1799 to 1802, Napoleon leads
French forces to victory over British, Austrian, and Russian forces.
War and Diplomacy allows France to have temporary peace for the first time in ten years!
1802- Napoleon can now focus on his domestic agenda for France
NAPOLEON RULES FRANCE Napoleon does everything under the
guise of constitutional powerUses the plebiscite (vote of the people) to
get a new constitution approvedNapoleon is named Consul for Life (the
other two consuls are discarded!) Napoleon does everything in the name
of the Revolution. Three areas to be addressed:The economyThe Catholic ChurchThe System of Law
ECONOMIC CHANGES Napoleon sets up an efficient system of tax
collection Builds up France’s infrastructure- roads,
sewers A national banking system is established Ends corruption and inefficiency in
government by dismissing corrupt officials Lycees (government-run public schools) are
set up to provide educated, well-trained officials for the government. Open to males of all backgrounds Appointed to government position based upon
merit, not family connections.
RELIGIOUS CHANGES Position of the Church is restored The Concordat of 1801 (agreement) is
signed, establishing a new relationship between the church and state.
The government recognizes the influence of the Catholic Church, but rejects Church control in national affairs
When Napoleon abolished serfdom he took church-owned lands and distributed it to the peasants
CHANGES IN LAW Napoleon creates a comprehensive
system of laws, the Napoleonic Code All men are equal under the law
(sorry ladies ) The new law system, however, restricts
freedom of the press and freedom of speech
The new law code also restores slavery in French colonies, something that had been eliminated by the Revolution
And of course…
NAPOLEON CROWNED AS EMPEROR Napoleon becomes so popular, he
decides to make himself emperor (so much for the Revolution!)
December 2, 1804- Napoleon is crowned emperor.He did take the crown out of the pope’s
hands and place it on his own head (symbolizing that the Church had no control over him); but this part of the coronation ceremony had already been pre-arranged and was not a surprise
TIME FOR EMPIRE BUILDING!French Colonies in the Americas: Guiana (S. America - still a French
colony) Saint-Domingue (Haiti) (Caribbean)
Enslaved Africans in Haiti fight for their freedom (influence of the French Revolution)
Toussaint L’Ouverture leads a successful rebellion; French soldiers ravaged by disease
Louisiana territories (N. America)Napoleon cuts his losses in America and
sells the Louisiana Territory to the United States
Money is used to finance his European wars
Haitian Independence, 1792-1804
Haitian Independence, 1792-1804
Toussaint L’OuvertureToussaint L’Ouverture
Louisiana Purchase, 1803Louisiana Purchase, 1803
$15,000,000 (Less than 3 cents per acre!)$15,000,000 (Less than 3 cents per acre!)
CONQUERING EUROPE Napoleon annexed the Austrian Netherlands
and parts of Italy; also set up a puppet government in Switzerland
Britain persuades Russia, Austria and Sweden to join the Third Coalition against France
Battle of Austerlitz, 1805 Napoleon at his best Use of artillery and the “divide and conquer”
tactic in order to defeat a force much larger than his own
Austria, Prussia and Russia are forced to sign peace treaties with France
But the thorn in Napoleon’s side-Great Britain- remains!
Napoleon’s Family Rules!Napoleon’s Family Rules!
e Jerome Bonaparte - King of Westphalia.e Joseph Bonaparte - King of Spaine Louis Bonaparte - King of Hollande Pauline Bonaparte - Princess of Italye Napoléon Francis Joseph Charles - King
of Romee Elisa Bonaparte - Grand Duchess of
Tuscanye Caroline Bonaparte - Queen of Naples
BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR, 1805 Napoleon
amasses an army of 180,000 men and plans to invade Great Britain
However, before he can invade, he must achieve naval superiority!
BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR, CONT. Admiral Horatio Nelson of
Great Britain defeats the combined French and Spanish fleets
Nelson uses the Napoleonic tactic of “divide and conquer”
Results: French navy is
destroyed Any hope of invading
Britain is dashed Britain gains naval
supremacy for the next 100 years
NAPOLEON REACHES HIS PEAK FROM 1807-1812…But, Problems Are Forming: Napoleon’s control over other countries
makes them realize that they are more loyal to their own people than Napoleon (nationalism)
France’s Empire is huge and difficult to control
Napoleon was his own worst enemy- Had an insatiable appetite for glory!
…AND THEN THINGS FALL APART!Three Costly Mistakes:1. The Continental System2. The Peninsular War (Spain)3. The Invasion of Russia
But before we get to that…
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO MY EMPIRE IF I DIE?
No male heir means
“Au revoir, fair Josephine” Bonjour, Marie Louise!
NOW ON TO THE COLLAPSE! Mistake #1- The Continental System
Napoleon sets up a blockade of Europe’s ports, called the Continental System It was designed to destroy Great Britain’s
commercial and industrial economy It was also supposed to make Europe more self-
sufficientCouple of problems, though…
The Blockade wasn’t tight enough, smugglers got through and Napoleon’s “allies” didn’t always enforce the blockade (even his own brothers!)
