French+Revolution+Notes+Nicholas+Lim+09.09.10



The following video link is about the entire life story of [|Napoleon Bonaparte] = = = The Rise of Napoleon =
 * After end of the Terror, France tried new government from 1795-1799.
 * Five Directors, backed by two new assemblies called Councils.
 * Bad government, prices rose, inflation on currency, famine.
 * In 1799, a young general forced them out of office and took control, Napoleon Bonaparte.

= Napoleon the Soldier =
 * Born on the island of Corsica in 1769, second of eight children.
 * King of France bought Corsica from Italy, making him French and his parents Italian.
 * At 9 he went to military schools, leaving at 16 as lieutenant.
 * As Revolution began, army grew and Napoleon was constantly promoted.
 * He became general at 24.
 * Career nearly wrecked in 1794, close friend of Robespierre's brother Augustin, arrested when Robespierre was overthrown.
 * Returned to army post after no evidence could be traced to him

= Napoleon's Italian Campaign = = = = Napoleon in Egypt =
 * Directors continued Revolution War against Coalition
 * French armies were large and conquered Holland and Belgium
 * Targeted, northern Italy next, Napoleon was promoted to commander of the Army of Italy, ordered to attack the Austrian army there.
 * Fought for 18 months and won many battles, by October 1797, all of northern Italy was under French control, and Napoleon became very famous.
 * Directors put Napoleon in command of "Army of the East".
 * Asked to attack Britain's trade colonies in the Far East, invaded Egypt halfway on trade route to India.
 * Quickly defeated the Egyptians in the Battle of the Pyramids in July 1798.
 * After 1 week of battle, ships sunk by the British navy, marooning them in the Middle East.
 * Lost connection to France, did not know that they had lost control of Italy, central Europe and the Second Coalition was formed.
 * Learned of the incident in summer 1799, learned that rebels over-ran part of western France, country was nearly bankrupt, Directors were being opposed by the council.
 * Napoleon left his army in Egypt, went back to France to try and save his country from defeat.

= Napoleon Seizes Power =
 * One of the directors wanted to get rid of his partners, close down Councils and set up a new government.
 * Needed military backing, where he asked Napoleon for.
 * Napoleon,his brother Lucien (President of on of the Councils) and another Director, all decided to join in the plot.
 * On 9 November, they made up a story to the Council to leave Napoleon as commander of all the troop around Paris.
 * Council left Paris to find a safer place for meeting.
 * Napoleon went to Councils the next day to ask them to change government, but they discovered that the story was a lie.
 * Tried to declared him an outlaw and push him around
 * According to Council records, some deputies tried to kill him
 * Some deputies claimed that there was no violence.
 * Soldiers outside the hall entered to save him and deputies fled, those who stayed voted to give Napoleon and other two plotters power to run the country until new type of government was formed.

= Napoleon the Ruler = = The Consulate =
 * Only a month for new government to form, governed by Three Consuls
 * First Consul has to power to make decisions
 * Other two advise him, Napoleon was the First Consul, and head of the government.
 * To share power, four new Councils created, most powerful is the Council of State.
 * Helped to write new laws and discuss First Consul decisions
 * Senate, Tribunate and a Legislative Body also shared the appointment of officials and creation of laws.
 * Officials called Prefects put laws into effects around the provinces.
 * Out of 9 million voters, 3 million voted in favor, 1500 against, 6 million didn't vote, showing people support Napoleon.

= Victory in War = = = = The Making of a Legend =
 * First task was to defend France against the combined armies.
 * Wanted to use surprise attack by attacking them behind, crossing through Switzerland and across the Alps.
 * Almost failed, Alps took long to cross and the Second Coalition was ready for him when they arrived.
 * Attacked at a village called Marengo, Napoleon was outnumbered and exhausted, almost defeated when reserve troops arrived to save them
 * Ended as victory for France, Austrians abandoned north Italy.
 * Defeated Austrians again in Battle Hohenlinden, bringing an end to the war of the Second Coalition.
 * Peace treaty signed at Luneville 1801, France controlled Belgium, German lands on river Rhine and north Italy.
 * Victory in the war made him extremely famous.
 * Became a legend and was portrayed as a great hero in newspapers, books and paintings.
 * Not all was true, one picture shows him riding on horse, other on a mule, Napoleon himself claimed to ride on a mule across the alps.

