Napoleonic age

• Bell Ringer

• GREEN BOOK PAGE 139

• A VIEW OF NAPOLEON’S CHARACTER

Napoleonic Age

• “Under Robespierre blood was spilled and we had bread. Now blood is no longer spilled and we have no bread. Perhaps we must spill some blood in order to have bread.”

» Quote of peasants 1795

Napoleon rise to fame

• Help put down uprising Vs. Directory

• Directory struggled • Continued to fight war vs 1st

coalition• Directory worried people would

want a military man to advanced to power

• Napoleon sent to Egypt• Ability to move troops and use of

artillery was major strength– Forced Austria to give up Northern Italy

The Egyptian Campaign:– To weaken the British trade with India– 1798 was defeated by a British navy under

Admiral Horatio Nelson, who destroyed the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile.

– Abandoning his troops in Egypt, Napoleon returned to France and received a hero’s welcome!

• Exaggerated claims of victory in Egypt

• France was losing war vs 1st coalition

• England had organized the 2nd Coalition with Austria and Russia.

• People lost faith in Directory

• With the government in disarray, Napoleon launched a successful coup d’ etat on November 9, 1799.

•How would things be different if the people of France found out that he had lost?

• “I found the crown of France on the ground and I picked it up with my sword!”

AGE OF NAPOLEON

• 1799-1814

• Agreed with ideals of Revolution

• People must follow orders from leader

Consulate

• He proclaimed himself “First Consul” [Julius Caesar’s title] and did away with the elected Assembly [appointing a Senate instead].

• Two other consuls under him– In 1802, he made himself sole “Consul for

Life.”

• New consulate was submitted to the

people in a plebiscite– People vote yes or no – Cannot make changes

• People voted for new government

What did Napoleon do for France

• Napoleonic Code

• Bank of France

• Educational System

• Concordat of 1801

• Broke up 2nd coalition

• Why would the people of France love a Dictator?

Plebiscite of 1804

• People vote for an Empire

• Need an Emperor to rule• Napoleon become

Emperor Napoleon I

• Not everyone happy with France Empire

• England was very upset

• France threaten the British commerce ,and control of the sea and its own empire

• Third Coalition formed by Britain, Austria Russia and others

• Napoleon decides to take out British fleet and invade England

Battle of Traflagar• British lead by Admiral

Horatio Nelson

• England out numbered 33-27

• “Duty or Death”

• French losses 22• British loses 0

• Kept France from invading England

Continental system

• Destroy British trade set up blockade of England

• Britain turns around and blockades France

• US caught in middle

• Napoleon wipes out the 3rd Coalition by defeating Russia and Austria at Austerlitz in December of 1805

Reorganization of Europe• Redraws map of Europe

– Austria and Prussia forced to sigh peace treaty– Russia allied with France– Control of Netherlands and Spain– Forced Denmark and Papal States into alliance– Took German States into Confederation of the

Rhine– Abolished Holy Roman Empire– Unified north Italy

• He ended serfdom and brought ideas of French Revolution

• Brought something more dangerous to Napoleon.

• NATIONALISM!!!!!!

• How is Nationalism Dangerous?

Peninsular Wars

• 1807 Portugal Refused to obey Continental System

• France sent in troops• France also took over Spain• Put Brother in charge of Spain• People oppose Napoleon• Britain sends Arthur Wellesley (Duke of

Wellington)• Drains French Resources

Russia

• 1812 Czar Alexander I Russia starts up trade with Britain

• Napoleon calls up 600,000 troops

• In spring of 1812 starts to invade Russia

• Russia’s strategy– Retreat– Scorched Earth Policy

• By fall conquered Moscow

• No one there

• No place to stay

• Temps 30 below zero

• October 19 1812 start return home

• Tough trip back home

• Only 100,000 troops make it back

• Monarchies break alliance with Napoleon

Defeats

• 4th Coalition

• England, Russian Prussian and Austria

• At battle of Leipzig French defeated

• By March 1814 allies surround Paris

• Bad to worse

• Napoleon sent to Elba and Louis XVIII put in charge (brother to Louis XVI)

Hundred days• People hate Louis rule (absolute power)• Undoes changes of Napoleon• Napoleon escapes island • March 1st 1815 meets army of Louis XVIII

on the Alps• March 20th Napoleon reaches Paris• Rules for 100 days• England and Europe unhappy• Napoleon will try to destroy coalition

before it can get organized

• Battle of Waterloo

• Defeated by Duke of Wellington and the Prussians

• Sent to the island of St. Helena

• Dies in 1821