Download The Napoleonic Wars

Absolutism and Revolution (1550–1850)
Lesson 8 The Age of Napoleon
Absolutism and Revolution (1550–1850)
Lesson 8 The Age of Napoleon
Learning Objectives
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Describe how Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power.
Explain the impact of Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars.
Identify the reasons for Napoleon’s fall from power.
Understand how the Congress of Vienna tried to restore order to Europe.
Absolutism and Revolution (1550–1850)
Lesson 8 The Age of Napoleon
Key Terms
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plebiscite
Napoleonic Code
Napoleonic Wars
annexed
Continental System
guerrilla warfare
abdicated
Congress of Vienna
legitimacy
Concert of Europe
Napoleon on the Rise
From 1799 to 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte dominated France and Europe. A hero to some,
an evil force to others, he gave his name to the final phase of the French Revolution—the
Age of Napoleon.
Napoleon on the Rise
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Early Years
Military Success
Napoleon Crowns Himself Emperor
Napoleon on the Rise
Napoleon was a military genius who dominated Europe for more than a decade.
Napoleon on the Rise
In 1798, the French army invaded Egypt, hoping to disrupt British trade routes to India.
Napoleon on the Rise
At Napoleon's coronation, he placed the crown on his own head to show that he was the source of his
own power, not the pope.
Napoleon Reforms France
Napoleon consolidated his power by strengthening the central government. Order,
security, and efficiency replaced liberty, equality, and fraternity as the slogans of the new
regime.
Napoleon Reforms France
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Social and Economic Reforms
The Napoleonic Code
Napoleon Reforms France
Napoleon undertook a massive building campaign to reform the French economy. Projects included
this church, La Madeleine, originally designed as a temple to glorify Napoleon's army.
Napoleon Reforms France
Analyze Charts The Napoleonic Code was Napoleon's attempt to reshape France’s legal system. Whose
civil rights were guaranteed under the Napoleonic Code?
The Napoleonic Wars
From 1804 to 1812, Napoleon furthered his reputation on the battlefield. In a series of
conflicts known as the Napoleonic Wars, he battled the combined forces of the greatest
European powers. He took great risks and even suffered huge losses. “I grew up on the
field of battle,” he once said, “and a man such as I am cares little for the life of a million
men.” By 1812, his Grand Empire reached its greatest extent.
As a military leader, Napoleon valued rapid movements and made effective use of his
large armies. He developed a new plan for each battle so opposing generals could never
anticipate what he would do next. His enemies paid tribute to his leadership. Napoleon’s
presence on the battlefield, said one, was “worth 40,000 troops.”
The Napoleonic Wars
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Redrawing the Map of Europe
The Continental System
Impact of Napoleon’s Conquests
The Napoleonic Wars
Analyze Maps Napoleon reshaped the map of Europe with his military and political conquests. Who
were Napoleon’s allies?
The Napoleonic Wars
Analyze Political Cartoons In this political cartoon, the character on the left represents the British, and
the character on the right represents Napoleon. What are the figures carving, and why?
The Napoleonic Wars
This painting depicts the Battle of Trafalgar, in which the British navy defeated the French on October
21, 1805.
Challenges to the French Empire
In 1812, Napoleon continued his pursuit of European domination and invaded Russia. This
campaign began a chain of events that eventually led to his downfall. Napoleon’s final
defeat brought an end to the era of the French Revolution.
Challenges to the French Empire
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Seeds of Defeat
Resistance in Spain
Austria Seeks Revenge
Napoleon Invades Russia
The Retreat from Moscow
Challenges to the French Empire
Napoleon, shown here crossing the Alps on horseback, attempted to spread French culture across
Europe.
Challenges to the French Empire
In his famous painting Third of May 1808, Spanish artist Francisco Goya shows the execution of Spanish
resistance leaders by French troops.
Challenges to the French Empire
French fortunes changed after Napoleon’s troops marched into Moscow and set it ablaze.
