Napoleon Forges an Empire

Section 3Napoleon Forges an Empire

Main Idea:Napoleon Bonaparte, a military genius, seized power in France and made himself emperor.

Why it matters now:In times of political turmoil, military dictators often seize control of nations

The Directory appoints Napoleon Bonaparte commander of armies

Born in CorsicaAttended Military School

Early Life

Joins the army

Hero of the HourNapoleon defeats royalist rebels in 1795

Protected National Convention

Wins victories in Italy and gains popularity

Suppresses news of loses in Egypt

Napoleon Bonaparte5’ 3” man rose from obscurity to become leader of France

Coup d’EtatBy 1799 the Directory had lost control

No confidence of French peoplePolitical chaosNeed for a strong leader

Napoleon uses army to surround legislatureA Coup D’etat or “Blow to the State”

Established a group of three ConsulsNapoleon used power to become dictator

Napoleon rules FranceA Plebiscite (vote of the people)

establishes a new constitution

Defeats British, Russians, and Austrians

Made Napoleon First Consul

Napoleon and ReformKept many changes of the Revolution

Support laws that strengthened the central government

Worked to stabilize the economy Sets up banking systemEfficient tax collectionCreated government run schools

Called LyceesMended relations with Catholic Church

Signed Concordat (or agreement) with ChurchRecognized influence of churchRejected church control in national affairsGained popular support with majority of people

Napoleonic CodeUniform set of laws

Napoleon crowns himself EmperorThe Pope presented Napoleon with the crown

Crowned himself to show superiority

Napoleon creates an empireOriginally wanted an empire in America as well

Losses in Saint Domingue force him to rethinkDecides to sell the Louisiana Territory for $15 Million

Needed money to finance operations in Europe

Annoy British by assuring “the power of the United States”

War in EuropeBritain, Russia, Austria and Sweden join forcesNapoleon crushed them and forced peace treaty

Napoleon Creates an EmpireThe Battle of Trafalgar

British win naval battleNapoleon gives up ideas of British InvasionAssures the supremacy of British Navy for

100 years

Tried to find other ways to control BritainEventually led to downfall

The French EmpireNapoleon controls most of Europe

Except Britain, Portugal, Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire

Uses alliances and puppet rulers to controlAt its largest 1807-1812

The End

Quiz A

1 - By 1799, the Directory had lost control of the political situation and confidence of the French people and this general political chaos created a need for a strong leader, which led to Napoleon’s what, which is a sudden seizure of dictatorial power?

2 - Napoleon kept many of the changes that had come with the Revolution like stabilizing the economy, making taxation more equitable and creating government-run schools called what?

3 - Which comprehensive system of laws gave France a uniform set of laws and eliminated many injustices, but also limited some freedoms and promoted order and authority over individual rights?

4 - To show that he was not under the control of anyone, especially the Catholic Church, Napoleon arrogantly took the crown from the Pope and placed it on his own head in the 1804 crowing ceremony that officially made him what?

5 - In July of 1794, the members of the National Convention were tired of The Terror and knew they were not safe from Robespierre, so they ordered him to be arrested and sent to the guillotine; the following year, a new moderate government comprised of 5 non-revolutionaries known as what was created?

6 - What document stated that men, not women, are “born and remain free and equal in rights” and that “the aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural…rights of man; these rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression”?

7 - After Louis XVI’s failed escape from France, what body created a limited Constitutional Monarchy that Louis XVI reluctantly approved which left him with only executive powers?