The French Revolution

Chapter 18

Section 3

The Age of Napoleon

•1795 Moderate leaders in the National Convention drafted a new plan of government called The Directory.

*Bi-cameral house of Legislature. 5 men in charge. Napoleon Bonaparte named General of the Army.

•1796-Napoleon led troops across the Alps, and defeated the Austrian Army in Italy, ending the threat posed by the Austrians.

•1799-The Directory had lost all political control of the Government. Napoleon took this opportunity and staged a Coup d’Etat or “blow of state”.

•Plebiscite-vote of the people, put Napoleon into power. 4th change in Constitution in eight years.

•Napoleon made several changes that were built on the ideas of the Revolution.

•Set up efficient tax collecting system and a National Bank.

•Removed dishonest government workers.

•Started new public schools for ordinary citizens called Lycees.

•Gave Catholic Church back some of it’s power.

•Napoleonic Code-new laws that gave all French citizens the same rights.

•Napoleon’s vision was to control all of Central Europe and reassert French power in the New World.

•Sugar producing Island of Hispaniola-Saint Dominguez.

•Sold Louisiana and land West of Mississippi River to U.S. (Louisiana Purchase) for 15 million. Used money to further his attention on Europe.

•1804-Napoleon made himself Emperor of France.

•1805- signed peace treaties with Austria, Prussia, and Russia. Largest Empire since Roman Empire.

•Battle of Trafalgar-Only loss was a naval defeat against Britain off the Southern coast of Spain. This prevented from Napoleon from invading Britain.

•Napoleon’s Mistakes that cost him his empire

•In an attempt to blockade goods into Britain. Britain responded with their own blockade, ultimately weakening France’s economy. This blockade angered U.S. officials and U.S. Declared war on Britain. War of 1812 was short lived and was only a minor inconvenience to Britain in its efforts with France.

•1808 Napoleon brought his brother into become King of Spain. Spain was loyal to their own King and with help from Britain killed 300,000 French troops.

•Third mistake-1812 invasion of Russia. Proved to be most disastrous of all.

• 422,000 troops begin assault only 10,000 return back to France.

• Alexander I of Russia utilizes the scorched earth policy-burn everything in sight. French troops abandon looking for food.

•Coalition of France-Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Sweden defeats Napoleon

•Napoleon given a small pension and exiled to the Island of Elba, a tiny Island off Italian coast.

•French citizens not pleased with new Monarch.

•Napoleon flees Elba, and returns to France. Citizens rally and give support to Napoleon.

•June 15, 1815 Napoleon sends troops out to battle in small Belgium village of Waterloo. French defeated.

•Napoleon sent to remote Island in South Atlantic. Died in 1821 of stomach ailment, possibly cancer.

Napoleon’s Legacy

Napoleon dominated French and European history from 1799 – 1815. During his reign, he built and lost an empire and also spread ideas about Nationalism in Europe.

The last slide talked about Nationalism. Write out three things you think the word “Nationalism” means.

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