Napoleon Forges an Empire

Napoleon Forges an Empire

1. Napoleon Bonaparte, a military genius, seized power in France and made himself emperor

2. Historical Context

   • Background of Napoleon Bonaparte
     • Early Career of Napoleon Bonaparte
       • The Directory Loses Control
         • Coup d’etat
           • France at Peace
             • Napoleon Rules France
               • Napoleon Restores Order in France
                 • Concordat with Rome
                   • Napoleonic Code
                     • Napoleon Crowned as Emperor
                       • Haitian Revolution
                         • Louisiana Purchase
                           • The Battle of Trafalgar
                             • Napoleon’s French Empire
                               • By 1812, Napoleon was the master of Europe
                                 • He controlled a huge continental empire not seen since the time of Ancient Rome but it was very UNSTABLE
                             • Horatio Nelson, a British commander was able to defeat French and Spanish Navy at the Battle of Trafalgar
                               • Two Effects
                                 • British Navy would reign supreme for years
                                 • Napoleon had to give up plans for invading Britain
                           • Napoleon sold Louisiana Purchase to the United States in 1803 for $15 million, about $0.04 an acre.
                             • Territory gained is a part of 15 states
                             • Funded future French military operations in Europe
                         • In order to focus on European fighting Napoleon and the French lost a valuable sugar producing colony of St. Domingue
                           • French troops unable to reverse Haitian Revolution due to disease and effective fighting of former slaves
                       • Napoleon faced assassination plots but held another plebiscite to see if the French wanted him as as Emperor
                         • The results were 99.93% “YES” and .07% “NO”
                           • He was crowned French Emperor on December 2nd, 1804 at Notre Dame in Paris
                     • System of laws
                       • Promoted order and authority over individual rights
                         • Example: Freedom of speech limited
                   • Signed an agreement with Pope Pius VII
                     • Recognized influence of Church
                       • But rejected Church control in government
                         • Majority of people favored this
                 • Approved changes that both strengthened government and achieved goals of Revolution
                   • Established an effective..
                     • Tax collection system
                     • Banking system
                   • Dismissed corrupt officials
                   • Set up lycees to train government workers
               • 1800 saw a plebiscite or “a ‘yes or no’ vote of the people” to approve a new constitution
                 • Napoleon, as first consul, assumed the power of a dictator
             • Finally able to conclude peace agreements with Britain, Austria, and Russia in 1802. First time in ten years France was not at war
           • “Blow to the state”
           • Represents a sudden seizure of power
           • People wanted stability
           • Napoleon set himself up as the first consul (out of 3) in yet another new system of government
         • Napoleon led a “coup d’etat”, or bloodless takeover against the unpopular government
         • Napoleon’s Army seized power and dissolved the Directory and set up a Triumvirate
       • Appointed by Directory to lead the army against Austria and Sardinia
       • Won a series of victories in Italy
       • Ran out of steam in Egypt
     • Born on island of Corsica
     • Joined French army during Revolution
     • Held off royalist army in 1795 with cannons
     • Praised as a hero
   • From 1795-1799, Napoleon rose from obscurity to become known as one of the greatest generals of all time