Section III: Napoleon Bonaparte Section III: Napoleon Bonaparte (Pages 448-452)(Pages 448-452)

Section III: Napoleon Bonaparte Section III: Napoleon Bonaparte (Pages 448-452)(Pages 448-452)

This section is about:This section is about: How Napoleon rose quickly How Napoleon rose quickly

within the ranks to become within the ranks to become a general in the French a general in the French Revolutionary Army.Revolutionary Army.

How Napoleon began to How Napoleon began to play a larger role within play a larger role within FranceFrance’’s government until s government until he was named emperor for he was named emperor for life.life.

How Napoleon led How Napoleon led successful attacks against successful attacks against other European powers other European powers and built a French empire.and built a French empire.

Napoleon’s a name just about everyone’s heard several times.

Many people know one or two “facts” about him.

It’ll be nice to know more about him.

The pictures on pages 449 and 451 are pretty good descriptions of Napoleon’s image.

NapoleonNapoleon’’s Beginningss Beginnings

When the Reign of Terror When the Reign of Terror died down, most people died down, most people realized it had been a realized it had been a bad thing (lot of innocent bad thing (lot of innocent people killed).people killed).

The government was The government was shaky at the time and shaky at the time and needed a strong leader.needed a strong leader.

An army officer from An army officer from Corsica took advantage Corsica took advantage of a chaotic situation.of a chaotic situation.

Early Life and Achievements Early Life and Achievements

NapoleonNapoleon’’s family was a s family was a little important in Italy, so little important in Italy, so he got to go to a good he got to go to a good school.school.

He went to a French prep He went to a French prep school and then a military school and then a military academy (excellent math academy (excellent math and geometry student).and geometry student).

He quickly became an He quickly became an officer and took an oath of officer and took an oath of loyalty to the constitution.loyalty to the constitution.

He was even part of the He was even part of the soldiers who tried to soldiers who tried to control the angry mobs control the angry mobs after the revolution.after the revolution.

Early VictoriesEarly Victories

In 1793, France was at war In 1793, France was at war with Austria, Spain, Britain, and with Austria, Spain, Britain, and the Netherlands (along with the Netherlands (along with some civil wars in France).some civil wars in France).

This was all to keep the This was all to keep the ““RoyalistsRoyalists”” from coming back in from coming back in to France to re-gain control.to France to re-gain control.

NapoleonNapoleon’’s leadership skills s leadership skills were noticed and he was made were noticed and he was made a general.a general.

By 1794, Napoleon asked for, By 1794, Napoleon asked for, and led an attack on the and led an attack on the Austrians.Austrians.

He was now recognized and He was now recognized and praised for his abilities.praised for his abilities.

A A ““Whiff of GrapeshotWhiff of Grapeshot”” The National Convention was The National Convention was

coming up and everything coming up and everything was pretty stirred up in was pretty stirred up in France.France.

Napoleon was asked to keep Napoleon was asked to keep order (and he was given all order (and he was given all of Parisof Paris’’ soldiers to work soldiers to work with).with).

When the crowd became too When the crowd became too worked up, Napoleon had his worked up, Napoleon had his men shoot at them – at close men shoot at them – at close range with what was called range with what was called ““grapeshot.grapeshot.””

This would wound a lot of This would wound a lot of people (lots of blood) but people (lots of blood) but usually didnusually didn’’t kill. t kill.

It worked – the Royalists It worked – the Royalists didndidn’’t take over the t take over the convention – and Napoleon convention – and Napoleon had become famous.had become famous.

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Napoleon wanted more and Napoleon wanted more and asked to be put in charge asked to be put in charge of a campaign in Italy.of a campaign in Italy.

He wanted to invade and He wanted to invade and make it part of France.make it part of France.

The convention agreed to The convention agreed to his plan but… this was his plan but… this was different for France.different for France.

They were now changing They were now changing their policy of only their policy of only defending – now they were defending – now they were attacking.attacking.

Napoleon was successful Napoleon was successful (and the with Austria and (and the with Austria and then Belgium).then Belgium).

Napoleon was FranceNapoleon was France’’s s greatest military hero.greatest military hero.

In 1797 he returned to In 1797 he returned to Paris – ready to create a Paris – ready to create a new government.new government.

The DirectoryThe Directoryand… Napoleonand… Napoleon’’s Rise to Powers Rise to Power

People eventually got tired People eventually got tired of the National Convention of the National Convention (the Reign of Terror, too (the Reign of Terror, too many many ““RoyalistsRoyalists””).).

They were replaced with They were replaced with ““the the Directory.Directory.””