Great Britain responded by setting up a naval blockade of Europe which was much more effective.
All of Europe suffered shortages, and blamed Napoleon
THE COLLAPSE, CONTINUED… Mistake # 2- The Peninsular War
Napoleon tried to force Portugal to enforce the Continental System, and attempted to invade them by going through Spain (Iberian Peninsula).
When the people of Spain resist, Napoleon removes the Spanish king and places his brother Joseph on the throne
Spanish peasants (with a lot of help from the British) fight a guerilla war against the French for six years, pinning down tens of thousands of French troops.
Eventually, Napoleon loses about 300,000 men
Encouraged nationalism in other conquered countries like Germany and Italy
THE COLLAPSE CONTINUED…Mistake #3- The Invasion of Russia,
1812Invading Russia = Losing Prospect!
Napoleon and Czar of Russia were alliesNapoleon thought that Czar Alexander was
selling grain to Britain behind his backNapoleon and Czar Alexander both wanted
PolandNapoleon decided to invade Russia
Napoléon Invades Russia: 1812
Napoléon Invades Russia: 1812
614,000 French troops614,000 French troops
INVASION OF RUSSIA, CONT’D. June, 1812: 420,000 Grand Army
leaves for RussiaAll drafted from throughout Europe and
not loyal to Napoleon
Russians refuse to engage Napoleon head-on and retreat deeper and deeper into Russia, extending Napoleon’s supply lines
Scorched Earth Policy: Russians destroyed EVERYTHING in Napoleon’s path: How do you feed an army of almost ½ million men?
INVASION OF RUSSIA, CONT’D. Russians finally engage Napoleon’s
troops at the Battle of BorodinoApproximately 44,000 Russian deaths;
35,000 French losses (Maybe the bloodiest day in history up to that point!)
Russian Army loses, but manages to withstand the French onslaught
Napoleon: “The most terrible of all my battles was the one before Moscow. The French showed themselves to be worthy of victory, but the Russians showed themselves worthy of being invincible.”
I’M WAAAAAAAITING… Napoleon’s forces enter Moscow on
September 14, 1812 Retreating Russian cossacks provide
Napoleon with an empty victory- they burn the city!
Napoleon waits one month for the keys to the city and a negotiation to end the war
But nobody shows up-except … “General Winter”
Napoleon’s Retreat from Moscow
October 18, 1812
Napoleon’s Retreat from Moscow
October 18, 1812
100,000 French troops retreat—10,000 survive!100,000 French troops retreat—10,000 survive!
THE RETREAT FROM RUSSIA Oct./Nov. 1812 - Ordered retreat from
MoscowSnows began to fallBarefoot, starving soldiers attacked by
RussiansTemperature: on one day, -30º: Birds fell
dead from sky Mid-December 1812: Remaining 10,000
soldiers left Russia
NAPOLEON’S DOWNFALL Sensing Napoleon’s weakness, Britain,
Russia, Prussia, Sweden and later Austria, join forces and go on the attack!
Battle of Leipzig, October 1813 Perhaps the largest of the Napoleonic WarsMost of Napoleon’s troops are untrained
and ill-prepared conscriptsNapoleon gets crushed and retreats to
France Paris is captured by Coalition forces in
March 1814!
GOODBYE, NAPOLEON (FOR NOW!)
April 11, 1814- Napoleon is forced to abdicate (give up his throne)
The Treaty of Fontainebleau exiles Napoleon to the tiny island of Elba (off the coast of Italy) with a force of 1,000 men
Royalists assume control of France and install Louis XVIII (the brother of Louis XVI) as the new King of France
A DOOR OPENS FOR NAPOLEON TO RETURN… Louis XVIII becomes very unpopular
because he tries to undo many of the changes brought about by the French Revolution
Sensing a window of opportunity, Napoleon escapes Elba in March 1815 and returns to France
Louis sends forces to intercept Napoleon but each time they end up joining him instead!
Napoleon marches on to Paris; Louis XVIII flees. His return to power is known as “The Hundred Days”
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO
Napoleon reaches out with a peace offer to his former foes, but they reject it and gather their armies to face Napoleon
On June 18, 1815, Napoleon meets the combined forces of Prussia and Great Britain (led by Duke of Wellington -Lord Arthur Wellesley) at Waterloo, Belgium and is defeated. A severe rainstorm the night before created muddy conditions and did not allow Napoleon to maneuver as easily
GONE FOR GOOD Napoleon abdicates a second time, this
time to the island of St. Helena, off the west coast of Africa
He died six years later (1821) of “stomach cancer”- many believe it was arsenic poisoning!
After all of this, what was Napoleon’s legacy?
NAPOLEON’S LEGACY: HERO OF THE REVOLUTION OR DICTATOR?
HeroConquered most
of Europe and redrew its map
Brought stability to France after the revolution
Created a new code of laws still in use today
VillainDid not allow
freedom of speech or press
Took France to war to satisfy his desire for glory
Wreaked havoc on Europe, causing millions of deaths