Napoleon Forges an EmpireA military genius, Napoleon Bonaparte, seized power in France

and made himself emperor.

I. NAPOLEON GRASPS THE POWER

A. Terror of Revolution Ends with Robspierre’s executiona. Public opinion shifted rightb. National Convention drafted new plan of governmentc.. Appointed head of French army in 1796:

Napoleon “The General” Bonaparte

B. Coup d’Etata. Nov. 9, 1799— Napoleon seizes political powerb. Put in charge of French militaryC. Next day, forced everyone out of the legislature

II. NAPOLEON RULES FRANCEA. Restoring Order at Home

1. Stable economy and equality in taxation

2. National bank

3. Lycees—government-run public schools

4. Religious toleration

5. Napoleonic Code—set of laws

a. Restricted many freedoms won by the revolution

b. Speech, press, slavery

B. Napoleon Crowned as Emperor

1. Dec 2, 1804-crowned Emperor

III. NAPOLEON CREATES AN EMPIRE

A. New World Territoriesa. Louisiana Purchase

i.1803-Jefferson and Napoleon agree on $15 million

B. Conquering Europe a. Napoleon wins new territory for France

“The sale assures forever the power of the United States, and I given England a rival who, sooner or later, will humble her pride”

-Napoleon

The Battle of TrafalgarC. The Battle of Trafalgar

a. French defeated by Admiral Nelsonb. 2 major outcomes

1. Secured British naval supremacy for next 100 years

2. Forced Napoleon to give up plans of invading Britain

D. The French Empirea. Huge but unstable-b. Growing support of own nation

Napoleon’s Empire Collapses

Napoleon’s conquests aroused nationalistic feelings across Europe

and contributed to his downfall.

I. NAPOLEON’S COSTLY MISTAKES

A. The Continental System—blockade of Britain

1. Britain responded with blockade of their own

2. Led to War of 1812

B. The Peninsular War1. France tried to invade

Portugal2. Spaniards and Catholics

rebelled3. Napoleon lost 300,000

men

“I love power as a musician loves his violin.”

C. Invasion of Russia

1. 1812

2. Scorched Earth Policy—as Russians retreated they slaughtered livestock and burned grain

3. Sept 14, Napoleon takes Moscowa. Russians burned it

4. Napoleon retreateda. cold, raiders, and starvation killed most of remaining armyb. Started with 422,000—ended with 10,000

II. NAPOLEON’S DOWNFALLA. Austrians, Russians, and Prussians (the Coalition) took Paris

B. Napoleon forced to surrender, banished to Elba in 1814

C. Attempts to retake control in 1815A. “hundred days”

B. Fails, returns to exile where he dies in 1821

“He was as great a man can be without virtue”