THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. The Age of Napoleon Begins Napoleon’s Rise to Power Born on the Isle of Corsica in the Mediterranean Family of nobles, no real

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

The Age of Napoleon BeginsNapoleon’s Rise to Power

Born on the Isle of Corsica in the Mediterranean

Family of nobles, no real power

Age 9, sent to France for military training

Age 20, revolution broke out and found himself favoring the Jacobins and republican rule


Early Successes December 1793, successfully

drove British forces out of Toulon

Successive victories on the battlefield help build his reputation Was even able to hide the

disaster of the Egyptian campaign from most admirers

Led to his entrance in Politics, 1799 overthrew the Directory and set up the three man governing body, The Consulate Taking the title of First Consul

and declaring himself consul for life in 1802


A Self-made Emperor 1804 he was able to crown

himself Emperor of the French

Invited the Pope to the coronation

Held a plebiscite each step he took to power A ballot in which voters say

yes or no Napoleon each time had the

strong support of the French people

The Age of Napoleon BeginsFrance Under Napoleon

Reforms

Replaced liberty, equality, property motto with “Order, security, and efficiency”

Economic reforms Controlled prices, encouraged

new industry, and built infrastructure

Education Set up a system of public

schools under government control

Security Trained military officers and

officials


Reforms

• 1801 Concordat

Made peace with the Catholic Church Kept Church under state control

but recognized freedom for Catholics

Allowed Emigres to return to France if they took an oath of loyalty

Peasants were allowed to keep the land they took during the Revolution

Jobs were now open to “all talent”


Napoleonic Code

One of his most lasting reforms

Embodied Enlightenment principles Equality of all citizens in front

of the law, religious toleration, and advancement based on merit

Women lost out on much of the newly gained freedoms Male heads regained authority

in the household Napoleon valued order and

authority

The Age of Napoleon BeginsBuilding an Empire

1804-1814 Napoleon worked on building the French empire

Successfully took down European countries on the battlefield

By 1810, France was at its peak

Master on the battlefield Created a different battle plan for each battle


The Grand Empire Annexed majority of Europe

under French jurisdiction Netherlands, Belgium, parts of

Germany, and Italy

Abolished the Holy Roman Empire and cut Prussian territory in half

Used forceful diplomacy Placed friends on the throne of

other countries Forced alliances

Nationalism overflowing with each victory Parades and celebrations filled

the streets of Paris

1810 vs. 1914French Empires


France versus Britain Britain used powerful navy to

keep Napoleon at bay

1805 Battle of Trafalgar Fought off the coast of Spain Britain fleet smashed the French

Napoleon then ruled out an invasion and turned to attack on commerce

Continental System Made agreements with the

continental European countries to not trade with Britain

War of blockades Shutting off ports to keep people

from moving goods


France Versus Britain Impacts

War of 1812 British Naval ships attacked

American ships

Ultimately failed in attempt to cripple Britain

Created a scarcity of good, resulting in an increase in prices of goods

Tension from other European countries against the French Empire

The End of an EraChallenges to Napoleon’s

Empire

Napoleon’s armies helped spread revolutionary ideas across Europe

Helped install revolutionary governments in place of Absolutism

Napoleonic Code was carried throughout Europe

Ultimate pursuit of Russia led to Napoleon’s downfall


EmpireImpact of

Nationalism European countries saw

Napoleon’s troops as invaders rather than champions of freedom

Resented the Continental System and effort to impose French culture

Ultimately resulted in counter-nationalism against the French occupation


EmpireResistance in

Spain Napoleon placed brother Joseph

Bonaparte on the throne of Spain

Set to make reforms to undermine the Spanish Church

Spanish citizens remained loyal to the King

Turning to violence, Joseph used military force to oppress the riots

Rather than crushing the resistance it only intensified the Spanish drive to force Joseph and France out of Spain


EmpireResistance in

Spain Spanish patriots resorted to

guerilla warfare (hit and run raids) against the French

Attacked supply trains

Attacked troops

Forced Napoleon to keep a large number of troops in Spain

Britain ended up sending troops over to aid the Spanish


EmpireWar With Austria

Using Spain as a motive, Austria began to become hostile

Battle of 1805, Napoleon’s defeat of Austria helped fuel the Austrians in 1809

Austrians were unsuccessful Napoleon divorced his wife

and married Austrian princess Marie Louise


EmpireWar With

Russia The alliance of France and

Austria worried Czar Alexander I of Russia

Territory of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw enlarging Bordered Russia

Alexander I withdrew Russia from the Continental System

This led Napoleon to comprise his “Grand Army”


EmpireWar With Russia

cont. Napoleon was unable to

feed and supply his entire army through the Winter

Retreat back to France was met with attacks by Russian armies and the Russian winter

Returned home with 10,000 troops

Reputation was forever shattered

Grand Army 400,000 troops to march on Russia

Russians retreated back east towards Russia

“Scorched Earth” Russians destroyed crops and

burned villages Resulting in starvation and cold

living conditions for French soldiers during Winter

Napoleon made it Moscow in September but was forced to turn back home in October

The End of an EraDownfall of Napoleon

Exile and Return 1813 Russian, British, Austrian,

and Prussian alliance defeated Napoleon at Leipzig

1814 Napoleon abdicated to the island of Elba

Louis XVIII (Louis XVI brother) took the crown Emigres returned to France in

fear of a return of the old order Economic depression led to the

return of Napoleon Returned to Paris in triumph

and Louis XVIII fled

The End of an EraDownfall of Napoleon

Battle of Waterloo

Return was short lived

1815 the allies reorganized their troops and met Napoleon in Belgium

Took one day to crush Napoleon’s army and he again abdicated forever to St. Helena

The End of an EraThe Congress of Vienna

Balance of Power Redrew the map of Europe

Purpose was to surround France with strong countries

Gave Prussia land along the Rhine River

Austria reasserted control over Northern Italy territories

The End of an EraThe Congress of ViennaRestoration of

Monarchs Legitimacy (restoring

hereditary monarchies back to power)

Louis XVIII was put in power

“Legitimate” monarchs returned to power in Portugal, Spain, and Italian states

The End of an EraThe Congress of ViennaProblems of the

Peace Quadruple Alliance

Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain

To protect the new order

Pledged to act together to maintain power

Did not foresee the problem of redrawing Europe without concern for national culture

German impact for the future

Significance of the French Revolution

Age of Absolute Monarchy came to a definitive end, people were now the driving force of politics

Republicanism replaced Absolutism

Nationalism became a driving force throughout Europe

Opened the door for modern era politics

French Church experienced a major reconstruction and was forced to give up majority of power

Documents

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. The Age of Napoleon Begins Napoleon’s Rise to Power Born on the Isle of Corsica in the Mediterranean Family of nobles, no real