Download Napoleon Bonaparte 1769 – 1821

Napoleon Bonaparte
1769 – 1821
Sort of like Hitler, but without the Holocaust…he
spreads Liberal Enlightenment rather than Fascist
Evil…
Early Life
Napoleon Bonaparte came from an Italian family that lived in Corsica
(French territory).
He received a French military education and studied both history and
philosophy. He admired Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Alexander the Great, and
Charlemagne (yeah…this should end well!)
He joined the French army and was promoted to the rank of major general
after saving the National Convention from the mobs of Paris in 1795.
Military Career
After demonstrating leadership in controlling the Paris mobs in 1795,
Napoleon was made the commander of the French army in Italy,
which was fighting Austria.
Napoleon defeated Austria and single-handedly negotiated the Treaty of
Campo Formio to end the war in 1797.
Napoleon invaded Egypt in order to disrupt British trade in India, but
the invasion led to the formation of the Second Coalition between
Russia, Austria, Britain, and the Ottoman Empire.
Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt was successful, but it did not have the
intended impact on the British economy. In response to the French
invasion, the Ottoman Empire began to “Westernize” both militarily
and technologically.
Political Career
The Directory was a weak executive and royalists still hoped to restore
the Bourbon monarchy.
Abbe Sieyes, one of the five Directors, proposed a new constitution
that would create an executive branch made up of three consuls.
He wanted Napoleon to be one of the consuls and needed his support
for the coup d'état to be successful. In October 1799, Napoleon
returned to France and effectively usurped power from Sieyes.
Constitution of the Year VIII established Napoleon as First Consul.
The Consulate (1799-1804) is the symbolic and political conclusion of
the French Revolution.
Napoleon the Clever
Napoleon included individuals from all political factions in his
government, and consciously avoided excluding any group that
could potentially challenge his position.
He also employed a secret police force and suppressed political
opposition to his rule.
1801, Napoleon made peace with Pope Pius VII and Catholicism
became, for the most part, the official religion of France.
Napoleon retained the 83 administrative departments created by the
National Assembly, but he replaced the locally elected assemblies
with prefects (officials) appointed by himself who took orders from
the central government rather than the local population.
Enlightened Absolutism or Military Dictatorship?
1802, the Constitution of the Year X declared Napoleon “Consul for
Life” and France made peace with all of its foreign enemies.
1804, the Napoleonic Code was passed, which reformed French law to
uphold most of the social and economic reforms of the revolution,
but reversed many of the gains made by women.
1804, the Constitution of the Year XII declared Napoleon the “Emperor
of the French” and established a hereditary Bonaparte dynasty
beginning with Emperor Napoleon I.
Pope Pius VII attended the coronation of Napoleon I at Notre Dame
Cathedral.
Napoleon’s Empire (1804-1814)
Napoleon conquered most of Western Europe and the Old Regime
crumbled in each country that France occupied.
The Enlightenment was being spread by military conquest.
Nationalism, which fueled the French army, arose in the conquered
territories, as well.
Economic freedom replaced serfdom, meritocracy replaced
aristocracy, and religious toleration replaced repression.
Political liberalism and nationalism were on the march!
Napoleonic Wars
1804, William Pitt the Younger became Prime Minister of Great Britain and
organized the Third Coalition with Russia and Austria to oppose French
expansion.
1805, British navy victorious at the Battle of Trafalgar, which gave the British
control of the seas and made a French invasion of Great Britain impossible.
1806, Napoleon conquered all of the German territories and the Holy Roman
Empire was dissolved.
1807, Napoleon defeated Russia and the Treaty of Tilsit declared an alliance
between France, Prussia, and Russia.
Napoleon waged economic war against Britain with the Berlin Decrees, which
forbade trade between continental Europe and Britain.
The “Continental System” imposed strict trade regulations between Europe and
Britain, established tariffs that benefitted France, and imposed the Napoleonic
Code on all conquered territories.
German Response
The French army was inspired by nationalism, which is the unique cultural
identity of a people based on a common language, religion and/or
political philosophy, and national symbols.
The German territories responded to the French occupation with calls to
unite behind German culture.
Nationalism, reinforced by the Romantic Movement, arose and united the
German territories. (German nationalism…thanks, Napoleon!)
Social and economic reforms came to Prussia under the leadership of
Baron von Stein and Prince von Hardenberg.
For example, serfdom was abolished and military promotions were given
on the basis of merit.
Russian Response
Russia became angry with Napoleon after France violated the terms
of the Treaty of Tilsit.
Russia had been hurt economically by the Continental System,
which forbade trade with Britain.
1810, Russia begins to prepare for war and uses a “scorched-earth”
policy to resist Napoleon’s invasion of Russia. (It’s never a good
idea to invade Russia…)
Napoleon lost the Battle of Borodino and was forced to retreat.
Napoleon’s Defeat: Take #1
1813, the Quadruple Alliance of Russia, Austria, Prussia, and Great
Britain invade France.
1814, Napoleon abdicates and is exiled to the island of Elba off the coast
of Italy.
British foreign secretary Castlereagh leads the peace negotiations that
produce the Treaty of Chaumont:
1) Restoration of Bourbon monarchy in France
2) Restoration of 1792 French borders
3) Quadruple Alliance for 20 years to maintain peace
Napoleon’s Defeat: Take #2
Napoleon returned from exile in 1815, the French army and people still
loyal to him, to regain power.
His brief return to power, referred to as the “Hundred Days,” ended at the
Battle of Waterloo.
The Quadruple Alliance was resolved to not only restore order to Europe,
but to maintain a lasting peace. France was not punished and the
avoidance of further war was the primary concern. The conscious effort
to preserve peace was more important than simply re-establishing
balance of power. The end of the Napoleonic Wars represents a new era
in diplomacy wherein peace was actively sought by the major powers
in Europe.
Congress of Vienna
In 1815, the powers that defeated Napoleon met in Vienna, the capital of the
Austrian Empire, to decide the future of Europe.
The Congress of Vienna restored monarchy and aristocracy to the conquered
states based on the “principle of legitimacy” and realigned territories to reestablish “balance of power” and also maintain long-term peace.
Austria was represented by Prince Metternich, who was firmly committed to
the principles of conservatism. Great Britain was represented by Secretary
Castlereagh, who supported Metternich’s conservative views.
Russia, Prussia, and Austria signed the Holy Alliance, which was a pledge to
uphold Christian principles in both domestic and international affairs.
Britain thought such an idea was absurd and did not sign.
Overall, the Congress of Vienna attempted to restore the Old Regime with the
intention of preventing both liberalism and nationalism from challenging
the traditional social and political hierarchy.
Responses to the Enlightenment/French Revolution
A. Philosophical responses to the Enlightenment from within the Enlightenment =
Rousseau and Kant
B. Artistic rejection of the Enlightenment and Neoclassicism = Romanticism
C. Philosophical and political rejection of the Enlightenment = Conservatism
D. Cultural responses to the universalism of the Enlightenment = Nationalism
E. Political, philosophical, and economic continuation of the Enlightenment = Liberalism
*Rousseau and Kant both influence Romanticism and Liberalism
*Romanticism has both conservative and liberal aspects
*Romanticism has both nationalistic and cosmopolitan elements