Download Age of Napoleon

 Born
on the island of Corsica in
1769
 Sent to French military school at
age 9
 1785, became lieutenant in
French artillery
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When the French Revolution started,
Napoleon joined the army of the new
government.
Defeated royalist troops marching against the
National Assembly. (Oct. 1795)
1796: Defeated armies of Austria and
Sardinia
Defeated in Egypt (kept secret)
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Oct. 9 1799, Napoleon was put in charge of
French Army
National Legislature established a consul of
three. Napoleon was one of the three.
Napoleon quickly assumed dictatorial power.
THE ECONOMY
GOVERNMENT &
SOCIETY
RELIGION
NAPOLEON’S
ACTIONS
-Fair Tax Code
-National Bank
-Stabilized $
-State Loans to
Businesses
-Officials based
on Merit
-Fired corrupt
officials
-Code of Laws
-Catholicism became
”faith of Frenchmen”
-concordat w/ Pope
-Retained church
lands he seized
RESULTS
-Equal Taxation
-Stable Economy
-Honest
Competent
Officials
-Equal
opportunity in
Govt.
-Public Ed.
-Religious Tolerance
-Govt. control of
Church Lands
-Govt. recognition of
Church influence
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Sold Louisiana Purchase to United States
(1803)
As he expanded, countries rose up against
him
Third Coalition: Britain, Russia, Austria, &
Sweden
Battle of Austerlitz – had now defeated all
enemies except Britain
Only major loss was at Trafalgar – 1805 –
Naval defeat to British Admiral Horatio Nelson
 1)
The Continental System
 2) The Peninsular War
 3) The Invasion of Russia
Decision to cut Britain off from the
rest of Europe.
 Blockade – Forcible closing of ports
 Trying to prevent trade and
communication
 England responded with a blockade of
its own
 In essence, the Continental system
hurt France more than it did England
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Sent an army to invade Portugal
◦ Weren’t following Continental System
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Had to go through Spain
◦ Displeased Spanish
◦ Made his brother King
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Guerrilla Warfare
◦ Army of Spanish peasants
◦ Informal, Napoleon could not defeat in one battle
◦ Fought for 5 years (1808-1813)
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Nationalism
◦ Pride in one’s country
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1812: invaded Russia
Scorched Earth Policy – As Russian troops
retreated, they burnt grain fields and
slaughtered livestock to leave nothing for the
French
Entered Moscow – Burnt by Russians
No Peace Treaty Came
French turned to home
Starving and freezing
Large % of army died
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Weakened by war with Russia, enemies
attacked
Fourth Coalition: Britain, Russia, Austria, &
Prussia
1813: Battle of Leipzig – Napoleon defeated
April 1814: Accepted terms of surrender
◦ Exiled to island of Elba
◦ Off Italian coast
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New King, Louis XVIII became unpopular
(Louis XVI’s brother)
Napoleon escapes Elba (Mar. 1, 1815)
Napoleon gathers troops as he nears Paris,
once again ruler of France
June 18, 1815 – Battle of Waterloo
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Napoleon vs. British
Prussian Army arrived and turned the tide
British led by the Duke of Wellington
Napoleon defeted
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After his escape and capture needed more
remote location
Taken by British navy to St. Helena
◦ Remote island in South Atlantic
◦ Only lived for 6 more years
◦ Died in 1821