3. Overthrow of the Directory
Napoleon once said:
“I found the crown of
France lying on the
ground and I picked it
up with a sword.”
1799 New French
Constitution
2 consuls
Napoleon became
consul for the next 10
years
4. Domestic and Religious Policy
Napoleon quickly cleaned up the bandits that
polluted France
Religious Reform
Concordat of 1801
Napoleon named Bishops
Church officials received state salaries (Protestants too!)
“With the aid of Catholicism I should easily attain
all my great results.”
5. Napoleonic Code
Before the codification there were almost 300 different law systems,
during the revolution efforts were made to prepare a single code,
and Napoleon finished it
Freedom of speech and press were curtailed, but made laws less
confusing
Other Reforms
Education was placed under state control.
Public school system financed by taxes.
National bank
1802 voters approved when Napoleon named himself First Consul for
life.
Approved (1804) Emperor of the French.
6. Napoleon’s Empire
Treaty of Amiens March 1802
peace between France and
Britain
Napoleon had already
defeated Austria and Italy and
convinced Russia to withdraw.
7. Third Coalition
Britain declared war in 1803
Britain, Austria, Russia and Sweden were unable to
defeat France and Spain
Napoleon’s Empire quickly expanded to include all
Europe.
Confederation of the Rhine
Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805
defeat to French and Spanish navies.
economic warfare.
8. Continental System
Destroy the British trade by shutting British goods
and shipping out of all European ports
The Berlin Decree forbid British goods in the ports
under French control.
Russia and Prussia had to go
Portugal refused and Napoleon attacked
Spain refused-Napoleon turned against his ally and
placed his brother on the throne.
9. Invasion of Russia
Alexander I’s defied France and needed to be
punished.
1812 France started into Russia
The Russians burnt everything
Napoleon delayed retreat
Russian troops attacked Napoleon’s as they
retreated
4/5 of Napoleon’s army was captured or died
before reaching the Prussia
10.
11. Napoleon’s Defeat
Leipzig, Germany in October 1813
Napoleon was exiled to Elba
Boundaries of France were reduced to those of
1792.
12. 100 Days
March 1, 1815 Napoleon remained in command for
100 days.
France met Britain, Netherlands, Prussia at
Waterloo June 1815. The French were defeated.
Napoleon was placed under house arrest on St.
Helena of the South Atlantic till1821.
13. Napoleon’s Legacy
Freedom of Religion
End of the Political reign of the Catholic Church
Taste of Freedom from Monarch
