Napoleon Bonaparte: Directory to Consulate

The Directory

• Corrupt – only 5 men making decisions• People starving• Needed a change• War in Europe was still continuing

Napoleon BonaparteName: Napoleon BonaparteNicknames: The Little Corporal,

The CorsicanDate of Birth/Death: August 15,

1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica/ May 5, 1821

Spouses: Josephine (1796) Marie-Louise (1810)• Graduated from the French

Military Academy at 16 (5 years earlier than most)

• As a boy, he hated the French• 5’2 inches tall

Napoleon and the Directory

• Elected leader of the French army in the war against Austria/Prussia

• Put down royalist revolt in Paris (revolt against the National Convention)

• Captured Egypt to cut off British trade (naval forces defeated)

• Napoleon managed to keep the naval defeat secret

• Became extremely popular with the people

Overthrow of the Directory (Coup d’etat)

• Directory had lost control of the political situation in France

• Friends wanted him to take political power• 1799-Troops surrounded the legislature and

forced most members to leave• The government was turned over to Napoleon• He formed ANOTHER government….The

Consulate

The Consulate

A plebiscite vote (vote of the people) held in 1800 approved the new Constitution

New Constitution:• Executive branch• 3 consuls• Napoleon-1st consulate (concentrated power)• Legislative:• Several bodies• 1802: Napoleon names himself Consul for Life

Reforms under the Consulate

• Efficient method of tax collection • National Banking System (Bank of France)

- Everyone paid taxes, government made loans to businesses, leveled inflation

• Dismissed corrupt officials• Created lycees (government-run public

schools) - open to all male students

Reforms Under the Consulate

Concordat 1801• Definition: government recognized the influence

of the Catholic Church • Rejected church influence in governmental affairs• Napoleon received support from the churchNapoleonic CodeDefinition: comprehensive system of laws which

eliminated many injustices.

The Napoleonic Code • Religious toleration• Advancement based on merit, not birth• Trial by jury• All citizens equal under the lawHowever……• Limited liberty and promoted order and authority

over individual rights• *Women inferior, censorship*• Restored slavery in the colonies in the Caribbean • Placed state above the individual!

Napoleon Declared Emperor

1804- declares himself emperorPope was present to crown himBut…Napoleon crowned himself emperorWhat did this signify??• Napoleon thought himself more powerful than

the Church

NAPOLEON CREATES AN EMPIRE!!