NAPOLEONIC FRANCE AP European History Napoleon Bonaparte Corsican

NAPOLEONIC FRANCE AP European History

Napoleon Bonaparte Corsican of Italian ancestry n Military officer, earned fame on battlefields n Student of the Enlightenment – “Last of the Enlightened Despots” n Revolutionary – allied with Jacobins n 1799 – Coup d’Etat Brumaire – overthrew Directory; Dec 25 – Consulate put in place n Napoleon takes power as “First n

Napoleon’s Civil Reforms n n n n 1804 – Code Napoleon: Equality before the law Protection of personal property Freedom of Religion Promotion by merit, rather than birth Abolition of serfdom Women gained inheritance rights, but denied equal treatment Resulted in strong central government, united civil authority

Napoleon’s Social Reforms Lycées – public higher education schools to train professionals for service to France n Sought to increase size of middle class, where Napoleon had much support n New “imperial nobility” to reward loyalty to state – gave over 3500 titles n Amnesty granted to over 100, 000 Émigrés to return to France n Denied workers’ right to form trade n

n n n n Napoleon’s Religious Reforms Concordat of 1801: Catholic Church reestablished in France Pope Pius VII renounced Church claims to land seized during Revolution French government reasserted right to choose bishops Refactory priests replaced revolutionary priests Religious toleration for Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and atheists Church calendar replaced revolutionary calendar

Napoleon’s Economic Reforms 1800 – Bank of France created – for government and upper class n New stable currency and public credit n Balanced budget n Lowered taxes on peasant farmers, allowed them to keep land seized in Revolution – helped strengthen peasantry, gain their loyalty n Kept food prices low with price controls n

The ‘Dark Side’ of the New Empire n n n Women reduced to second-class status – loss of Revolutionary gains Workers denied right to form trade unions Created ‘secret police’ to spy on domestic enemies By 1814 – over 2500 political prisoners Restricted Freedom of

Napoleon’s Wars I 1798 -1801 – War of the Second Coalition – France victorious over Austria, Russia & U. K. n 1802 – Treaty of Amiens created temporary peace with British – allowed French control over Holland, Belgium, western German states, and much of Italy n 1802 -03 – French army sent to Haiti to put down slave rebellion – eventually lost Haiti and sold Louisiana Territory to U. S. n

A New Emperor n Dec 1804 – Napoleon crowned himself Emperor at Notre Dame

Empire Period – 1804 -1814 n n n Ten years of constant warfare for France Eventually created the largest empire since Rome Napoleon placed relatives upon thrones in conquered lands, attempting to create a new

Empire Period – 1804 -1814 Introduced many reforms to these lands – the “liberator” carrying Enlightened ideas n Initially supported by middle and upper classes, French rule eventually created nationalist resentment and resistance in many lands n

Napoleon’s Wars II 1805 -1807 – War of the Third Coalition – Austria, Russia, U. K. , & Sweden vs. France n Oct 1805 – Battle of Trafalgar – British fleet under Nelson destroyed combined French/Spanish fleet – saved Britain from possible invasion n

Napoleon’s Wars II n n Dec 1805 – Battle of Austerlitz (Moravia) – Napoleon’s greatest victory – demolished Austrian army; Russians and Swedes quit Third Coalition 1806 – Arc de Triomphe commissioned to celebrate victory over Third Coalition 1806 – French twice defeated Prussians 1807 – Treaty of Tilsit – Napoleon recognized as master of Western and Central Europe – Prussia surrendered half its population to France; Russia gave up land agreed to become allies with France

Reorganizing Europe n n Holy Roman Empire abolished – Confederation of the Rhine replaced it – consolidated 300+ German states into 15; Austria & Prussia left out Duchy of Warsaw created as Polish nation – took land from Russia Ended serfdom in these lands and gave peasants rights French control will awaken German nationalism, though

Napoleon’s Europe

Problems Begin… n n n 1806 – Napoleon begins “Continental System” in an attempt to economically isolate and weaken Britain By 1812, proved to be a major failure: 1. Many nations relied on British trade 2. France couldn’t enforce system across Europe 3. Britain never suffered since it could trade with American and Asian colonies

… and Expand… n n 1808 – Napoleon replaced Spanish king with brother Joseph – Spanish rebelled 1808 -1814 – Peninsular War – first major revolt vs. France Spanish guerrillas aided by British forces commanded by Duke of Wellington French brutally attempt to regain control, but can’t crush Spanish resistance

Francisco Goya: The Third of May 1808

… and Get Even Worse n n Napoleon blamed Czar Alexander I for failure of Continental System – Russia had supported it, but withdrew to protect its economy 1812 – Napoleon sent 600, 000 soldiers marching into Russia – “The Grand Army” Russian army – “scorched earth” tactics Sept 1812 – Battle of Borodino outside Moscow –

Defeat in Russia n n n Napoleon seized a burned Moscow, waited 5 weeks for Russians to surrender Ordered retreat in Oct, but too late – winter had arrived Only 30, 000 of the Grand Army make it back to France – 400, 000 dead; over 100, 000 captured; others deserted

Napoleon’s Fall n n n 1813 -1814 – War of the Fourth Coalition – Russia, Austria, Prussia, and Britain vs. France Oct 1813 – Battle of Leipzig (“Battle of Nations”) – largest battle in world history before 20 th century Napoleon lost 500, 000 soldiers – most captured British and Spanish troops entered Paris – Napoleon abdicated in Apr 1814 Bourbons restored to French throne –

Post-Napoleon n n Napoleon exiled to Elba in Mediterranean – given yearly allowance from France Bourbons now constitutional monarchs – kept much of Napoleon’s reforms “First” Treaty of Paris, 1814: 1. France had to surrender all lands taken since 1792 2. No war reparations made against France

Congress of Vienna n n 1814 -1815 – Quadruple Alliance members met in Vienna Very conservative and antirevolutionary – hoped to roll back Revolutionary & liberal movements, restore old order to Europe Led by Prince Klemens von Metternich of Austria France treated as equal for now

The Emperor Strikes Back n n n As Vienna meetings stalled, Napoleon escaped Elba and returned to France The “Hundred Days” – Napoleon’s attempt to regain control of France Louis XVIII fled France as Napoleon took over

Napoleon Meets His Waterloo n n Battle of Waterloo (Belgium) – June 1815 – Napoleon finally defeated by English and Prussian armies Duke of Wellington – commanded victorious British forces This is Napoleon’s “sad face” This is Wellington’s “happy face”

The Empire’s End n n Napoleon now exiled to St. Helena in South Atlantic Died in exile in 1821; body eventually returned to France

Congress of Vienna n n n “Second” Treaty of Paris – France forced to pay 700 million francs for war damages Principles: 1. Legitimacy – return the ruling families to power 2. Compensation – rewarding states who fought Napoleon with land 3. Balance of Power – encircle France with stronger nations, make sure no state can again do what Napoleon did German Confederation (Bund) established with Austria in control of the government

Europe after Vienna - 1815

Concert of Europe n n n 1815 -1848 – Quadruple Alliance worked together to maintain status quo in Europe Worked together to end liberalism and nationalism prevent any more revolutions Kept close eye on France – prevent any Bonaparte from taking the throne Relied on collective security – come together to enforce conservative rule across the continent, even if it meant war No large-scale general war for 100 years

The “Holy Alliance” Czar Alexander I proposed all monarchs agree to uphold Christian values across Europe n All signed it except the Pope, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and Great Britain n Only Alexander took it seriously n To revolutionaries, this was an “unholy alliance” against liberty and progress n