Napoleonic Wars and Beyond PDF

NAPOLEONIC WARS AND BEYOND SIGNIFICANCE An empire emerges from the republic Under the control of one man Conquers most of Europe in a decade Due to his military genius Finally brought order to France By his strong leadership and success Changed the balance of power in...

NAPOLEONIC WARS AND BEYOND SIGNIFICANCE An empire emerges from the republic Under the control of one man Conquers most of Europe in a decade Due to his military genius Finally brought order to France By his strong leadership and success Changed the balance of power in Europe Europe would try and prevent a similar phenomenon until WW2 ORIGINS OF NAPOLEON Originally from Corsica, not France Enrolled in a French military academy Becomes an officer in artillery Successfully repels royalist rebels Is hailed as a hero of the Republic Promoted and given command of army To fight both Austria and Britain COUP D’ETAT The Directory had lost its authority People wanted leadership Napoleons + 2 members of the Directory Successfully overthrow the government Abolishes the Directorate Proclaims himself as the First Consul Rules like a dictator NAPOLEON’S RULE IN FRANCE Restored the government Napoleonic Code Merit-based government officials Meant to define the rights of the Created public schools to train French them And their full equality under the Restored relations with the law Included freedom of speech & Church religion Allowed the Church back into Made him popular among France radicals But rejected its role in any civil affairs Ended the wars with Britain and Made him popular among Austria conservatives FRENCH EMPIRE Wanted to create a European empire under French control A “United-States of Europe” Makes himself emperor in 1804 Pope is there, meant to crown him But Napoleon takes it and crowns himself To show that he is subject to no one, even God FRENCH EMPIRE Abandons France’s New World territory Haiti successfully revolts Napoleon sells Louisianna to the USA Conquers Italy, Spain, and German lands Britain, Austria, Russia, and Sweden ally to stop Napoleon Coalition Wars NAPOLEONIC WARS France defeats Austria at Austerlitz Destroys the Holy Roman Empire Britain remains at war with France Fearful of invasion by Napoleon Britain wins the Battle of Trafalgar Royal Navy wins a decisive victory Limits France to army operations NAPOLEONIC WARS Prussia alarmed by France’s expansion Prussia joins the war against France Napoleon defeats them too France controls all of Western Europe Creates the Continental System A massive embargo against Britain Meant to bankrupt and starve NAPOLEONIC WARS Portugal refused to accept the System France invades to force them Portuguese and Spanish rise up Napoleon’s brother was king of Spain Afraid of France weakening the Church Pro-Spanish, anti-French nationalism Wars in Spain weaken the French Empire NAPOLEONIC WARS Russia continues to trade with Britain Napoleon begins invading Russia Russia chooses not to fight Scorched-earth tactic Napoleon reaches Moscow But Russians burnt it down beforehand Cold and hunger decimates the army Starts with 400k troops, leaves NAPOLEONIC WARS Coalition rises again Invades France and beats Napoleon Napoleon abdicates his throne Napoleon sent to Elba in exile Louis XVIII (brother of Louis XVI) Put on the throne by the Coalition Extremely unpopular NAPOLEONIC WARS The Hundred Days Napoleon returns to France Usurps power once again Coalition declares war again Napoleon defeated at Waterloo (1815) Napoleon exiled again to St. Helena Where he dies in exile AFTER NAPOLEON European rulers longed for peace Did not want France to repeat the wars European leaders wanted conservativism Wanted to ensure a balance of power Wanted to restore monarchs to their thrones Assemble the Congress of CONGRESS OF VIENNA A meeting between 5 countries Russia, Austria, Britain, Prussia, France Klemens von Metternich Representative from Austria Chairman of the meeting Most influential figure Staunch conservative CONGRESS OF VIENNA How to treat France after Napoleon Did not want to be too strict But wanted to prevent any more wars Decide to surround France with stronger countries Kingdom of the Netherlands German Confederation Switzerland becomes its own nation CONGRESS OF VIENNA Balance of Power Making sure no one power becomes too strong Made to prevent not just French But also Prussian and Russian expansion France is kept intact To prevent another conquering them And becoming too powerful CONGRESS OF VIENNA Considered a reactionary movement Against revolutionary ideas Restoration of the monarchies Of France, Spain, and Italian kingdoms Meant to restore stability and order Concert of Europe An agreement to help other countries put down any revolutions CONGRESS OF VIENNA Long-term consequences France permanently weakened Britain and Prussia continue to grow Britain with its colonies Prussia within Europe Nationalism Would result in revolutions in both New World and in Europe