Napoleon Bonaparte Thesis Napoleons controversial time a leader

Napoleon Bonaparte Thesis: Napoleon’s controversial time a leader of France generated exceptionally positive and extremely negative views about his influence on France and the rest of Europe.

Outline n n n Chaotic France Quick Rise to power Military Victories Monumental defeats The Napoleon Debate: Hero or Tyrant

Background- France prior to Napoleon’s time as leader n n Chaos of French Revolution Reign of Terror Feared return of King Weak leaders

Early Life n n n Born: August 15 th 1769 Island of Corsica Attends military school in France Appointed lieutenant at 16

The Young Military Officer n n n Won victories against Austria and Prussia Disrupted British trade routes Became popular with the people

Coup d’etat of 1799 n n n Returns from fighting British in Egypt Ends Directory; takes title of First Consul Coup d’etat- leader’s sudden seizure of power

Napoleon Builds a Republic n n n Holds a Plebiscite- vote of the people Opens Lycees- public schools for boys Establishes Banking System; revitalizes the economy Establishes Napoleonic Code - same laws for everyone Dismisses corrupt officials

December 2, 1804 Napoleon crowns himself Emperor

Napoleon becomes emperor Restores relations with Catholic Church (Concordant) n Napoleon crowns himself Emperor n Symbolic of power over Church n Napoleon takes control of most of Europe n

Napoleon and North America n n n Restores slavery in French Colonies Haiti’s Revolt proves costly Sells Louisiana Territory to United States

Napoleon’s Success on Land in Europe n Battle of Austerlitz- Napoleon defeats Austria, Prussia, and Russia n Napoleon takes control of most of Europe

Napoleon’s European Empire

Napoleon’s First Major Defeat at Sea Battle of Trafalgar n Napoleon’s Navy loses to British n Loses most of his Navy n British control most of the seas n

The Beginning of the End n n Battle of Trafalgar – Navy defeated by British Continental System- Weakens France more than Britain Peninsular War- guerilla warfare causes “slow bleed” Invasion of Russia- defeat leads to exile

Napoleon’s End First Exile to Elba n Returns for the Hundred Days n Final at Battle of Waterloo n Second Exile to St. Helena n Dies May 5 th 1821 n

Legacy Military genius: great battlefield general n Power hungry dictator n Tragic Hero: started out positive and ended negative n

Works Cited "Peninsular War. " World History: The Modern Era. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 13 Oct. 2008 <http: //www. worldhistory. abc-clio. com>. "Napoleon I. " World History: The Modern Era. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 13 Oct. 2008 <http: //www. worldhistory. abc-clio. com>. "Battle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815. " DISCovering World History. Online Edition. Gale, 2003. Reproduced in History Resource Center. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale. http: //galenet. galegroup. com/servlet/History/ Phillips, Charles, and Alan Axelrod. "Napoleonic Wars. " Encyclopedia of Wars, vol. 2. New York: Facts On File, Inc. , 2005. Modern World History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http: //www. fofweb. com/activelink 2. asp? Item. ID=WE 53&i. Pin=EWAR 1056&Single. Record=True (accessed October 13, 2008