= To Concordat and the Catholic Church =
 * During the Terror, large portion of Christianity lost, Catholics disliked this and became rebels to overthrow the government
 * Napoleon decided to end the conflict
 * Dropped 10 day week of the Revolutionary Calendar
 * Sundays can be taken off
 * Would sign deals with rebel leaders for religious complaints, signed an agreement with the Pope called the Concordat
 * Allowed Catholics to worship Freely
 * In return, the Pope allowed Napoleon to appoint all bishops in France and all priests had to take an oath of loyalty to Napoleon
 * Priests came out of hiding, churches re-opened, religious conflicts ended, millions more supported Napoleon because of the Concordat.

= Reforms = = = = Napoleon becomes Emperor =
 * By 1802 Napoleon was at peace with Europe, no religious conflicts
 * Senate increased his powers, his pay and made him "Consul for Life" as thanks.
 * 3.5 million people supported this, 8,000 were against
 * Napoleon started to change the way France was run, once he had power for his whole life.
 * Changed education in schools, created a new secondary school called the lycee
 * Studied under strict military discipline, studied curriculum drawn up by government.
 * Took an exam (Baccalaureate) to enter university.
 * Changed French law into seven books called codes, started in 1804 with Code of Civil Law called Code Napoleon.
 * Over next 5 years, Codes of criminal and commercial law added.
 * Simplified complex laws that ran for generations
 * Created laws for some things that revolutionaries wanted in 1789, such as individual rights, freedom of belief and equality before law
 * 1804, made himself Emperor.
 * Surprisingly, gained generous support from the people of France.
 * France becomes an Empire after 12 years of Republic
 * Brought back things abolished during the Revolution
 * Crowned in traditional coronation ceremony
 * Insisted Pope crown him
 * Brought back Noble titles for family members
 * Created Imperial Nobility in 1808, had princes, dukes, counts, barons and knights.
 * Nobles had to be very rich to pass on titles, leave son 200,000 francs a year to keep title.
 * No privileges.
 * 1804, French Republic becomes an Empire, Catholic Church is restored, people can be nobles and Revolution over.

= Summary = France was ruled by 5 directors and 2 councils, the country was not doing well under them. WIth a plot, Napoleon was able to kick them out in 1799. Napoleon was a French general that was born on the island of Corsica in 1769 went to military school at the age of 9 and left at 16 as a lieutenant. WHen the revolution started, he was promoted to the rank of General. France conquered Holland and Belgium and sent Napoleon to conquer north Italy where he gained fame because of his victorious battles. Napoleon was later sent to Egypt where he easily defeated them, but was stranded there when the British Royal Navy sunk their ships. During this time, France was going bankrupt, lost a lot of land and the second coalition formed against them. Napoleon was able to plot with 2 other directors to give him power on the troops in Paris to be able to remove the rest from power. Napoleon then set up a 3 consuls and 4 councils to govern the land. Many people supported him. Napoleon went again to conquer north Italy back, they planned to attack them from behind through the alps. This attempt nearly failed when the Austrian troops were prepared for them, however, reserve troops arrived and helped France to claim a victory. Napoleon went on to defeat the Austrians in Belgium, ending the war in 1801, where France was given control of Belgium, Germand lands on the River Rhine, and northern Italy. After this was solved, Napoleon went on to solve the religious conflict, making Christianity popular and giving the people the freedom to practice any religion. He also changed the ten day weeks back to normal and gave Sundays of again. The people were so happy with him that they made him "consul for life". He began to make changes in school and laws after this power. Napoleon then proclaimed himself Emperor, making France an empire again. He brought back some old traditions such as noble titles, however the nobles did not have any special privileges. This ended the French Revolution.

= Questions = Why was there so much approval when Napoleon made himself Emperor? This was basically changing France back to the way they were. In all these pictures, Napoleon would want himself to painted as a magnificent man. But in actual fact, how does he look like?



This is a Voki I made about the overall story of Napoleon media type="custom" key="6892997"