The Napoleonic EraPost-Revolution France

Napoleon Bonaparte

From General to Emperor

• General of the French army

• Overthrew the Directory

• First Consul• Emperor of the

French• Democratic

Despotism

The Napoleonic Code•Order, security and efficiency replaced

liberty, equality, and fraternity• Infrastructure and education•Restoration of Catholic Church under state

control• Improved middle class with economic

reforms•Government jobs based on merit•Equality before the law, religious

toleration, and the abolition of feudalism

The Grand Empire

•Military control of most of Europe

•Brilliant military tactician

•Annexed Netherlands, Belgium, and parts of Italy and Germany

The Battle of Trafalgar• French set their sights on

Great Britain• Admiral Lord Horatio

Nelson led the British navy against the French

• The French fleet lost 22 ships

• The English lost none• Admiral Nelson was

mortally wounded but lived to see the victory

• “Thank God I have done my duty”

The Continental System

•Attacked Britain’s economy by closing European ports to British goods

•Britain’s navy maintained open trade routes with America and India

•Rising prices caused by scarcity of goods•Nationalism in Spain and Austria

disrupted French influence and diverted troops

•Nationalism: devotion and loyalty to one's own nation

Invasion of Russia: 1812

•600,000 soldiers and 50,000 horses•Russian scorched-earth policy•Long supply lines, lack of food and shelter•Could not sustain army for the whole

winter•Retreated in October•Only 20,000 French soldiers returned

from the 1000-mile retreat

French Decline

•Unified European armies defeated a weakened Napoleon in 1813

•Napoleon abdicated and was banished•Louis XVIII was crowned king•Napoleon escaped and returned in 1815•Popular support lasted for 100 days until

his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo by a combined army of European allies

Congress of Vienna

•Gathering of Austria, Britain, Russia, Prussia, and France

•Strengthened the countries surrounding France

•Restored governments as they were in 1792

•The Quadruple Alliance (Austria, Britain, Russia, Prussia) would endure for 100 years

•Overlooked rising nationalism

Napoleon’s Legacy

•Napoleonic Code included French Revolution ideas

•Constitutional elections were common•More access to education and property

rights•Many rights of the Revolution were

restricted•Conquest ignited nationalism

throughout Europe that would provoke future revolutions

Discussion Questions

•Was Napoleon a national hero or a tyrant?

•What makes a leader a hero or a tyrant?

•Who are some modern heroes and tyrants?