Napoleon’s Empire
Napoleon Bonaparte
• French General, had many great victories
• 1799 – coup d’etat (quick seizure of power)
against Directory
▫ Set up a dictatorship
▫ Executive Branch – 3 members called consuls
(Napoleon = 1st consul)
▫ Named himself Consul for Life – approved by a
plebiscite (vote by the people)
Restoring Order
• Wanted to strengthen central government and
achieve some goals of Revolution
• Efficient method of tax collection
• National banking system
• Dismissed corrupt officials
• Set up lycees – government run schools
• Signed concordat with Pope Pius VII
▫ New relationship between church and state
▫ Church influence recognized but rejected in
national affairs
Napoleonic Code
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Uniform set of laws
Eliminated many injustices
Actually limited liberty
Promoted order and authority over individual
rights
Building an Empire
• Names himself Emperor
• Continued success on the battlefield
• Battle of Trafalgar – British defeat French navy
▫ Gave up plans for invading Britain
• By 1812, controlled most of Europe
▫ People resented paying taxes and sending soldiers
to fight for France
Napoleon’s Mistakes
• Continental System – countries must stop trade
with Britain
▫ Failed – British maintained control of seas
▫ Goal to make the continent of Europe self
sufficient
▫ Not everyone always followed the blockade
Invasion of Russia
Invasion of Russia
• Napoleon mad that Russia withdrew from
Continental System
• Russia used a scorched-earth policy – burned as
they retreated
• Bitter winter – not used to it, many froze
(420,000 to 10,000)
• After French were defeated many other
countries began declaring war on them as well
Napoleon’s Surrender
• Abdicated his throne and is exiled to Elba
• Napoleon returns a year later and reigns as
emperor for 100 days
• European countries advance – fear Napoleon
would try to take over Europe again – meet
Napoleon at Waterloo
• Napoleon defeated again and exiled to St.
Helena
Legacy
• Spread ideas throughout Europe
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Equality
Religious toleration
Advancement through merit
Reformed tax systems
Promoted education
Congress of Vienna
• Europe needs to create a long-lasting peace
• Russia, Prussia, Austria, Great Britain, France
• Led by Prince Kelmens von Metternich
• Wanted to restore a balance of power
Result
• France is a major power but diminished
• Rulers Napoleon drove out were restored to
their thrones
• Nations of an entire continent cooperated