Download The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte

Warm-Up
3/8/2017
 What do you know about how to rule an empire?
“The Little Corporal”
THE RISE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
Early Life
 Ironically, was not actually French by birth
 Born on the island of Corsica
 Family was wealthy, but not of high nobility
 Was formally educated at a military academy at a young
age
Military Life
 Upon graduating the academy, entered the French Army as
an artillery officer
 Was considered unusually gifted in military strategy
 After a few quick victories, he was promoted to Brigadier
General at age 24
 It was likely his military skill that saved him after the fall of
Robespierre (to whom he was a friend)
Rise to Power in France
 Following his success in Italy and Egypt, Napoleon returned
to France
 He was originally given a small leadership position in the
French government
 He slowly began to gain more and more power, using his
military victories as a public relations campaign
 Quickly gained the respect of the French People
The Coup of 18 Brumaire
 In 1799, Napoleon helped a group overthrow the “Directory”,
or French revolutionary government
 In its place was installed a 3-member “consulship”
 Napoleon, due to the help he offered, was one of the three
consuls
 This severely reduced the number of people that stood
between Napoleon and a total control of France
Napoleon Takes Control
 Following his appointment to the consulship, Napoleon
worked to establish stability in the French government
 This meant a lot to the French people, who were tired after
years of death and destruction caused by the Revolution
 In 1802, Napoleon used his political influence and popularity
to pass an amendment to the French constitution that made
him “Consul for Life”
 Two years later, he crowned himself “Emperor of France”