Napoleonic Era:

1
Napoleonic Era

• 1799-1815

2
Napoleons Rise to Power

• Son of a poor village lawyer on Corsica
• Rise Due to
• Character brilliant, energy, ambition,
  charismatic
• Military ability
• Frances desire for a orderly government

3
Rise to Power

• First Public Recognition (1793-5) drove British
  troops from town of Toulon, dispersed rioting
  crowds threatening National Convention
• Italian Campaign (1796-7) Given command of
  French army in Italy, beat Austrians became
  national hero
• Egyptian Campaign (1799-9) Invaded Egypt to
  secure a base to attack British colonies in India

4
Napoleon becomes Emperor

• Coup d?tat (1799)
• Overthrew Directory (weak government set up in
  France after Revolution),
• wrote new constitution,
• called himself First Consul (actually a military
  dictator)
• Proclamation of Empire (1804)
• Changed republic to empire
• Crowned himself emperor

5
Napoleon Takes OverEverything

• 1799, France was at war with the Allies,
  monarchies trying to crush French Revolution
• Napoleon fought them until 1809, defeating
  Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain, German States,
  Italian States only Britain safe
• Dominated all of Continental Europe to Russia

6
Napoleon Takes OverEverything
7
Reasons for Downfall

• Ambition Empire grew too large
• Britain controlled seas, saved them from invasion
  (sold Louisiana Territory to US because he knew
  he could not defend it, also needed money)
• Rising Nationalism Inspired by French
  nationalism, other countries became nationalistic
  and wanted to be rid of French rule
• Exhaustion of France, tired of 20 years of war

8
Continental System (1806-1812)

• Could not invade GB, decided to hurt them
  economically
• Ordered European countries (Continent) to boycott
  Britain
• Czar Alexander I of Russia feared Napoleons
  power and ignored Continental System
• Czar resumes trade, Napoleon invades Russia (Bad
  call)

9
Continental System
10
End of the Wars

• Napoleon invades Russia, they use Scorched Earth
  Policy retreating and burning the land as the
  French advanced, depriving them of supplies
• General Winter and guerilla attacks finally
  defeated him
• 600,000 French went in 400,000 died
• Finally, inspired by Russian success and
  nationalism Prussia and Austria declared war on
  France, invaded and took Paris

11
Hundred Days

• After his defeat, Napoleon abdicated and was
  exiled to Elba (1814)
• Comes back in 1815 and resumes control of France
  (for only a hundred days)
• Allies marshaled forces against him and defeat
  him at Waterloo
• Napoleon exiled again to island of Helena until
  he dies in 1821

Respect my Authority