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Coup D´etat (Becoming dictator)
When Napoleon returned from Egypt, he wanted political power, so he took action. He quickly took the title of the first consul and assumed he was the dictator. In French, Coup D´etat means blow to the state because a coup is a sudden seizure of power. During the time of Napoleon's coup, France was still at war so 3 nations teamed up to attempt to drive Napoleon from power. Eventually, these nations made peace with France under Napoleon's power. -
Accomplishments of Napoleon
Although he made some mistakes that caused France many lives and huge debt, Napoleon was a successful man and had many accomplishments. He was the first Emperor of France and he did many things to help France during their rough times. He improved the balance of power, brought an end to their post-revolution chaos, rebuilt Paris into a beautiful city, founded the French banking system, and created the legal code that they use today! -
Concordat
The Concordat is an agreement with Pope Pius VII signed by Napoleon that established a new relationship between Church and state. This agreement stated that the government understood and recognized the influence of the Church, but did not allow the Church to control national affairs. Napoleon gained the support of the Church and many French people by this agreement. -
Loss of American Territories
In 1789, the planters demanded that the National Assembly give them the same privileges as the people of France. This led to enslaved Africans demanding their rights as well, which caused a civil war to begin. In 1803, Napoleon decided to sell all of the Louisiana Territory to the US because he knew it would give him more money and it would punish the British. -
Napoleonic Code
The Napoleonic Code is Napoleon's set of laws for France. It eliminated many injustices, limited liberty, restores slavery in the French colonies, and promoted order and authority over individual rights. He created these laws because he thought that his best work was his comprehensive system of laws. -
Napoleon Crowned as an Emperor
French voters supported Napoleon as he decided to make himself emperor. So on December 2nd, 1804, he walked down the isle of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris as the pope waited for him with a huge crown. Napoleon knew this meant he was more powerful than the Church. -
Conquering of Europe
After losing some of the American Territories, Napoleon focused on Europe. He had annexed Italy and the Australian Netherlands and now was headed for Europe. Europe got Russia, Austria and Sweden to help fight against France, but this didn't scare Napoleon. He crushed his opponents and they never knew what his next move would be. -
Continental System
Napoleon's Continental System was created to set up a blockade to stop the ability to trade and communicate between Great Britain and other European nations. Napoleon made this system not only to make Europe more self-sufficient without having to rely on getting things from other countries, but also to destroy Great Britain's commercial and industrial economy. -
Invasion of Russia
Napoleon made several mistakes that cost France in many ways, but his decision to invade Russia in 1812 was by far his biggest mistake. Due to the Russian czars refusal to stop selling grain to Britain, Napoleon and his Grand Army marched into Russia to attack. When Napoleon arrived in Moscow, the city was in flames and was destroyed by Alexander. This defeated almost the entire French army, only 10,000 out of the 420,000 were left to fight. -
Waterloo
Napoleon attacked the British Army in Waterloo, Belgium but failed. The British and the Prussian teamed up and defeated Napoleon and his troops and chased them from the fields. -
The Hundred Days
After getting defeated in Waterloo, Napoleon was out of power. The British shipped Napoleon to St.Helena, an island very far away, and forced him to live there alone for six years until he died in 1821.
