THE NAPOLEONIC WARS

(1792-1815)&

NAPOLEON’S EMPIRE (1804-1815)

THE FALL OF ROBESPIERRE AND THE END OF THE REIGN OF TERROR

After leading his government to kill over 40 thousand people, the French people had had enough of Robespierre.

A party was formed against him, that claimed that he was now the person who was ruining the republic.

He was sentenced to the same fate as many of his political enemies, beheading by guillotine.

With the fall of the blade, so fell the reign of terror.

THE DIRECTORY Since Robespierre no longer was ruling, the

Directory was established to run the country. The directory consisted of 5 men who shared

the ruling power of France, and this system lasted about 4 years.

While the Directory was figuring out how to fix Robespierre’s mistakes, Napoleon, a young but very successful General from Corsica, was gaining recognition for his work in Italy.

EUROPE BEFORE NAPOLEON

Napoleon’s Birthplace

Napoleon’s Rise to Power

Napoleon’s Rise to Power

Not all of Napoleon’s military career was glamorous, though:

Earlier military career the Egyptian Campaign was meant to weaken the British trade routs, without directly attacking them: 1798 he was defeated by

the 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!

Not all of Napoleon’s military career was glamorous, though:

Earlier military career the Egyptian Campaign was meant to weaken the British trade routs, without directly attacking them: 1798 he was defeated by

the 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!

THE RISE OF NAPOLEON

1795: Called to Paris by Directory

Failed Egypt Campaign

1799: Directory overturned - Napoleon becomes ‘First Counsel’ coup d’ etat - a sudden overthrow

1802: Declares self ‘Counsel for Life’ –

1804: Napoleon Crowned Emperor (to stop a return of the Bourbon Dynasty)

NAPOLEON’S THRONE

Napoleon’s Reforms

• Established orderly and uniform taxation

• Napoleonic Code (Law Code)

• Educational System

But…Limited women’s property rights

NAPOLEON’S COUP D’ETAT While the Directory had been trying to fix the

problems in France, they were not having much success.

One of the 5 members of the Directory, Sieyès, decided to work with Napoleon to introduce a new system, and appointed Napoleon as the spokesperson of the plan.

A number of people were involved in this plan, including the chief of police, Joseph Fouché.

Sieyès told the current government of a plot putting them in Danger, and the government put Napoleon in control of the Military to protect them.

Napoleon used his new control of the military to take control of France and end the Directory in 1799.

Code Napoleon, 1804

Code Napoleon, 1804

It divides civil law into:

Personal status.

Property.

The acquisition of property.

It divides civil law into:

Personal status.

Property.

The acquisition of property. • Its purpose was to reform the

French legal code to reflect the principles of the French Revolution.

• Create one law code for France.

• Its purpose was to reform the French legal code to reflect the principles of the French Revolution.

• Create one law code for France.

The Influence of the Napoleonic Code

The Influence of the Napoleonic Code

Wherever it was

implemented [in the

conquered territories], the Code Napoleon

swept away feudal

property relations.

Lord to Peasant/Serf

Wherever it was

implemented [in the

conquered territories], the Code Napoleon

swept away feudal

property relations.

Lord to Peasant/Serf

THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM (1806)

Economic Warfare

Blocked British trade with Continent

Failure:

Hurt Continent more than BritainNot honored by Napoleon’s AlliesForced Napoleon to ‘police’ EuropeLed to War with Russia

After deciding that the British were too well defended to attack, Bonaparte turned his attention to overtaking most of continental Europe (especially Austria and Russia)

The “Big Blunder” -- Russia

The “Big Blunder” -- Russia

• In July, 1812 Napoleon led his Grand Armee of 614,000 men eastward across central Europe and into Russia.

The Russians avoided a directconfrontation with Napoleon.

• In July, 1812 Napoleon led his Grand Armee of 614,000 men eastward across central Europe and into Russia.

The Russians avoided a directconfrontation with Napoleon.

They retreated to Moscow, drawing the French into the interior of Russia [hoping that it’s size and the weather would act as “support” for the Russian cause].

The Russian nobles abandoned their estates and burned their crops to the ground, leaving the French to operate far from their supply bases in territory stripped of food.

Napoleon’s Troops at the Gates of Moscow

Napoleon’s Troops at the Gates of Moscow

• September 14, 1812 Napoleon reached Moscow, but the city had largely been abandoned.

• The Russians had set fire to the city.

• September 14, 1812 Napoleon reached Moscow, but the city had largely been abandoned.

• The Russians had set fire to the city.

Napoleon’s Retreat from Moscow (Early 1813)

Napoleon’s Retreat from Moscow (Early 1813)

100,000 French troops retreat—40,000 survive!100,000 French troops retreat—40,000 survive!

Napoleon Abdicates!Napoleon Abdicates!e Shortly after, Napoleon’s forces retreated

from Spain, as well.

e Allied forces occupied Paris on March 31, 1814.

e Napoléon abdicated on April 6 in favor of his son, but the Allies insisted on unconditional surrender.

e Napoléon abdicated again on April 11.

e Treaty of Fontainbleau exiles Napoléon to Elba with an annual income of 2,000,000 francs.

e The royalists took control and restored Louis XVIII to the throne.

e Shortly after, Napoleon’s forces retreated from Spain, as well.

e Allied forces occupied Paris on March 31, 1814.

e Napoléon abdicated on April 6 in favor of his son, but the Allies insisted on unconditional surrender.

e Napoléon abdicated again on April 11.

e Treaty of Fontainbleau exiles Napoléon to Elba with an annual income of 2,000,000 francs.

e The royalists took control and restored Louis XVIII to the throne.

Napoleon’s Short Exile on Elba

Napoleon’s Short Exile on Elba

Napoléon escaped Elba and landed in France on March 1, 1815.He took back Paris, and his old soldiers re-joined himHe believed he could not be beat!

Napoleon’s Defeat at Waterloo

(June 18, 1815)

Napoleon’s Defeat at Waterloo

(June 18, 1815)

Prussian General Blücher

Prussian General Blücher

Napoleon was thoroughly defeated by the Duke of Wllington and General Blücher, overthrown, and imprisoned again to live the rest of his life in exile on St. Helena island.

Dukeof

Wellington

Dukeof

Wellington

LEGACIES OF REVOLUTION AND WAR

Warfare Modernized Britain emerges most powerful nation Rise of Nationalism Birth of Democratic Movements End of Absolutism / Birth of Modern

Citizenship

Napoleon’s Legacy AssignmentEach group will be assigned one of the following

arguments. You will need to research one of these topics to present and discuss/debate tomorrow for the class.

Napoleon was an awful leader for FranceNapoleon was a good leader for FranceNapoleon was a tactical geniusNapoleon was crazyNapoleon introduced good changesNapoleon introduced bad changes