Napoleon
Seizes Power
• Napoleon was a solider during the French Revolution
• 1799 The Government lost control of the people and Napoleon staged a coup d'état
• People supported Napoleon because he brought peace and stability
Major Accomplishments
• Lycees– Government run public schools open to all males
• Napoleonic Code– Uniform set of laws and eliminated many
injustices– Laws restricted liberty and promoted order and
authority over individual rights• New Tax system– Was fairer
Empire
• Napoleon sought an empire• Attempted to reclaim colonies in Caribbean– Had been lost in French Revolution, locals fought
too hard for the French• Gave up on America– Sold Louisiana to America to raise money,
strengthen America and weaken Britain
Europe
• Was able to conquer most of mainland Europe• Attempted invasion of Britain– Failed miserably– Battle of Trafalgar
• By 1812 Napoleon controlled all of Europe but Britain, Portugal, Sweden and the Ottoman Empire
Collapse of Empire
• The Continental System– Set up blockade to prevent other countries from
trading with Britain and make Europe self sufficient
– Was unable to enforce blockade because his navy was weak
– Britain set up own blockade preventing ships from reaching Europe that was much more successful
Peninsular War
• To get Portugal to join the Continental System Napoleon attempted an invasion through Spain
• Spanish people fought a guerrilla war and prevented the French from succeeding
Invasion of Russia
• 1812 Napoleon attempted an invasion of Russia
• Russians used Scorched earth policy– Retreated and destroyed everything as they did– This left the French with nothing to eat and far
from their supplies
Downfall
• After failure in Russia every major power in Europe was at War with Napoleon
• April 1814 Napoleon was forced to surrender• Napoleon was banished to the island of Elba
100 Days
• Louis XVI’s brother took the French throne after Napoleon was defeated
• The new king was very unpopular with the people
• Napoleon escaped Elba and returned to France to a hero’s welcome and become Emperor (again)
100 Days
• European forces quickly united to fight Napoleon
• June 18, 1815 forces met at Waterloo• Battle lasted for 3 days Napoleon was
defeated • Now banished to St. Helena in South Atlantic
where he dies six years later
