The Age of Napoleon 1799 1815 Ch 18

The Age of Napoleon 1799 - 1815 Ch. 18 Sec. 3

Introduction • Late 1790’s, – France remains in a state of chaos – The people want peace and order – The Directory was unable to provide stability – The one force that was able to take charge of the nation as a symbol of both order and popular national will was the army.

Early Life • Born in 1769 on the island of Corsica • Talented, academic and ambitious. • He received a scholarship to a famous military school. • Spoke with an Italian accent. (Considered an outsider by schoolmates)

Early Life • Napoleon was commissioned as a lieutenant in the French army. • He was not popular with his fellow officers. • He was able to inspire and motivate the troops under his command.

Military Successes • Napoleon rose quickly through the ranks of the French army. • By age 26 he was the Commander of the French armies in Italy.

Military Successes Italian Campaigns • Napoleon crushed the Austrian armies in Italy. – The Treaty of Campo Formio: • Signed without consenting Government • Placed all of Italy and Switzerland under French control. • Made Napoleon a national hero in France.

Military Successes • • Speed: Use of cavalry to outflank the enemy Surprise: Gained territorial advantage Decisive Action: Centralized chain of command Quick Artillery Strikes: Studied the use of artillery and understood its advantages

Military Successes • National hero after Italy • Asked by Directory to destroy Britain. – Impossible to invade England – Instead he chose to attack British colonial interests. • Napoleon set out to capture Egypt. – Huge Failure – Leaves Army and Returns Home

Consul and Emperor • The French government was losing power daily. • When Napoleon returned to France a change in power was under way. • He used the army to overthrow the Directory and establish a Consulate (Three person Executive Branch)

Consul and Emperor • Soon after taking power Napoleon seizes power from the other two executives and declares himself First Consul.

Consul and Emperor • In 1804 Napoleon seized on his popularity • Writes a new constitution in which he was to be called Emperor of the French. • Napoleon invited the Pope to Notre Dame to take part in the coronation. – Places the crown on his own head. • Why is this significan?

Napoleonic Code 1. 2. 3. 4. Safeguarded all forms of property Employment was based on talent not birth Merit based pay Women were now treated as second class citizens - Spread throughout Europe.

Expansion of the Empire • Huge and Loyal Army • 1805 - Defeats Austrian and Russian forces at Austerlitz • Conquered Germany, Italy and Prussia, – Placed his family members in charge of these areas.

Continental System • Unable to invade England, Napoleon attempts to starve them by forbidding trade

Collapse • Britain survived by trading with North and South America. • The system badly hurt European economies. • Economic policies favored only France

Collapse • Napoleonic Code – Other countries still held to the ancient monarchies • Nationalism and Equality – Germany and Italy

Invasion of Russia • • • Napoleon Invades Russia (1810) Russia – Scorched Earth Policy Starving Napoleon’s troops reaches Moscow in the dead of winter. • Less than 25, 000 of the original 600, 000 return – Napoleon abandons the rest to die

Invasion of Russia

The Fall of Napoleon • A week later France is invaded by a Austria and Prussia • Napoleon steps down and is exiled on the Island of Elba • 9 Months later Napoleon escapes and returns

VI. The Fall of Napoleon The Hundred Days • The Period time between Napoleons Return and his second Exile • Waterloo Napoleons – Defeated By the British – Exiled on the island of Saint Helena.

Louis XVIII