Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars Notes

• Napoleon is the first console
• the console was set up to assure democracy in France, but Napoleon became a dictator
• a new constitution was approved
• French people chose a new senate
• this senate actually had very little power; allowing Napoleon to consolidate his own power
• offered peace to the French people in exchange for him becoming the leader
• the English and the Dutch were not happy with the French
• Napoleon is looking like a good guy
• he brings law and order home
• he helps the French establish a strong government system
• the emigrates, who were against the revolution, were offered amnesty by Napoleon
• Napoleon is rebuilding France
• he wants the people to realize who the leader in charge is
• Napoleon starts a secret police to suppress the media
• he shuts down newspapers
• Catholicism is allowed as the major religion of France
• Papal boll- official document directly from the Pope
• organic articles to the concordat
• said that any church decisions were subject to government approval
• Unions and guilds were not allowed to organize
• he kept the school system, the metric system
• the most important thing he does is the Napoleonic Code
• an overhaul of the French legal system
• criminal code and civil code
• citizens were declared equal, freedom of religion, labor unions outlawed
• women lost the legal gains from the Revolution
• men gained all control of property
• women had no rights to her earnings
• status was defined by wealth
• people could move up
• 1802: Napoleon is named console for life
• the power to choose his own successor and amend the constitution
• 1804: has himself coronated as emperor of France
• decides to purchase Louisiana 
• Napoleon decides to begin a naval war with England
• 1805: English and French fight at Trafalgar
• Napoleon gains control of old principalities from the Holy Roman Emperor
• creates the Confederation of the Rhine
• signs a peace treaty called the Treaty of Tilsit
• 1807: he can't beat England because his navy has been destroyed
• he takes a different approach and establishes the continental system
• if you are an ally of France you are forced to boycott English goods
• Napoleon convinces the Spanish monarch to leave the throne
• he puts his own brother, Joseph on the throne
• supports the new king with a large French occupying force
• Peninsular War (Spain is located in the Iberian Peninsula)
• Napoleon divorces Josephine, and marries the daughter of Austrian emperor Francis II
• marry in 1810, she is 19 and he is 40
• she produces a male heir in 1911
• Napoleon has holdings in Germany, Poland, Spain, British, his ships are cutting off British trade
• outside of France he is rather resented
• 1809: a wave of nationalism comes over Germany and Alexander the czar of Russia backs out of the continental system
• Russia allies with Britain
• napoleon sends an invasion army to attack Russia
• 700,000 troops
• Russia is huge and they use the scorched earth policy
• they burned down their town and the fields
• the French supply lines are so long people can attack from behind
• there is no place to get food for the troops
• 1812: battle during the winter in Moscow
• Napoleon wins the battle, but then a blizzard hits
• many people in the army die
• The Russians think they have the upperhand and sign a deal with the Prussians
• Prussian army is supported by the British
• Russia, Prussia, Austria, and England sign the quadruple alliance
• Napoleon leaves the throne and attempts suicide
• the people of France exile him to Elba
• they bring in Louis XVIII and he is the brother of Louis XVI
• he is installed as a constitutional monarch
• the leaders meet with the French minister Talleyrand
• Napoleon escapes from Elba and raises a new army of his own
• 100 Days Battle through Europe
• meeting the British at Waterloo
• Napoleon is captured and sent to Saint Helena where he dies in 1821
• demonstrates the dangers of revolution