Napoleon Bonaparte A military genius,

seizes power in France and makes himself

emperor

Who is Napoleon and how did he gain so much power?

• Born in Corsica, went to military school and joined the army

• By 1795 he has made his way to France and helps defeat the royalist when they attack the National Convention- helps beat Italy and hides defeats in Egypt from the public

• Coup d'état:– November 1799- he seizes power – Beats back attacks from England, Russia and Austria,

who all join forces to fight against him

Napoleons Reforms

• Vote of approval and new constitution via plebiscite- vote of the people

• He creates a national bank and efficient tax collection system

• Establishes lycees- government run public schools to train officials

• Signs Concordat- an agreement restoring Catholicism in France

• Napoleonic Code- uniform set of laws

Napoleon crowns HIMSELF emperor in December 1804

Napoleon Creates an Empire

• Sells the Louisiana Territory to U.S. for $15 million in 1803 – helps him focus on taking over Europe

• Britain, Russia, Austria, Sweden join forces• Napoleon crushes most opponents, forcing

Austria, Russia and Sweden to sign peace treaties • 1805-Battle of Trafalgar- Napoleon tries to attack

England – but their naval forces prove too strong, Napoleon gives up invading England

Napoleon’s Empire Collapses: Costly Mistakes

• Blockade and Continental System fail to impact England • Peninsular War: invades Spain to attack Portugal –

Spain protests, Napoleon puts brother in as king – Spain uses guerrilla warfare to fight French troops – losing 300,000 soldiers

• Invasion of Russia: Invades with 420,000 -600,000 men in June 1812- Russians use Scorched-earth policy- by September Napoleon reaches Moscow only to find it burning, he must retreat across Europe in harsh winter conditions – only 100,000 men survive

Napoleon’s Downfall

• With only a small fraction of his army remaining, Napoleon is finally defeated by England, Prussia, Sweden, Russia and Austria – exiled to Elba

• Hundred Days!– Napoleon returns with help from loyal soldiers,

overthrows Louis XVIII– Battle of Waterloo- England and Prussian forces

defeat Napoleon, for good – exiled further away to St. Helena

Congress of Vienna

• A meeting intended to restore order and reestablish peace in Europe

• European nations do not want to carve up France but weaken it while making surrounding nations stronger

• Strengthened Legitimacy- restoring monarchs to their thrones

• Peace lasts almost 40 years