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The Rise & Fall of Napoleon

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Rise of Napoleon

• Became military leader after Robspierre executed• Still at war with Britain, Austria, &

Russia• Defeated Austria in 1797 using rapid

movement• Freed locals wherever he went• 1799 – Became ruler of France

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Rise of Napoleon

• Negotiated peace with European powers• Introduced domestic reforms• New legal code – Combined traditional

laws with ideas from Revolution• 1804 – Crowned himself emperor• At war with Europe again, only Britain by

1805• New French Empire covered most of

Europe

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Fall of Napoleon

• Causes:• Inability to invade England•Economic problems due to boycott of British goods•Disliked by most Europeans•Conquests ignited nationalist feelings

• 1809 – Spain revolted

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Fall of Napoleon

• 1812 – Invades Russia (600,000 Troops)•Defeated Russians•Tsar Alexander I refused to surrender•Russians burned Moscow to ground•Napoleon defeated on retreat (Disease, Hunger, Suicide)

• Overthrown after returning to Paris

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Fall of Napoleon

• King Louis XVIII put in charge• Napoleon reemerged in 1815,

defeated @ Battle of Waterloo• Sent to prison where he later died

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Impact of Napoleon

• France – Created stability by establishing Code Napoleon, law code combined social equality, religious tolerance, & trial by jury• Europe – Introduced ideas from French

Revolution & ended feudal restrictions• World – Sparked nationalism, ended

Spain’s Latin American colonial power, sold Louisiana Territory

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Congress of Vienna

• Goal – Settle issues arising from French Revolution & Napoleonic Wars

• Restored many former rulers & borders• Celebrated Napoleon’s defeat• Leaders of Britain, Russia, Austria, &

Prussia met privately for major decisions• Wanted to establish balance of power (no

single country could dominate others)

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• Accomplished this by combining smaller countries• Abolished slave trade & granted

rights to German Jews• William Wilberforce – Leading voice in

abolishing slave trade

Congress of Vienna

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Spirit of Nationalism

• Nationalism – Belief that each ethnic group is entitled to its own government & homeland• French Revolution started this idea in

Europe by teaching that government should be based on the will of the people.• Despite growing nationalism, Congress of

Vienna failed to take into account the desire of the people to control their own governments

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The Metternich Era

• Prince Klemens von Matternich of Austria was one of the leaders of the Congress of Vienna

• Played pivotal role in preventing attempts at nationalism or political change

• Many European nations attempted revolutions, but were defeated by the Austrian or Russian Army

• Greece & Belgium succeeded, and France overthrew their monarchy again & established a new constitutional monarchy

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The Revolutions of 1848

• 1848 considered a turning point of the 19th Century• Constitutional Monarchy of France

overthrown, & a republic was established• This inspires revolutions in Italy,

Germany, Austria, & Hungary• By 1849 the combined Austrian &

Russian armies proved to be too much for the revolutionaries