Napoleon Bonaparte Rise and Fall. Hero of the Revolution 1795-Defended the National Convention delegates and became a hero 1796- Directory appointed Napoleon.

Napoleon BonaparteRise and Fall

Hero of the Revolution

• 1795-Defended the National Convention delegates and became a hero

• 1796- Directory appointed Napoleon to lead French against Austria and Sardinia

Coup d'état

• 1799 Napoleon with his troops forced out the Directory and became dictator

• A sudden seizure of power is a coup• “blow to the state”

Napoleonic Code

• Comprehensive system of laws created by Napoleon

• Uniform set of laws and eliminated injustices• Actually limited liberty and promoted order

and authority over individual rights

Loss of American Territories

• Due to revolts in Saint Domingue and a costly war with the British Napoleon gave up on an American empire

• Louisiana Purchase sale gained money to finance war operations in Europe

Emperor Napoleon

• 1804 Napoleon took the crown from the pope and crowned himself Emperor of France

• Symbolic gesture showing Napoleon is more powerful than the Church

War in Europe

• Napoleon looked to expand French Empire across Europe

• Only major defeat at Trafalgar- British Admiral Nelson defeated French fleet ensuring British naval supremacy and prevented England from French invasion

• Napoleon.bmp

Continental System

• Blockade of European ports to prevent trade with England

• Plan failed and English countered with their own Blockade

• Led to War of 1812 between US and England

Peninsular War

• Napoleon tried to enforce the Continental System in Spain and Portugal by making his brother King and sending troops

• Fought against guerrillas unsuccessfully

Scorched-Earth Policy

• Again trying to enforce failed Continental System invaded Russia (ally of France)

• 422,000 French soldiers marched on Russia• As Russians pulled back they burned fields and

killed livestock so the French would have nothing to eat as they advanced

• Early winter set in and the French retreated… they were ambushed by Russians

• Russian March.bmp

Napoleon Defeated

• Several countries joined forces against France

• April 1814 he surrendered his throne and was exiled to the island of Elba

Return of Napoleon

• People of France were unhappy with their new king (placed after Napoleon was defeated)

• Napoleon in Elba learned of this and was welcomed back by the French people

Waterloo

• Napoleon fought the Duke of Wellington (British) and Prussian troops in Belgium

• British and Prussian troops forced Napoleon to retreat

Hundred Days

• Napoleon’s return to power in France

• Ended with the defeat at Waterloo

• Napoleon was sent to St. Helena to live in exile until he died in 1821