The End of Napoleon
The End of Napoleon
Agenda
1. Bell Ringer: What is the impact of Napoleon on
France after the Reign of Terror?
2. Lecture: The Downfall of Napoleon
3. The End of Napoleon Clip (2:30 to end)
4. The Mistakes of Napoleon Chart
5. Propaganda Analysis, Fall of Napoleon
6. The Phases of Revolution Group Activity/Timeline
Obj: Students will analyze the fall of Napoleon and the impact on Europe.
Napoleon’s Mistakes
• He needs a son to run the Empire, divorces
Josephine and allies with the Austrian
Royals.
– Son, Napoleon II
• Overextended the empire in his quest for more power over the people.
Napoleon’s Mistakes: Continental
System
• Blockade to prevent communication between
Great Britain and Europe.
• Napoleon thought Europe would be self-sufficient.
• Smugglers could get through the blockade
• Britain allowed its own blockade, and caused economic turmoil in
France.
Mistakes: Peninsular War
• Napoleon disregarded Spain and invaded Portugal in 1808.
• Deposing the monarch, people begin to rebel in Spain.
– Defended their faith.
• Guerrilla warfare would weaken French forces (they couldn’t figure out how to fight them)
• Britain would help the rebels against the French.
• Nationalist ideas worked against Napoleon.
Mistakes: Invasion of Russia
• Decided to attack Alexander I for selling grain to Britain.
• Napoleon’s grand army was a conglomeration of many cultures.
• Russians would retreat in a “scorchedearth” policy, leaving no supplies for the invading army.
• Russian winter kept them in Moscow, soldiers began to retreat to Europe.
• The winter, and Russian raiders would attack troops sporadically in -30 degree weather.
• Begins war with 422,000 and leaves with less than 40,000.
The Downfall
• Everyone went against
France, including Austria.
• 1814, Russia and Prussia make it to Paris. Napoleon’s generals refuse to fight.
• Exiled to Elba, Louis XVIII takes power in France.
• 1815, Napoleon escapes, rounds up an army, and takes France from the King.
– Quickly removed from power after 100 days.
• Waterloo- Final stand for
Napoleon.
Death of Napoleon
• He dies in 1821, still in exile.
• How did he die?
– Doctors say stomach cancer…
– Arsenic in the wallpaper, mold may have carried it into his body…
– Murdered?
