Napoleon Forges an Empire

1. Section 4 Napoleon Forges an Empire

2. Napoleon Forges and Empire • In four years Napoleon rose from an unknown army officer to the ruler of France • 1796 the Directory appoints him to lead the French army against the Austrians and the Kingdom of Sardinia • Napoleon defeats them in Italy and is seen as a national hero • Napoleon is sent to Egypt to disrupt British trade • He is unable to repeat his success, but he manages to keep his defeat out of the newspapers in France, he returns to France as a national hero

3. Napoleon Forges an Empire • 1799 the Directory had lost control and confidence of the French people • Napoleon forces the National Legislature to dissolve the Directory and change the government • He had the army behind his attempt to take power • Government was a group of three consuls • Napoleon was the first consul and he assumed the power of a dictator • At the time of Napoleons takeover France was still at war • Britain, Russia and Austria wanted to remove Napoleon from power • Napoleon used war and diplomacy to sign peace agreements with all three countries • 1802 Europe was at peace for the first time in 10 years

4. Napoleon Forges an Empire • Napoleon kept many of the changes from the Revolution • Wanted to bring order and stability to France • Economy- set up an efficient method of tax collection, established a national banking system • Dismissed corrupt government officials and trained new officials in government run schools called lycees • Graduates were appointed to public office based on merit • Religion- Napoleon wanted to restore position of Catholic Church in France • Signed a Concordant (agreement) that gained the support of the church and many French people • Laws- Napoleon developed a system of uniform laws known as the Napoleonic Code • It limited liberty, and promoted order and authority over individual rights • Freedom of speech and the press was restricted

5. Napoleon Forges an Empire • 1804 Napoleon has himself crowned emperor of France • Napoleon wanted to control the rest of Europe and reassert French power in the Americas • 1801 A slave revolt on the island of Saint Domingue resulted in loss of French control • Napoleon tried to retake control and failed • Decided to cut losses in the Americas and sold the Louisiana Territory to the US for $15 million dollars (Louisiana Purchase) • Gave Napoleon money to Finance his wars in Europe • Also allowed him to keep the British from taking control of the territory

6. Napoleon Forges an Empire • Napoleon turned his attention to Europe • He had already annexed parts of Austria and Italy • Britain, Russia, Sweden declared war against France and Napoleon • Napoleon defeated them (except Britain) and forced them to sign peace treaties • Used rapid movement, surprise and the size of his army to defeat his enemies • He built the largest empire in Europe since the Roman Empire • France’s only major enemy left was England • England had the world’s most powerful navy and France had the world most powerful army

7. Napoleon Forges an Empire • Napoleon lost only one major battle • 1805Battle of Trafalgar he was defeated by the British navy • French navy was destroyed • Ensured the supremacy of the British navy for next 100 years • Forced Napoleon to give up plans to invade Britain • Napoleons victories across Europe gave him control over most of Europe • Put friends and relatives in charge of defeated countries • Areas he did not control he controlled through alliances and threats of military action • Lasted for only 5 years (1807-1812)