Context preceding Napoleon Bonaparte:
- The National Assembly, to this point, had been gaining fervor
- Due to continued food shortages and economic crisis, factions in social classes formed: the Émigré and the Sans-culottes
- On top of civil unrest, France faced external opposition as well as poor leadership
- Eventually, Jacobin leader Maximilien Robespierre came to absolute power, thus beginning the Reign of Terror
- After some time, some of Robespierre's followers began to turn on him, demanding his execution
- Out of all this drastic reformation, a 3rd type of government that placed power in the hand of the upper-middle class was drafted
- A slight sense of peace was instilled and a general came to fruition with enough tact to lead the French army
Napoleon's Rule:
- Set up an efficient method of tax collection
- Established a national banking system
- Dismissed corrupt officials
- Created lycées - public schools run by the government
- Signed a concordat, an agreement that set up a relationship between the church and the state, but didn't allow the church to influence national affairs
- Napoleonic Code: uniform set of laws set up by Napoleon, regarded as his greatest accomplishment. Also re-established slavery in Carribean colonies and restricted individual freedoms at net gain of order and authority
Napoleon Bonaparte:
- 1785 ~ Napoleon finished school and became lieutenant in the artillery
- 1795 ~ Napoleon's platoon fended off royalist rebels and became a hero
- 1796 ~ appointed to lead army against Austria & Sardinia
- Victory came when Napoleon tried to lead his troops across the Alps and Italy
- Defeat came, also, when Napoleon attempted to protect French trade routes while disrupting Britain's in Egypt
- 1799 ~ Napoleon, under advisory from friends, seized power; Coup d'etat
- 1800 ~ Vote - plebiscite - was held in France to decide on new constitution proposed by Napoleon (which would grant him virtual dictator status) and it was approved overwhelmingly
- 1802 ~ All nations (Britain, Austria, & Russia) signed peace treaties with France and Europe was at peace for the 1st time since 1792
- 1804 ~ Napoleon crowned himself emperor at support of French people (in a fashion showing himself more powerful than the church)
Expansion/Loss of French Territory Under Napoleon:
- 1789 ~ Angry enslaved Africans incited civil revolt, capturing the territory of Saint Domingue and demanding rights
- 1801 ~ Napoleon attempted to reclaim colony but failed, due to disease
- 1803 ~ Sold Louisiana Territory to U.S. president Thomas Jefferson for $15 million
- Napoleon only lost one major battle in his conquests: the Battle of Trafalgar, in 1805
- This defeat held more weight than the culmination of all other victories, however
- From 1807 to 1812, Napoleon's conquests had granted him an unstable empire that included all of Europe except for Britain, Portugal, Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire
Napoleon's Blunders:
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Impact of these actions:
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The End of the Napoleonic Era:
Napoleon's ultimate demise came at the hands of the alliance of Prussia, Russia, Great Britain, & Sweden that joined forces against him. Austria, despite the relation of Marie Antoinette, also declared war on France.
On October, 1813, Napoleon met his opposition in Leipzig, Germany and suffered almost instantaneous defeat, as he was outnumbered and out-trained.
On April, 1814, the combination of Russian and Prussian forces finally took the French capital and Napoleon's reign came to an end.
Napoleon attempted a 2nd time to return to power. While the Congress of Vienna met, Napoleon planned and executed his 100 Days, eventually leading up to his very final defeat: The Battle of Waterloo
On October, 1813, Napoleon met his opposition in Leipzig, Germany and suffered almost instantaneous defeat, as he was outnumbered and out-trained.
On April, 1814, the combination of Russian and Prussian forces finally took the French capital and Napoleon's reign came to an end.
Napoleon attempted a 2nd time to return to power. While the Congress of Vienna met, Napoleon planned and executed his 100 Days, eventually leading up to his very final defeat: The Battle of Waterloo