Napoleon Bonaparte

Mr. Green

Setting the Stage for Greatness

Napoleon, a very short man, will become recognized as one of the world’s greatest military geniuses

In only four years (1795-1799) Napoleon rose from officer to the Master of France

Napoleon Seizes Power

When Revolution broke out, Napoleon joined army of the new government

After protecting Revolutionaries at the National Convention, Napoleon became leader of the French Army

Coup d’Etat- “Blow to the State

By 1799, French people lost hope in the Directory and Napoleon stormed in and forced a change of power; urged by the people, he was voted as new leader

As Britain, Austria, and Russia wanted to drive Napoleon out of power, they signed a peace agreement in 1802 instead (1st peace in Europe in 10 years)

Napoleon Rules France

At first, Napoleon pretended to be the constitutionally chosen leader of a free republic

Plebiscite- Vote of the people- to approve a new constitution and all real power went to Napoleon

A New Way For France

Instead of being like Louis XVI, he wanted to get the economy on a solid footing

Established National Banking System

Fired corrupt government officials

Created lycees- government-run public schools (graduates appointed to public office on merit rather than family-ties)

Concordat- Established a new relationship between church and state

Napoleonic Code- System of Laws that restricted speech and press but restored authority over individual rights (also restored slavery in colonies)

Emperor

In 1804, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor from the Pope- symbolized he was now MORE POWERFUL than the Church

The French Empire

Napoleon and France owned all of Europe besides England, Portugal, Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire

The French Empire was huge but unstable

Napoleon’s Empire Collapses

Napoleon’s Costly Mistakes

Napoleon’s own personality proved to be the greatest danger to the future of his empire

In efforts to extend the French Empire and crush Great Britain, Napoleon made THREE disastrous mistakes

Mistake #1: The Continental System

(1806) By setting up a Blockade- a forcible

closing of ports- to prevent all trade and communication between England and Europe

This policy was known as the Continental System because it was designed to make Europe more self sufficient and to crush England’s economy in the process

Mistake #2: Invasion of Spain

(1808) To make Portugal accept the

Continental System, Napoleon marched through Spain. To help protect the Church, the Spanish used bands of peasant fighters known as Guerrillas

This fight lasted for 6 years and was dubbed the Peninsular War

Mistake #3: Invasion of Russia

(1812) Since Russia would not stop trade

with England, Napoleon thought it was necessary to invade

As the Russians faced 500,000 strong of the French they retreated slow enough practicing a scorched-earth policy- involved burning grain fields and slaughtering livestock which left nothing to enemies

Advertising Agency Activity

Imagine you are a member of an advertising agency in present-day France for the French Military. You and your associate (person sitting next to you) are assigned a task to create the “Do’s and Don’t’s” of Military Control. Based on you and your partner’s extensive research on Napoleon, visually depict the THREE MAJOR MISTAKES that should never happen again for France’s Military.

Waterloo

On June 18, 1815, Napoleon attacked the British Army near a village known as Waterloo-in Belgium

As the British were defending the grounds all day, the Prussians swept through and surrounded Napoleon’s forces and chased them out of Waterloo

Hundred Days

This defeat ended Napoleon’s last bid for power-known as the Hundred Days

Taking no chances, the British shipped him to an island known as St. Helena

Napoleon died there six years later

Napoleon’s Importance

Based on all of the information that you received throughout the last week or so on Napoleon Bonaparte, please discuss his impact/importance on society throughout Europe and how he measures up amongst leaders throughout the history of the world. Please produce a ONE paragraph response on your own paper.