Napoleon Forges an EmpireChapter 23 Section 3

I Napoleon Grasps the PowerA. hero of the Hour

• Napoleon was a lieutenant and joined the army of the new gov’t when the Rev. broke out• Napoleon successfully defended

delegates of the National Conventionhailed as the savior of the French republic• Appointed to lead French army against

Austria

• Victories in Italian Alps “the general”= Napoleon

B. Coup d'état • Napoleon created plot to take over control• He was appointed head of army then

drove out members of one chamber of the national legislature

• Legislature voted to dissolve the Directory and established a group of 3 consuls• Napoleon seized doctoral powers as

the 1st consul of French rep.• Coup d'état (“blow of state”)=

sudden seizure of power AKA a coup

• At the time of Napoleon’s coup, France was still at war• 2nd Coalition of anti French powers formed

• All 3 actions sign peace treaties w/ France• Napoleon now free to focus on restoring order to France

II Napoleon Rules FranceA. Restoring Order at Home• Plebiscite was held to approve a new constitution (4th in 8 yrs.)• Plebiscite= vote of the people

• Napoleon had order and stability in his rule• Kept many changes from the revolution

• His 1st focus was the economy• Set up efficient tax collecting & national bankbetter control of econ

• 2nd was to reduce gov’t corruption & improve gov’t services• Fired corrupt officials & set up lycees= gov’t run public schools

• All children edu. Togetherappointed to pub. Office based on merit rather than fam. Connections• Peasants and clergy still wanted to return power

of church in France• Napoleon signs concordat (agreement)= gov’t

recognize influence of church but rejected church control in Nat'l affairsearned him support of church & majority of French ppl

• His greatest goal= Napoleonic Codeuniform set of laws gave country uniformity but limited liberty & promoted order &authority of individual rights• Took away rights of women won during rev.• Freedom of press gained in rev was restricted• Slavery reinstituted on French colonies in the

Caribbean

B. Napoleon Crowned as Emperor•Napoleon names

himself emperor & the voter support him• Takes crown from

popes head and places it on himselfsignals that he is more powerful than the church

III Napoleon Creates an EmpireA. New World Territories

• Napoleon wanted to control all of Europe and the New World• He knew they key was sugar cane in French

colony of Saint Domingue on island of Hispaniola

• Planters in Hispaniola hear of revolution and demand the same privileges be given to them by National Assemblyslaves demanding their freedom• Civil war eruptsNapeleon sends in troops

but they loose

• When expedition in Hispaniola fails the US offers to buy New Orleans• Napoleon realizes opp. To make $

and cut his loses in the Americas

• Napoleon offers to sell entire Louisiana terr. & Pres. Jefferson agrees• Napoleon “killed two birds with

one stone”• Gained $ to finance operations in

Europe• Assured power of the US to rival GB

(France’s competition in Europe)

B. Conquering Europe• Annexed Austrian Netherlands, pats of Italy, and set up puppet gov’t

in Switzerland and continued to add terr3rd Coalition against France• Napoleon wins series of battles including Austria, Prussia, & Russia

signing peace treaties w/ France• Only ally standing in his way was GB and their powerful navy

C. Battle of Trafalgar• In war against 3rd Coalition napoleon lost only one major battle: Battle

of Trafalgar• This defeat more important than all his victories on land because

1. Assured supremacy of British navy for next hundred years2. Forced Napoleon to give up plans of invading Britain

• Napoleon’s effort to Crush Britain would lead to his demise

D. The French Empire• His victories gave him control over most of Europe• Controlled numerous independent lands & some formally under French

Empire• Some were puppet gov’ts & others were loosely attached by threats of mil.

Actionlarge empire but it was unstable

• His threatsconquered ppl becoming aware of their loyalty to their own nations