Napoleon Bonaparte

1
Napoleon Bonaparte
2
How tall?

• He has been described as anywhere from 410 to
  55, but historians go by 52.
• He was often pictured alone to hide his height.

3
Did he shoot the Sphinx?

• During his Egyptian campaign it was thought that
  Napoleon and his troops shot off the nose.
• 25 of the people believe this is true

4
The Portrait

• Myths about the hand
• Stomach ulcer
• Winding his watch
• Itchy skin
• Impolite to put your hands in your pocket
• Painters dont like to paint hands.

5
Rise to power

• Napoleon became a general in the French military
  and was named the little corporal
• After defeating the British at Toulon he earned
  the title commander
• Napoleon tried to expand Frances borders by
  fighting against Austria (successful) but lost to
  the British

6
Where we left France

• After Napoleon was defeated by the British and he
  returned to France
• Seized power through a Coup dEtat. (1799)
• When Napoleon took control France was at war with
  Britain, Russia and Austria.
• By 1802 all countries signed treaties ending the
  ongoing feud between them

7
Napoleon in Power

• Plebiscite
• Vote of the people.
• How was life in France right now???
• (What kind of ruler are they going to want?)
• People vote to ratify new constitution which
  established him as the head of the government.

8
Government Reforms

• Put France on strong economic ground
• Efficient Tax System put in place
• Replaced corrupt officials
• Napoleon uses the merit system

9
Educational Reforms

• Setup Public Schools
• Created Universities in France
• Followed Enlightenment Idealsalmost
• All state run schools were controlled by the
  government

10
Church Reforms

• Concordot of 1801
• Catholicism is the official religion of France
• All other religions are tolerated
• Government officially recognized the church but
  it had NO say in decisions
• How did the people feel about this?
• Eventually has himself voted as Emperor for
  life.
• Takes the crown from the Pope when he went to put
  it on his head.
• What message is this sending?

11
Legal Reforms

• Created the Napoleonic Code
• Order over freedom
• Principles based on natural laws
• Good of the many over the rights of individual
• Limited the rights of women
• Not all good
• Limited Freedom of Speech
• Slavery in the Colonies

12
Louisiana Purchase

• Sold to the USA to help fund Frances expeditions
  in Europe
• This purchase ensured Americas power
• Main motivation??
• Eventually hurt Britain

13
Building an Empire

• Napoleon ruled France as a Dictator.
• Made peace w/ Britain (Treaty of Amiens)
• Then attacked and lost to Britain at Trafalgar
• Instituted the Continental System (limit trade w/
  Britain)
• Goal was to expand the French Empire.

14
Napoleons Fall

• Napoleon tried to invade Spain / Portugal, but
  Britain helped turn him away.
• Napoleon turned East to Russia and was defeated
  by weather and fighting.
• Napoleon was exiled to Elba
• Napoleon escapes, comes to France for 100 days
  and is defeated at Waterloo by British Duke of
  Wellington.

15
Napoleons Death

• Some think Napoleon died of cancer.
• Others think he died from toxic fumes from the
  wallpaper in the house he spent the last 6 years
  of his life. (Arsenic)