Napoleon

1. Napoleon Born to a poor nobleman, he became a military hero that eventually moved France from a republic to an empire – and then lost all of his power in defeat. But despite his losses, Napoleon helped to create the sense of French nationalism that still exists today.

2. Why Napoleon was Successful • worked his way up through the military ranks (military genius) • after fighting in Egypt, Napoleon found the government corrupt and threatened by coup d’etats. • After 10 years of revolution, France was desperate for a strong man to take charge, so he overthrows the government with help from members of the government

3. Europe was divided into small states and individually could not defeat his military • He was inspirational • Eventually he crowned himself Emperor (destroying the idea of a republic) – this gave people a feeling of greater national pride. • E.g. forced Spain to give him all of Louisiana and then sold this to the United States to have money to fight Britain

5. Domestic Reforms • created a national bank and reformed taxes to improve the economy • redefined legal and education systems, created professional civil servants (Napoleonic Code) • restored power to the Roman Catholic Church • Legion of Honor – encouraged people to show their nationalism by going above and beyond • Public Works programs (like improving streets in Paris, building monuments like Arc du Triomphe)

6. All of these activities were steps towards the creation of the modern nation-state that had begun during the French Revolution.

7. Foreign Affairs • Napoleon’s military genius meant several victories that led to the French Empire, which spread the ideas of nationalism throughout Europe • encouraged the creation of nationalism amongst the oppressed populations (e.g. Italy and the Confederation of the Rhine (Germany))

9. Why Napoleon Failed • Weakness of dictatorial rule • War with Europe • Russia (got caught in the Russian winter without supplies because of slash and burn) • Lack of naval strength leads to defeats by the British • Continental System – attempt to defeat British by impacting international trade

10. After Russian campaign, Europe joins together to defeat Napoleon’s army and exile him to the island of Elba • Napoleon escapes prison, returns to Paris and raises another army to fight against the Concert of Europe • Battle of Waterloo – nations of Europe unite against Napoleon and exile him to the island of St Helena

11. The Rise of the Nation-State • Napoleon’s domestic reforms established a clearly organized state based on egalitarianism and meritocracy, which is the basis of many modern western societies today (including the separation of church and state (secularism), and the importance of education in encouraging an egalitarian meritocracy) • Building monuments like the Arc de Triomphe and the creation of the Legion of Honor made French citizens loyal to the state – willing to die for their patriotism (as seen by the support for the military)

12. Stop and Think • How could the events during the Napoleonic Era contribute to a sense of nationalism? Choose at least three events that you believe were a factor in increasing French nationalism, and explain why. • This could include the formation of governments, domestic reforms, or foreign affairs