Chapter 18 The FRENCH REVOLUTION and NAPOLEON Section

Chapter 18: The FRENCH REVOLUTION and NAPOLEON

Section 3 – Part 2 Napoleon’s Empire and the Fall of Napoleon

Napoleon’s Empire – 1799 -1803 • 1799, Napoleon is made consul. France is at war with a European Coalition, made up of Russian, Great Britain and Austria. • 1802, a peace treaty is signed ending the war, but it did not last long. • 1803, France is again at war with Great Britain. Austria, Russia, Prussia and Sweden join with the British.

Napoleon’s Empire 1803 -1812 • 1805 -1807, Napoleon’s Grand Army wins a series of battles at Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena and Eylau. Russia, Austria and Prussia are defeated. • 1807 -1812, Napoleon is effectively the master of Europe. • The Grand Empire is divided into three major parts; – The French Empire: Inner core and under direct rule by Napoleon. – Dependent States: Kingdoms ruled by relatives of Napoleon. – Allied States: Defeated states forced to support French war efforts.

Napoleon’s Empire British Resistance • Napoleon was never able to conquer Great Britain due to its sea power. • Napoleon attempted to invade with a combined French-Spanish fleet, but was defeated at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805). • Continental System to stop British trade also failed.

Napoleon’s Empire Nationalism • Definition: The sense of unique identity of a people based on common language, religion and national symbols. How it affected Napoleon’s Empire • French nationalism spread to conquered nations. – This new sense of national caused them to hate the French invaders. – The people and leaders saw the power and strength that could be gained through national unity.

Two rules to live by! 1. Never get involved in a land war in Asia! 2. Never go to war with Russia in the winter!

The Fall of Napoleon The Russian Campaign • 1812, Napoleon invades Russia with more than 600, 000 soldiers. • Russia troops fell back, burning villages and crops along the way. • Napoleon wins a costly battle at Borodino before marching to Moscow. • The Russians abandoned the capital and set it ablaze. • Short of food and water, Napoleon begins his retreat in late October, 1812. • Napoleon returns to France with less than 40, 000 soldiers.

The Fall of Napoleon Post-Russian Campaign • French Army is on defensive and Paris is captured in 1814. • Napoleon is sent into exile on the island of Elba (off the northwest coast of Italy). • The French monarchy was restored with Louis XIII, the brother of Louis XVI on the throne. • The new king has little support from the French people.

The Fall of Napoleon • Napoleon escapes exile and returns to France. He is able to rally his army and marches into Paris Mar 1815 with no resistance. • Russia, Great Britain and Austria respond by declaring war on France again. • At Waterloo, Belgium (June 1815) the armies meet. Napoleon’s army suffers a bloody defeat at the hands of the British and Prussian army, under the command of the Duke of Wellington. • Napoleon is exiled again, to St. Helena, where he remained until his death in 1821.