NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
Chapter 4 Review
EARLY YEARS
 Born 15 August 1769 into a wealthy family
 Educated in a military school
 Rapidly promoted; commander of French army in Italy at 27 yrs.
• Promised Italian freedom from Austria
• Won battles to drive out Austrians; did NOT do as promised
• Funded army with art/jewelry stolen from Italy
 Conquered Egypt in 1798 to cut off British trade routes with India
• Successfully conquered Egypt; not successful cutting off Britain
MAKING FRANCE STRONG
 1799 – helped to overthrow the French government (“Directory”)
• Liberate other European countries, but own government = corrupt
 Ordered reorganization of laws into “Napoleonic Code”
• Laws reflect values
• Equality, right to hold property, freedom of religion
• Women LOST their rights
 Infrastructure -> employment, efficient transport of army
 Filled museums with (stolen) art
 Economy only seemed strong ($ stolen from other countries)
• France behind in industrial revolution
NAPOLEON THE EMPEROR
 Became a tyrant, but understood importance of public perception
 Censorship:
• Controlled media/law/education system to promote HIS values
 Social values
NAPOLEON AND EUROPE
 1800s, trying to expand empire, waged war with most of Europe
 Britain = France’s greatest enemy
• Stop trade with Europe -> punishment to ports allowing Brit ships
• Britain barred US from trading with French Empire
 Military victory = power
• “I wanted to rule the world, and in order to do this I needed unlimited
power… I wanted to rule the world – who wouldn’t have in my place? The
world begged me to govern it…”
 Napoleon’s family become monarchs of surrounding countries
• French Revolution reaches Europeans
•
Serfdom abolished; no inherited privileges for aristocrats; religious tolerance
THE RISE OF NATIONALISM
 Nationalism – a sense of pride in one’s country
• Danger?
 Middle Ages – identification with church/social class
 Spain rebels placement of Napoleon’s brother as King
• Guerilla warfare – 5 years – loss of many soldiers
 War declared on Russia (they resumed trade with Britain)
• Unsuccessful -> Napoleon’s decline
ABDICATION AND EXILE
 Defeat in Russia damaged French empire
 Lost battle of Leipzig
• Gave up throne -> exiled to Elba
 Louis XVIII comes to power
• Wanted to reinstate Divine Right of Kings
• Napoleon returns and rebuilds army
 The Battle of Waterloo
QUIZ TOMORROW!
 In paragraph form, and with reference to what you have learned in
chapter 4, answer the question below:
• What is Napoleon Bonaparte’s legacy? Was he a selfish and power
hungry dictator, or did he bring positive changes to Europe/the
World?