NAPOLEON BUILDS AN EMPIRE

Rise to Power• Chosen as France’s military commander by

National Convention• Saved French republic by defeating royalists

who were attacking the national convention• War against Austria

• Sent to Italy to defeat Austrian forces that threatened France

• Won a series of remarkable battles

• Campaign in Egypt• Tried to disrupt British trade w/ India• Defeated by British Navy• Returned to France a hero• Kept his defeat/setback quiet from newspapers

Coup d’Etat• 1799- French gov. had lost support of people• Used his troops to surround the national legislature and

drive its members out• Directory was dissolved• Replaced by 3 consuls

• Napoleon took title of 1st consul himself• Became dictator of France

• Coup- seizure of power• Coup d’Etat- blow to the state

Peace in Europe• During Napoleon’s coup,

France was still at war• Britain, Austria, and Russia

joined forces against him because they feared his power

• 1802- nations agreed to peace • 1st time in 10 years that there

had been peace in Europe• Napoleon returned to France

to restore order

Nation Building• Changes to build on revolutions ideas

1. Efficient tax collection & banking system- gov. could rely on stable $ supply

2. Removed dishonest government workers

3. Started public schools “Lycees”• open to male students of all backgrounds• Graduates appointed to public office based on merit

4. Gave Church back some of its power

5. Napoleonic Code- new set of laws for France• Gave all French citizens the same rights• Took away/limited individual rights (speech/press) that were gained by

revolution• Restored slavery to French colonies of Caribbean

Napoleon as Emperor• 1804- decided to make himself emperor of France• Voters supported him• Emperor ceremony- Notre Dame Cathedral

• Took crown from Pope and placed it on his own head• Signaled that he was more powerful than the church

Creating an Empire• American Claims• Haiti

• Ruled by slaves who took power during Civil War• Napoleon sent his army to conquer Haiti- because of sugar production• Fighting/diseases caused him to call his soldiers back home

• Decided to cut all his losses in the Americas• Louisiana Purchase

• 1803- sold Louisiana Territory to Thomas Jefferson• $15 million dollars (4 cents/acre)

Conquering Europe• Already annexed Austrian Netherlands and parts of Italy • Slowly conquered country after country• British resistance

• Persuade Russia, Austria, and Sweden to fight w/ them against France

• Napoleon’s army crushed the opposition in a series of battles• Opposition couldn’t predict his next move

• Napoleon’s success forced rulers of Austria, Prussia, and Russia to sign peace treaties

• Created Largest Empire since the Romans• British navy was only enemy left undefeated

Battle of Trafalgar (Pg.232)• Napoleon’s only major loss• 1805- southwest coast of Spain• British commander- Heratio Nelson (strength=seas)• Napoleon (strength=land)• Nelson split the French & Spanish fleet- easy

capture/destruction• 2 Major Results

1. Ensured British naval supremacy for next 100 yrs.

2. Napoleon had to give up plans to invade Britain• Had no way of crossing the English Channel

French Empire• First decade of 1800s, Napoleon ruled over most of

Europe• 1812- Only countries not under his control

• Britain, Portugal, Sweden, & Ottoman Empire

• Controlled lands • Spain, Germany, Russia, Prussia, & Austria through conquest and

alliances• Huge but unstable• Controlled these lands from 1807-1812• Fell to pieces soon after

Comparing the Map

• Napoleon’s Empire • Europe Today

Exit Questions• Pg. 232

• Geography Skillbuilder #2

• Pg. 233 • #3• #4• #5