Napoleon. Global History and Geography II

Transcription

1 Global History and Geography II Napoleon Name: Date: In 1799, a thirty-year-old general named Napoleon Bonaparte forced the Directory to resign. He took control of the government with the backing of the French people and brought the French Revolution to an end. He was born in Corsica, an island south of France and became the first French Emperor in Under his military dictatorship, he made France the most powerful nation in Europe. Of course, he made many enemies and was eventually defeated by foreign forces. Who was Napoleon Bonaparte? Born in 1769 in Corsica, an island annexed by France His parents were lesser nobility He joined the French army at sixteen An ardent supporter of the revolution He was appointed general after distinguishing himself at the Battle of Toulon Became a national hero when he crushed the Austrian and Sardinian armies in Italy He captured territory in Egypt from the Ottoman Empire Disrupted British trade through the Mediterranean Returned to Paris to replace the Directory He centralized power 1. Who was Napoleon Bonaparte? 2. How did he become a powerful figure in world history? 3. How did he help the Revolution? 4. Why was he a national hero? 5. Why did he return to Paris? 6. What did he become?

2 Excerpt adapted from schoolhistory.co.uk Napoleon has been remembered not only for his military victories, but also as a Great Reformer, bringing about improvements to France and French Society. Napoleon himself said: I intend to keep the Revolution s useful changes, but not to abandon the good institutions it mistakenly destroyed. Government: UNDER THE KING Louis had absolute power, and could not be removed. There was no National Assembly (or Parliament) and there were no elections, so people did not have a say in who was in power in France. The King made all the laws, and as a result, some were very out of date such as the Estates system, and inequality of different groups in society. THE REVOLUTION brought changes. There was no single ruler of France, and a National Assembly was elected by voters (all men). The Assembly made all the laws, which meant that many new laws were introduced. UNDER NAPOLEON More changes were introduced. Napoleon became Emperor of France, and could not be removed from power. There were two National Assemblies, with members chosen by Napoleon from candidates elected by the people. All men could vote, but after 1804, there were no elections. All laws were made by the Assemblies. 1. Describe France s absolute monarchy. 2. How did the French Revolution change France s government? 3. How did Napoleon change the government? 4. Was Napoleon s government closer to France s absolute monarchy or closer to the Revolutionary government? Explain your answer.

3 In 1804 the Napoleonic Code was introduced. It had a set of clear laws, applicable to all members of French Society. The Code was also introduced into other parts of Europe conquered by Napoleon, like Italy, Spain and some parts of Germany. The Code Napoleon, 1804 The Code stated that: All people were declared equal before the law. There were no longer any special privileges for Nobles, Churchmen or rich people. Feudal rights were ended. Trial by Jury was guaranteed. Religious Freedom was guaranteed. Parents were given powers over their children. Wives were not allowed to sell or give away property. A wife could only own property with her husband s consent in writing. Fathers were allowed to imprison their children for any time up to a month. 1. What rights ended the old privileges of feudal France? 2. What rights were clearly inspired by the Enlightenment? 3. What individuals in society still suffered great inequality? 4. When the revolutionaries spoke of liberty, equality, and fraternity, did the equality include women? Explain your answer. 5. What rules clearly limit the power of women? 6. Did the law treat children fairly? Explain your answer. 7. Which rules or rights from the Napoleonic Code are similar to the United States Constitution? The husband must possess the absolute power and right to say to his wife: Madam you shall not go to the theatre, you shall not receive such and such a person, for the children you bear shall be mine. Women should stick to knitting. ~ Napoleon

4 1. What lands were indirectly controlled by Napoleon? 2. What lands were allied with Napoleon? 3. Was Great Britain conquered by or allied with Napoleon? _ 4. Was Russia conquered by or allied with Napoleon? _ 5. What do you think happened to Spain s colonies in the New World during the reign of Napoleon? 6. Did Napoleon have an empire? Explain your answer. 7. Of course, it is expected that conquered people will eventually rebel. What do you think will happen to Napoleon?

5 Excerpt adapted from napoleonguide.com Although they were officially allied, France and Russia were not friends. Russia's economy had been hurt by Napoleon s Continental System. The Continental System banned trade with Britain but internal pressures forced Tsar Alexander to turn a blind eye to those who broke it. Bonaparte decided to bring the Russians back into line and gathered an army to attack Russia. The Russians retreated as Bonaparte's troops crossed the frontier on the River Niemen on June 24, The Russians avoided a major battle to gain time to prepare for a counter-offensive. As Napoleon s forces approached Moscow, the Russians waited for the French troops. The French occupied a burning Moscow, set on fire by the Russians themselves, hoping for a Russian surrender that never came. Bonaparte waited in Moscow for five weeks (far too long) and began what would become one of the greatest disasters in military history. The snows came early in 1812 and the cold doomed what had been one of the most impressive armies ever to be formed. Bonaparte left the army on December 5 to return to Paris where a coup had been foiled and to raise another army. His troops dragged themselves on and finally crossed the Niemen out of Russian territory. They had survived, but only about 20,000 of them. 1. What was the Continental System? 2. Why did Napoleon attack his ally, Russia? 3. Why did the Russians avoid a major battle? 4. What factors harmed the French? 5. Why does the author refer to France s defeat as one of the greatest disasters in military history? In war there is but one favorable moment; the great art is to seize it! ~Napoleon Did Napoleon take his own advice in Russia? Explain your answer.

6 Adapted from excerpt: wsu.edu Napoleon's staggering losses breathed new life into the Wars of Liberation. Fired by the possibility that Napoleon had been greatly weakened, Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia fell once more to the attack. Most of the war was prosecuted in Germany and Napoleon s forces met their decisive defeat at the Battle of Nations in 1813 near Leipzig. Wellington marched his army into France from Spain, and in 1814, allied armies crossed over into eastern France from Germany. Napoleon eventually retreated to Paris where, on March 31, Tsar Alexander I and King Frederick William III of Prussia marched into the city. They forced Napoleon to abdicate and exiled him to Elba, a small island off of Italy. He was down but he was not out. On March 1, 1815, Napoleon returned to Paris to cheering crowds. His army was still loyal to him, and Louis, fearful of his life, fled Paris. The alliance had started to bicker among itself, but this unexpected turn of events stunned them into action. Napoleon instantly went on the move, marching into the Low Countries of Belgium. There he met the allied army which had been cobbled together in the greatest haste under the command of Wellington at Waterloo. On June 18, the coalition forces dealt Napoleon a final and resounding defeat. Barely over a hundred days after his triumphant return, Napoleon was utterly defeated and was exiled to St. Helena, a dreary island in the South Atlantic where he lived out his days, fat and powerless, until How did Napoleon s losses encourage his enemies? 2. Why was Napoleon sent to Elba? 3. What did Napoleon do after his escape from Elba? 4. What happened to Napoleon at Waterloo? 5. How did Napoleon spend his final years?