InNo+caroline.norgreen+09.08.10

The Rise Of Napoleon
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**Notes -**


 * The Rise of Napoleon **

1795 – 1799 Director (the government) governed France poorly This was until Napoleon Bonaparte - army general – took control

Napoleon the Soldier


 * Born in 1769
 * Was sent to school in France (he was from Corsica) at 9
 * Seven years at military school
 * Left as a lieutenant at 16 – revolution started 4 years later
 * Quickly got promoted
 * General at age 24
 * Career almost a wreck in 1794 – close friend of Robespierre’s brother
 * Found no evidence to use against him – he returned to army

Napoleon’s Italian Campaign


 * 1795 – wars against coalition continued
 * Gained Napoleon another promotion
 * Made commander of Army of Italy
 * Attack Austrian forces in Northern Italy
 * 18 months of brilliant victories over Austrians in Italy
 * October 1797 – Northern Italy in French control
 * Napoleon was France’s most famous general

Napoleon in Egypt


 * Directors put him in control of “Army of the East”
 * Mission to attack British trade routes
 * Quickly defeated Egyptians (mid-point of the India trade routes)
 * Week after the battle – British Royal Navy sunk Napoleon’s ships – could not return home
 * During this time a Second Coalition has formed and driven France out of Italy and Central Europe
 * Napoleon learned out defeats summer 1799 – left army and returned to France
 * Learned rebels had over-run large parts of country
 * Learned Directors has strong opposition in the Councils

Napoleon Seizes Power


 * One Director plotting against fellow Directors
 * Napoleon backs him with military support
 * Both president of one council (Lucien – Napoleon’s brother) and another Director were involved
 * November 9th, 1799 – Made up story that the rebels were about to capture Paris
 * Council gave Napoleon command of the Soldiers in Paris
 * Left for a safer place – Saint-Cloud
 * Soldiers in Napoleon’s command then forces 3/5 Directors to resign
 * Next day – found out it was a lie – took an Oath the defend Directory
 * Were angry at Napoleon – tried to declare him an outlaw
 * Deputies tried to kill Napoleon – but guards rushed in and defended him
 * When guards came many got scared and jumped out windows
 * The ones who stayed voted Napoleon and the two other plotters the power to run the country until new government was formed


 * Napoleon the Ruler **

The Consulate


 * Took a month to create new government, which consisted of:
 * Three Consuls (first had power to make decisions - Napoleon, other two would advise him)
 * Four New Councils
 * Council of State – helped write laws & discussed Napoleon’s decisions (most powerful)
 * A Senate – making laws & appointing officials
 * A Tribunal – making laws & appointing officials
 * Legislative Body – making laws & appointing officials
 * Perfects – put laws into affect in the provinces
 * France’s 9 million voters were given right to vote for or against the government
 * 3 million voted for
 * 1,500 voted against
 * Rest didn’t vote
 * Napoleon said that results showed that the people supported him

Victory in War


 * First task was to defend France against armies of the Second Coalition
 * Wanted to cross Alps to surprise Austrians from behind (in north Italy)
 * Took longer than expected – Austrians were ready when they arrived
 * Attacked close to village of Marengo – outnumbered and tired they were close to defeat
 * Reserve troops arrived and drove Austrians back (unexpectedly)
 * Later – defeated Austrians in the Battle of Hohenliden in German
 * Ended war with Second Coalition
 * Peace treaty signed at Lunéville 1801
 * France had control over Belgium, German land on the river Rhine, and north Italy

The Making of a Legend


 * Napoleon’s victory made him more famous than ever
 * Newspapers, books, painting, portrayed as a great hero
 * Became a legendary figure

The Concordat and the Catholic Church


 * France was in peace Napoleon could deal with the Church
 * Many Catholics became rebels and wanted to overthrow the government
 * Napoleon dropped 10-day week & Sundays became a day off again (revolutionary calendar)]
 * 1801 signed agreement with the Pope, called Concordat
 * Napoleon would allow Catholics to warship freely
 * He would then be allowed to appoint all bishops
 * He required all priests to swear an oath of loyalty to Napoleon
 * Religious conflict ended just as fast as it started

Reforms


 * 1802 – complete peace and no religious conflict
 * Senates increased power, and pay and made him “Consul-for-life”
 * Voters asked what they thought – 3 ½ million supported it and 8000 didn’t
 * Began reforms on country schools, wanted new secondary school – lycée
 * `Strict military discipline – students would learn a curriculum drawn up by the government
 * Leaving high school they would take the Baccalaureate for entrance to university
 * Reform of the French Law into 7 books – called codes
 * 1804 began with the Code of Civil Law (Code Napoléon)
 * Code of Civil and Commercial Law added
 * Simplified Laws, which had existed for centuries
 * Also made laws of some things revolutionaries demanded (1789)
 * Freedom of Belief
 * Individual Rights
 * Equality

Napoleon becomes Emperor


 * 1804 Napoleon becomes Emperor and people approve
 * Brought back laws that were abolished in the revolution
 * Insisted of being crowned in a coronation ceremony
 * Wanted noble titles for his family
 * 1808 created Imperial Nobility
 * Princes, Counts, Dukes, Barons, and Knights came back into use
 * Had to be very rich to pass on title to your children
 * But had no privileges like before
 * Revolution was now over.


 * Summary - **

This chapter of the book was mainly about Napoleon seizing power. Not only explained who he was and how exactly he first became known as a good general, but also explained how he slowly gained higher and higher statuses. Going from being a regualr officer then to being a general was already impressive during this time. He then moves on to becoming the commander of the "Army of Italy". Where he has a series of amazing victories which really helped him gain popularity. Then after this he became in charge of the "The Army of the East". Again he becomes successful in beating the opposition but his boats are sinked and he spends a year in Egypt with his army. When news of how his country is doing in the war finally comes to him, he leaves the military quickly to get back to France to try to save his home country. When part of the unsuccessful government is trying to find military backing so they can throw the other Directors out, Napoleon is in on the plan and within long is able to seize control of the whole government. His first move is to fight the Second Coalition, but when it takes longer than he thought to cross the Alps it looked like it might be the end, until by surprise reserve troops arrive and end up winning the battle. Napoleon becomes known as a legend in France and most people of France do not mind at all when he becomes the ruler of France for life, or when he comes up with many reforms. Even the Church is happy because he agreed to sign the Concordat. In the end, France is pretty peaceful, even when he declares himself emperor France fully backs him, and the Revolution is finally over.

**Questions -**

Why did Napoleon want to become an Emperor and not a King/President? Did no one revolt against Napoleon, or did they all just find him fair? Did it not bother his parents he was fighting to get control of their home-country?

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