Napoleon Bonaparte

Question 1

Who was Napoleon and his Emergence?

Answer 1

The Emergence of Napoleon:

• The war dragged on and the Directory became corrupt as many members were financially profiting from the war
• The people of France were becoming disillusioned with the Revolution and longed for peace and security
• This set the scene for a need for a strong leader to emerge…. Napoleon Bonaparte

Side note:
1. Large organized well trained, well led military
2. Widespread taxation
Everyone pays their share
3. Central bank
4. Public education system – with a curriculum
5. Single currency
6. Single code of laws
All of these things did not exist before Napoleon, these are modern workings of society, these exist because of him

Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821):

• Born on French Island of Corsica in the Mediterranean sea (one of those island that always switch what country it was under bc it was always being re-taken)
• Eventually crowned himself Emperor of the French
• Had an empire that covered most of the western and continental Europe
• Considered the greatest military of his time – reign lasted for nearly 20 years
• Attended a prestigious military academy
  Louis XVI offered free education to th children of wealthy nobles
• Graduated at 16 and became a lieutenant in the French army

Question 2

What happened during Napoleon’s early military career, Egypt, and the Coup d’Etat?

Answer 2

Early Military Career:

• First campaign was his attack on Austrian coalition in Italy
• Showed his bravery by crossing a burning bridge and earned the nickname “Petit Caporal” or “Little Corporal”
  He was only 5’2” (5’7” in American measurements)
• Conquered most of northern Italy for France
  Moved to: suppress religious orders, end serfdom, and limit noble privilege
• 1797: he came within 80 miles of Vienne and Austria surrendered
  Returned to Paris a hero

Egypt (1798-1799)

• Why? Major shipping route for Britain
  Could attack their route to India
• Won several battles but was destroyed at the mouth of the Nile
• Returned to Paris and surrendered his command to another French Officer
  Everyone assumed he had won… Napoleon didnt say anything different

Coup d’Etat

• Coup d’Etat: overthrowing the gov
• French Revolution ended with a coup d’etat led by Napoleon on November 9, 1799
  Napoleon claimed to save the revolution
  Quickly became the Emperor of France
• Took the crown from Pope Pius and placed it upon his own head at his coronation
  In 1802, named himself the sole “Consul for Life”
  In 1804, proclaimed himself “Emperor of France”

Question 3

What was the Government of the Consulate, the Concordat, and Lycées?

Answer 3

Government of the Consulate:

1. Council of State (executive)
   Proposed laws
   Served as cabinet and the highest court
2. Tribunat (part of executive and legislative)
   Debated laws but did not vote on them, (debate laws proposed by the council/napolean bc hes part of it)
3. Legislature
   Voted on laws but did not discuss or debate them
4. Senate
   Had the right to review and veto legislation

Issues? Think Montesquieu

Concordat of 1801:

• Catholicism was declared the religion of the majority of Frenchman
• Seperated Church andf State
• French gov appointed Bishops and paid them
  Pope had authority over them
• Church property stayed iwth those who received it during the Revolution
• Pope Pius VII eventually renounced the Concordat
  Napoleon had brought him to France and placed under house arrest

Lycées:

• Nation-wide, state-funded educational system
• Initially, the most talented students would attend
  Tuition
  Assistance for poorer students
  Indoctrination: taught nationalism to its students
• Indoctrination: teaching a doctrine with one specific point of view

Question 4

What were Napoleon’s reforms and the Napoleonic Code (and its influence)?

Answer 4

Napoleon’s Reforms:

• He set about trying to solve France’s domestic problems by establishing:
  The Bank of France (Banque de France)
  A reformed tax system (everyone pays taxes)
  A positive relationship with the Catholic Church (Condordat)
  Acted as though he wanted to giv ethe Church its power back
  But really wanted the Church to support his regime (it worked)

Napoleonic Code of 1804

• Napoleon rewrote the legal system, reflecting ancient Roman Law. This was named the Napoleonic Code:
  Recognized the equality of all men
  Guaranteed religious freedom and the right to choose any occupation (no longer had to do what your family did)
  Rights to protect women and children were abolished
• Divided civil law into:
  Personal status
  Property
  The acquisition of property

The Napoleonic Code’s Influence:

• It was implemented in all conquered territories not just France
• Swept away feudal property relations

How would other nations react to this?

Question 5

What was the the Continental System?

Answer 5

The Continental System

• Goal: to economically isolate Britain and promoted Napoleon’s mastery over Europe
  1. The Berlin Decree (1806)
  Closed all European ports to British trade
  The entire continent joined in this economic blockade
  In 1810, Russia withdrew, causing Napoleon to prepare for war
  2. Order in Council (1806)
  Britain proclaimed any ship stopping in France would be seized when it entered the continent
  3. Milan Decree (1807)
  Napoleon proclaimed any ship stopping in Britain would be seized when it entered the continent

Question 6

Napoleon and Russia

Answer 6

Napoleon and Russia: Defeated by Russia (1812):

• In July, 1812 Napoleon marched iinto Russia
  Russia avoided direct confrontation - Napoleons men (army) were superior
  Retreated to Moscow
  Drew French into the interior of Russia
  Russian nobles abandoned their estates and burned their crops to the ground
  “Scorched earth policy”
  Left French to operate far from their supply bases without food

Napoleon’s troops Nearing Moscow:

• September 14, 1812 → Napoleon reached Moscow, but the city had largely abandoned
• The Russians had set fire to the City
• Major loss for Napoleon

Question 7

Napoleon’s second last defeat, his abdication, and the 100 days

Answer 7

The Second Last Defeat:

• Napoleon Raised another Army
  300 000 strong
  Reclaim the Confederation of the Rhine which was lost after the Russian defeat
• Battle of Leipzig (1813)
  Also referred to as the “Battle of Nations”
  Prussia, Britain, Russia, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and the smaller German States united to defeat Napoleon

Napoleon Abdicates:

• Allied forces (those that opposed Napoleon) occupied Paris on March 31, 1814
• Abdicated on April 6 in favor of his son
  Allies insisted on unconditional surrender
• Napoleon abdicated again on April 11
• Treaty of Fontainbleau: exiles Napoleon to Elba
• Royalists took control - restored Louis XVIII to the throne
• Napoleon promised he would be back “when the flowers bloom”

The 100 Days:

• Return of Napoleon when he recognized that the people were upset with Louis XVIII
• Marched to Paris
  French people joined him, along with royalist soldiers
• Louis XVIII abdicates
  Napoleon is back in power

Question 8

What happened in Waterloo and Napoleon’s final abdication?

Answer 8

Waterloo (Napoleon’s Final Defeat):

• Waterloo, in Belgium, would be the site of Napeleon ‘s last stand
  Btitish and the Prussians vs. France
  France may have won this battle
  Rain storm halted battle and allowed the Prussians to re-group with the British
  June 18, 1815: Duke of Wellington used what he had learned from studying Napoleon to ultimately defeat him

Napoleon’s Final Abdication

• Exiled to St. Helena
  Middle of the Atlantic Ocean
• British boats circled the island 24-hours a day
• On this island, Napoleon would spend the last remaining 6 years of his life
  Died 1821 od Stomach Cancer
• His last words were: France, armee, tete d’armee, Josephine (France, army, head of army, Josephine)