Lesson 3.6
Knight’s Charge
Who filled the “power vacuum” that was
created after Louis XVI was executed?
 What happened during the “Reign of
Terror?”
 Why did Robespierre have so many
people killed?
 How were people executed? Why?
 If Mr. Sliwa were any television show
character, who would he be?

Weird Disney Fact of the Day!
French Turmoil
By the late 1790’s, people were begging
for some sort of stability in France
 The “Directory” was not providing
stability
 The one force that was able to take
“charge” of the nation was…
 The Army!!!

Rise of Napoleon







Napoleon was a political leader in the army
The army embodied the popular values of the nation
Born in 1769 – Napoleon received a large scholarship to
the military academy
He quickly became a lieutenant in the army
He inspired and motivated troops
Was one of the first to study famous military campaigns
and the use of technology
The French revolution gave him the opportunity to use his
knowledge and talents
Military Successes
Napoleon led successful campaigns
against France’s enemies – Particularly
Italy
 Some of his tactics:

 Speed: Use of a cavalry to outflank the




opponent
Surprise: To gain a territorial advantage
Decisive Action: Aa centralized chain of
command
Quick Artillery Strikes: to injure the enemy
before an attack
Used “overwhelming force” to disperse the
enemy lines
Rise of Napoleon





He returns to Paris a hero!
His only remaining enemy:
England!
But, Napoleon is ….Smart.
He decides to attack England’s colonies in
Egypt instead!
Napoleon Grabs Power
When he returns to France, he uses the
army to overthrow the directory and
establish a consulate.
 Consulate = A 3 person executive
branch
 The consulate had democratic
principles…but, Napoleon seized power
for himself and named himself “First
Consul.”

Napoleon as Emperor
Has a BIG EGO!
 Re-Writes the French Constitution to
include his title as “Emperor of the
French.”
 Invites Pope to Coronation – But, places
crown on his own head!
 Extends Napoleonic Code (set of laws)
around Europe

Napoleonic Code






1. Safeguards all forms of
property
2. Employment to be based on
talent, not birth
3. Merit- Based Pay
4. Workers organizations are
forbidden
5. Men are granted FULL control
of their families
6. Divorce was made difficult, if
not impossible, for women
Napoleon’s Empire
Napoleon could put as
many as 700,000 men in
the military at one time.
 Nobody could match his
army
 He could not wipe out
England because they
had a better Navy
 So…He adopted the
Continental System to
cripple their trade

The Continental System
France forbids any of the conquered
nations to trade with the British.
 He hoped to create a revolution in
England and drive them to war
 The system was a COMPLETE
FAILURE
 The British economy survived by trading
with…
 North and South America.

The Fall of Napoleon


Russia did not like him
1810 – Russia withdraws from the
Continental System and prepares for war
 Napoleon’s Biggest Mistake:
 Napoleon creates an army of 600,000 men
to fight Russia.
 Russia practiced a “scorched earth” policy.
They destroyed all food, supplies, and land
as they retreated from an area.
 Napoleon’s army could not live off of the
land
 It was bitterly cold…so, Napoleon
abandons his own army and retreats.
…Sad Napoleon…
Weakened, Napoleon is captured and
exiled to Elba.
 The Hundred Days – Napoleon escapes,
takes control of France again, and is finally
defeated at the Battle of Waterloo…and
exiled again…

Napoleon is
now Sad…