Challenges to the French Empire
The French invasion of Russia became a disaster when the lack of food and supplies combined with a
hard winter to nearly destroy Napoleon's army.
Napoleon Falls from Power
The disaster in Russia changed the course of the Napoleonic Wars. Russia, Britain, Austria,
and Prussia formed a new alliance against a weakened France. In 1813, they defeated
Napoleon in the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig.
Napoleon Falls from Power
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Napoleon Abdicates Briefly
Napoleon Is Defeated at Waterloo
Napoleon’s Legacy
Napoleon Falls from Power
Once the scourge of Europe, Napoleon eventually fell from power. This painting shows Napoleon in
exile.
Napoleon Falls from Power
After escaping from Elba, Napoleon made his way back to France. He met his final defeat at the Battle
of Waterloo in 1815.
Napoleon Falls from Power
The United States nearly doubled in size when Napoleon sold the Louisiana territory to the Americans.
The Congress of Vienna
After Waterloo, diplomats and heads of state again sat down at the Congress of Vienna.
They faced the monumental task of restoring stability and order in Europe after years of
war.
The Congress met for 10 months, from September 1814 to June 1815. It was a brilliant
gathering of European leaders. Diplomats and royalty dined and danced, attended
concerts and ballets, and enjoyed parties arranged by their host, Emperor Francis I of
Austria. The work fell to Prince Clemens von Metternich of Austria, Tsar Alexander I of
Russia, and Lord Robert Castlereagh of Britain. Defeated France was represented by
Prince Charles Maurice de Talleyrand.
The Congress of Vienna
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Goals of the Congress
Restoring Peace and Order
Successes and Failures
The Congress of Vienna
Prince Metternich of Austria, shown in this illustration, was a key figure during the Congress of Vienna.
The Congress of Vienna
Analyze Maps Why did the Congress of Vienna enlarge some of the countries around France?
Quiz: Napoleon on the Rise
Which of the following was most responsible for Napoleon's rise to power?
A. his reputation as a military leader
B. his devotion to republican ideals
C. his use of absolute power
D. the support given to him by the pope
Quiz: Napoleon Reforms France
What did the Concordat of 1801 accomplish?
A. It punished the clergy who supported the monarchy in pre-revolutionary France.
B. It kept the Church under state control but recognized religious freedom for Catholics.
C. It took away all the rights gained by women during the Revolution.
D. It kept the peace between France, Austria, Great Britain, and Prussia.
Quiz: The Napoleonic Wars
Which statement best describes the impact of the Napoleonic Wars on many of the
nations France conquered?
A. Napoleon’s armies brought economic ruin to most of the conquered nations.
B. Napoleon’s armies helped install new monarchs in many of the conquered nations.
C. Napoleon’s armies terrorized conquered nations, leaving many in ruins.
D. Napoleon’s armies backed liberal reforms in the lands they conquered.
Quiz: Challenges to the French Empire
How did nationalism impact Napoleon’s conquest of Europe?
A. Many Europeans saw Napoleon and his armies as foreign oppressors and fought back
to save their countries.
B. Most nations became more nationalistic after welcoming Napoleon and the ideas of
the French Revolution.
C. France became less nationalistic despite Napoleon’s success on the battlefield.
D. Nationalism across most of Europe waned as Napoleon’s armies conquered many
nations.
Quiz: Napoleon Falls from Power
Which of the following best describes Napoleon’s impact on Europe after the Napoleonic
Wars?
A. He was successful in making France into a world power with an overseas empire.
B. He promoted goodwill among European nations by spreading revolutionary ideals.
C. He spread the ideals of the Revolution but failed to create a lasting French empire.
D. He supported nationalistic feelings in all the lands he conquered.
Quiz: The Congress of Vienna
In what way did the Congress of Vienna try to limit French ambition?
A. It surrounded France with strong countries.
B. It created a multinational army to stop future French aggression.
C. It let France keep the territory it had conquered during the Napoleonic Wars.
D. It kept France from participating in the Congress.