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Age of Napoleon. Early Life . Napoleon Bonaparte dominated French and European history from 1799-1815. Brought the French Revolution to an end in 1799 Born in Corsica 1769 Son of a lawyer who came from Florentine nobility Studied at a military school in France
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Early Life • Napoleon Bonaparte dominated French and European history from 1799-1815. • Brought the French Revolution to an end in 1799 • Born in Corsica 1769 • Son of a lawyer who came from Florentine nobility • Studied at a military school in France • 1785 became lieutenant in the French army • Studied philosophes and military campaigns of great military leaders
Early Life • 1792 captain of French army • 1794(25 yrs old) brigadier of Committee of Public Safety • 1796 commander of French army in Italy • Won confidence from his men • ability to make quick decisions • intelligence • ease with words • confidence in himself
Early Life • 1797 returned to France as a hero • Given job to command and train an army to invade Britain • He proposed to invade Egypt and threatening India • Major sources of British wealth • 1799 took part in Coup d'état and set up the consulate • New government • Napoleon controlled entire government as first consul • Made himself consul for life • Crowned himself Emperor
Domestic Policies • Created peace with the catholic church • Took the role of a different religion depending on where he was • Created seven codes of law • Civil Code (Napoleonic code) - recognized equality of all citizens • Choose their profession • Religious toleration • Abolition of serfdom and feudalism • Made it more difficult to get divorce if you were a woman
Bureaucracy • Hired officials • Didn’t matter if they were royal or revolutionary officials • Based on ability • Created new aristocracy • Only 22% were from old regime • 60% were middle class
Bureaucracy • Napoleon preserved ideas of the revolution • Civil code • Government careers to people on ability • Changed ideas as well • Shut down 60 of 73 newspapers in France • All manuscripts were subject to government scrutiny • Mail was opened by government police
Napoleon’s Empire • When he became consul in 1799 France was at war with Russia, Great Britain and Austria • Signed a peace treaty in 1802 • But didn’t last long • 1803 war began with Great Britain • Great Britain was joined by Austria, Russia and Prussia • Napoleon’s army defeated Austria, Prussia and Russia
French Empire • 1807-1812 France was composed of 3 major parts • French Empire • Enlarged France (Rhine to the east and western half of Italy North of Rome) • Dependent States • Kingdoms under rule of Napoleon’s relatives • Spain, Holland, Italy, Swiss Republic, Grand Duchy of Warsaw, Confederation of Rhine (Germany)
Allied States • Defeated by Napoleon and forced to join the struggle against Britain • Prussia, Austria Russia, and Sweden
Principles of the Revolution • Napoleon wanted to spread the ideas of the French Revolution • Legal equality, religious tolerance, and economic freedom • He tried to destroy the old order within the Empire • Nobility and clergy lost their privileges
European Response • Napoleon wanted his empire to last for centuries • It collapsed as quickly as it was formed • Britain survival • Nationalism
Britain’s Survival • Because Britain had a great Navy they could not be attacked • Napoleon wanted to attack but British Navy defeated a French-Spanish navy in 1805 • Napoleon turned to his continental system • Goal was to stop British goods from being sold in Europe • By weakening their economy he would destroy their ability to wage war
Nationalism • A unique cultural identity of people based on common language, religion, and national symbols • Napoleon’s spread of French ideals made nationalism spread elsewhere • Hated by their oppressors • Stirred patriotism in opposition to French rule • Showed nations what nationalism could do
Fall of Napoleon • Russia refused to be apart of the continental system • Napoleon had no choice but to invade • June 1812 a Grand Army of 600,000 men invaded Russia • Napoleon needed a quick victory • But Russians retreated for hundreds of miles burning everything
When they reached Moscow everything was burnt and there was no food or supplies • This began the great retreat. • Only 40,000 troops returned home • This led to other European nations to attack France • Paris was captured in 1814 • Napoleon was exiled to Elba • Monarchy was restored to Louis XVIII • Brother of King, Louis XVI
The Final Defeat • The new king had little support • Napoleon made his way back to France • Announced he was emperor • He raised another army and attacked the nearest allied forces in Belgium • At Waterloo in Belgium he was met by the Duke of Wellington • Led a British and Prussian Army • He was defeated and exiled to St. Helena