Chapter 7 Section 3Napoleon Forges an Empire

Napoleon Seizes PowerNapoleon Bonaparte1. Short; 5’3”2. Raised in a military

school3. Saved the National

Convention in 17954. Appointed to lead the

French army against Austria

5. In 4 years became the master of France

Hero of the Hour10/1795: Royalists marched on the

National ConventionNapoleon was ordered to protect the

conventionHe used cannon fire to disperse the crowdNapoleon became the hero of the hourHe was hailed across France as the savior of the

people

The Directory1. The new government of France 2. Created in 17953. 5 men held the power4. Appointed Napoleon to the position of

General of the Army in 17965. Napoleon won a series of victories in Italy 6. He then tried to repeat his success in Egypt

but failed to defeat the British Lost to British commander Admiral Horatio

Nelson

Coup d’Etat1. 1799: the Directory had lost control politically in

France. The French people had lost confidence in them too

2. 1799: Napoleon returned from Egypt and seized power; Bloodless

3. The national legislature voted to dissolve the Directory

4. Established 3 consuls; 1 was Napoleona. He claimed the title 1st Consul and assumed the

powers of a dictator

5. Britain, Austria, & Russia fought to drive Napoleon from power but signed peace agreements by 1802

6. Europe at Peace

Napoleon rules France1. The plebiscite: vote of the people2. The vote approved a new constitution

giving Napoleon all real power in France3. Economic help:

a. Efficient tax collectionb. National banking systemc. Created better economic control

4. Corruption was also endeda. Lycees: gov’t run schoolsb. Best graduates were appointed to public

office

Napoleon and the Church1. New agreement with the Pope

a. concordat: the gov’t would recognize the influence of the church

b. Church would not have any control of national affairs

2. Napoleon gained the support of the church and a majority of the people

The Napoleonic Code1. A uniform set of laws, eliminating many

injustices2. Limited freedoms and promoted order

over individual rights Freedom of speech was replaced by

censorship

3. Restored slavery in the Caribbean colonies

4. 1804 Napoleon makes himself Emperor of France and the people approve

Actually crowned himself instead of being crowned by the Pope

New Laws1.

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Creating an Empire1. After a failed military campaign in Saint

Domingue, Napoleon sold Louisiana territory to the US in 1803

2. Helped solidify the US power3. Already controlled Switzerland, part of

Italy, & the Netherlands4. Austria, Russia, Britain, and Sweden joined

together to defend against a French attack The Battle of Austerlitz, 1805

5. Napoleon won several victories against this newly formed alliance

6. Austria, Prussia, & Russia signed peace treaties after being routed by France

Creating an Empire con’t1. The battle of Trafalgar

a. Only loss for Napoleon during this campaign

b. Admiral Horatio Nelson defeated the French navy

c. Stopped Napoleon from being able to invade Great Britain

d. Britain was the most powerful navy in the world for the next 100 years

2. By 1812, Napoleon controlled much of Europe

3. His military might kept most of the conquered nations loyal out of fear

4. The empire was huge, but unstable