Napoleon complete notes

Empire of Napoleon

French Revolution

  • Purpose of the French Revolution

  • Key figure: Napoleon Bonaparte

  • Origin: Corsica

  • Significant event: October 1795

  • Defense of the National Convention (replaced National Assembly) against loyalists

  • Labeled as the "Savior of the French Republic" due to military success during The Directory

  • Noteworthy aspects of Napoleon's rise:

  • Meteoric rise to fame through military victories

  • Setbacks not publicly disclosed

Initial Rise to Power

  • Coup d' État

  • Overthrow of the Directory using his troops

  • Established the Consulate

  • Became First Consul

  • Plebiscite to support the New Constitution

Reforms Implemented

  • National Banking System and tax reforms were introduced.

  • Merit-based system for government positions:

  • Reforms to reduce corruption

  • Establishment of Lycées (secondary schools)

  • Concordat with the Catholic Church to reconcile relationships and restore peace

Legal Reforms

  • Power limited through the Napoleonic Code:

  • Uniform laws reflecting revolutionary ideals

  • Restricted personal liberties such as freedom of speech and press

  • Restored slavery in French colonies in the Caribbean

Coronation

  • Crowned as Emperor on December 2, 1804 at Notre Dame Cathedral

Caribbean and Colonial Impact

French Caribbean Colonies

  • Slavery restored for sugar empire in Haiti with significant implications for the population.

  • Key figure in the revolt: Toussaint L’Ouverture led the fight against French occupation.

  • France's attempts to reclaim Haiti were unsuccessful.

  • Louisiana Purchase:

  • Sold to the United States for $15 million

  • Napoleon believed this would hurt British interests.

Military Campaigns and Policies

Continental System

  • Aimed to blockade Great Britain and enforce a monopoly system beneficial to France:

  • Difficult to enforce due to widespread smuggling.

Peninsular War (1808)

  • War with Portugal to enforce the Continental System:

  • Troops marched through Spain, escalating tensions

  • Spanish resistance utilized guerrilla tactics, weakening French forces.

Invasion of Russia (1812)

  • Conflict arose as Czar refused to align with the Continental System.

  • Napoleon's Grand Army of 420,000 entered Russia in June 1812.

  • The Czar practiced scorched-earth tactics, allowing Napoleon to advance but destroying resources.

  • Upon reaching Moscow, Czar Alexander ordered the city burned in September 1812.

  • The Grand Army's retreat began in October 1812 due to severe exhaustion, starvation, and exposure, with only 10,000 troops surviving.

Downfall of Napoleon

Coalition Forces

  • Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Sweden formed a coalition to combat Napoleon.

  • Consequence: Napoleon's forces, largely untrained, faced easy defeat at the Battle of Liepzig in 1813.

  • Coalition forces advanced into Paris in 1814, leading to Napoleon's exile to Elba in April 1814.

The Hundred Days and Final Exile

  • Brief return to power known as the Hundred Days

  • Defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.

  • Final exile to St. Helena.