2/32/3’’s of the Directory were s of the Directory were the former National the former National Convention – the other 1/3 Convention – the other 1/3 was elected.was elected.

This was not a good group – This was not a good group – they were mostly concerned they were mostly concerned with keeping their power with keeping their power and not with changing and not with changing France into a France into a republicrepublic..

………………………………A government where people pick leaders to represent them

The Directory passed laws The Directory passed laws against against ““emigresemigres”” trying to trying to return to France.return to France.

They were mostly former They were mostly former Second Estate aristocrats.Second Estate aristocrats.

Eventually laws were Eventually laws were passed which allowed them passed which allowed them to come back, but they to come back, but they could have no political could have no political rights.rights.

The Directory also went The Directory also went after the First Estate.after the First Estate.

Thousands of priests were Thousands of priests were arrested, deported, or sent arrested, deported, or sent to prison in other places.to prison in other places.

The Directory also tried to The Directory also tried to control the Roman Catholic control the Roman Catholic Church (who had been Church (who had been hooked in with the old hooked in with the old monarchs).monarchs).

returning “immigrants”

Rise to First ConsulRise to First Consul

Napoleon was rewarded for Napoleon was rewarded for his victories: made a his victories: made a member of member of ““the Institutethe Institute”” – – for important men.for important men.

He was bored – he wanted He was bored – he wanted some some ““actionaction””

He decided to attack Great He decided to attack Great Britain (in Egypt).Britain (in Egypt).

This was okay with the This was okay with the other people of the other people of the Directory – they wanted Directory – they wanted him to leave Paris and stop him to leave Paris and stop trying to take control there.trying to take control there.

He didnHe didn’’t do too well t do too well against the British and against the British and came home.came home.

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France's Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) invaded Egypt in July 1798 with 400 ships and 55,000 soldiers in an attempt to control the commercial land route to India and deal a significant blow to Britain's economy. During the relatively brief period of the French occupation (his troops surrendered to the British in September 1801), Napoleon encouraged more than 150 artists, engineers, mathematicians, naturalists and scientists (savants) to record with exacting precision Egypt's buildings, its monuments, flora, fauna and terrain as well as the region's society and forms of commerce.

While Napoleon was in While Napoleon was in Egypt, the Directory was Egypt, the Directory was having problems.having problems.

They couldnThey couldn’’t get a t get a constitution written.constitution written.

The citizens didnThe citizens didn’’t trust t trust them.them.

It was decided to dissolve It was decided to dissolve the Directory – but whothe Directory – but who’’d d be in charge?be in charge?

Three men – called counsuls.

You thought Napoleon, didn’t you?

He was one of the consuls though – and the most powerful – the only one who could control the people.

The Code NapoleonThe Code Napoleon

Napoleon completely Napoleon completely organized the French organized the French government on all levels.government on all levels.

He set up a school system.He set up a school system. He formed a national bank.He formed a national bank. He signed a concordat He signed a concordat

(agreement) with the Pope (agreement) with the Pope that the French Church that the French Church would be under Napoleonwould be under Napoleon’’s s control.control.

He pretty much made up the He pretty much made up the code of laws France still uses code of laws France still uses today – The Code Napoleon.today – The Code Napoleon.

……………………………………....

The Code NapoleonThe Code Napoleon gave gave the citizens the right to own the citizens the right to own property, the right to make property, the right to make contracts, and the equal contracts, and the equal application of the law to all application of the law to all citizens.citizens.

Napoleon combined the Napoleon combined the good old traditions with the good old traditions with the ideas of the new one.ideas of the new one.

By 1802, Napoleon had By 1802, Napoleon had become First Consul, a become First Consul, a military dictator, and the military dictator, and the sole ruler of France – sole ruler of France – named: Napoleon I: named: Napoleon I: Emperor of France for Life.Emperor of France for Life.

He crowned himself – so it He crowned himself – so it didndidn’’t look like anyone else t look like anyone else made him leader or that he made him leader or that he owed anyone for doing it.owed anyone for doing it.

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NapoleonNapoleon’’s Victoriess Victories DonDon’’t forget: Napoleon was t forget: Napoleon was

a military man. a military man. He was constantly leading He was constantly leading

him men into battle (on him men into battle (on horseback).horseback).

He never fought a war in He never fought a war in which he was attacked first.which he was attacked first.

He always knew his enemies He always knew his enemies weak spots and attacked weak spots and attacked there first.there first.

He always made good peace He always made good peace agreements for France.agreements for France.

Napoleon and France fought: Napoleon and France fought: the Austrians and the the Austrians and the Russians, beating both.Russians, beating both.

It seemed like France was It seemed like France was unstoppable.unstoppable.