AP EURO - The Age of Napoleon

Nationalism

Defined as the unique cultural identity of a people based on a common language, religion, and national symbols.

Napoleon (inadvertently) spreads Nationalism in Europe

1.) by making themselves hated oppressors

• creates patriotism in opposition...

2.) by showing what a nation in arms could do

Continental System

• Nationalist movements arose in German states

(where Enlightenment/Revolutionary principles had spread)

Napoleon's Grand Empire

• Britain was a problem! (navy too strong)

• Napoleon tries to defeat with Continental System
• an attempt the prevent British goods from reaching the European continent in order to weaken Britain economically & destroy its capacity to wage war.

• 1806-1807

• Failed!

Napoleon demanded obedience but allowed equality, religious toleration, & economic freedom

(Remember for later)

Composed of;

• French Empire
• Dependent States
• Allied States

Domestic Policies of Emperor Napoleon

"the French Revolution is not finished so long as the scourge of war lasts. . . I want peace, as much to settle the present French government as to save the world from chaos."

- Napoleon

• Reconciled with Catholic Church through Concordat of 1801
• New Code of Laws (from 300 to 7 codes)
• Most Important - Civil Code
• preserves revolutionary gains

• principle of equality before the law
• religious toleration
• abolition of serfdom & feudalism, and
• right to choose own profession

• protects property & individual rights
• restores control of fathers over families
• STEP BACK for women, children

Growing Despotism?

• Shut down 60 of 73 newspapers
• Government officials opened the mail

The French Bureaucracy

• centralization of administration
• Eliminated elected assemblies on local level
• Appointed Prefects to run localities & were responsible to central gov't

• Systematic & efficient system of tax collection

• New aristocracy based on merit
• Demonstrated abilities determined promotion in civil & military offices

The Age of Napoleon

Domestic Policies of Emperor Napoleon

Rise of Napoleon

• Born in Corsica, 1769 as "Napoleone Buonaparte"
• Commissioned a lieutenant in 1785
• Self-educated;
• Enlightenment philosophy
• Military tactics

• Rose quickly through military ranks
• Won confidence of his men
• Charm, energy, decisiveness, ate with his men
• (Read primary source, Spielvogel, 588)

• Led attack against Egypt (rather than Britain)
• Fled, abandoned his men
• Partook in coup of the Directory

• French Consulate, 1799

(after fall of Directory)

• First Consul, controls executive government

• First Consul for life, 1802

• Crowned Emperor Napoleon I, 1804

(start of Napoleonic Empire)

Napoleon's Empire & the European Response

1799, Napoleon comes to power & France is fighting Second European Coalition...

Napoleon wants peace... (Peace of Amiens, 1802)

War renews in 1803 against Britain, which was then joined by Austria & Prussia (Third Coalition)

By 1807, Napoleon's Grand Army had defeated the Continental members of the coalition, leading to...

Fall of Napoleon

Invaded Russia, 1812

• Why? they defected from Continental System
• 600,000 men
• Russians rarely fought, burned own villages instead
• Problems: Heat, disease, winter, costly victory at Borodino
• Lost 30,000 men & had no supply replacements nearby

• Napoleon forced to abandon Moscow--"Grand Retreat"
• 40,000 men reached Paris, January, 1813

Defeated by coalition, April 1814

• Exiled to Elba, (restore Bourbon monarchy in Louis XVII)
• Escapes, gets military support for 100 day reign
• Defeated at Battle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815
• Exiled to St. Helena, dies 1821

Conservative - holding to traditional attitudes and values & cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.

The Congress of Vienna was followed by a brief time in which conservative political forces controlled most of Europe

The Peace Settlement

• Quadruple Alliance: Great Britain, Russia, Austria, Prussia
• Congress led by Austrian, Prince Klemens von Metternich

• Principle of legitimacy - restore pre-Napoleonic monarchs to throne
• WHY? to reestablish peace & stability
• Already done in Spain (Ferdinand VII), France (Louis XVII), & many Italian states

• New Balance of Power
• GOAL: Prevent any one country from dominating Europe
• Maintain peace & prevent war

(1814-1815)

Congress of Vienna

Review for Test 3!