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Napoleon’s Reign

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    Italian Campaign (Success)

    The Italian Campaign allowed France to conquer most of Italy and develop a taste for governing.
  • Egyptian Campaign (Failure)

    Egyptian Campaign (Failure)
    The French army was defeated by the British navy in the Battle of the Nile. Napoleon abandoned his troops in Egypt and returned to France, lying about their defeat. The people gave him a hero's welcome and the troops would eventually returned.
  • Consulate (Success)

    Consulate (Success)
    The Consulate, three-man governing board, was created as a replacement for the weak Directory. The Consulate strengthened France's government and abolished many privileges.
  • Banque de France (Success)

    Banque de France (Success)
    The Banque de France was created to hopefully help France economically recover. It would manage debts and issue notes. The Banque de France is still used today.
  • Concordat of 1801 (Success)

    Concordat of 1801 (Success)
    The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement met between Napoleon and the Catholic Church. This agreement put the Church under the state's control, but still allowed religious freedom. Émigrés, peasants, and the middle class all were in support of Napoleon's new reforms.
  • Consul for Life (Both)

    Consul for Life (Both)
    Napoleon was a part of a group hat helped overthrow the Directory and became first consul, the leading political figure. However, later on he did abolish the Consulate and the declared himself Emperor.
  • Napoleonic Code (Both)

    Napoleonic Code (Both)
    The Napoleonic Code was a new code of laws that reflected many positive Enlightenment ideas. However, it also undid reforms from the French Revolution which negatively impacted the women in France.
  • Declared self Emperor (Success)

    Declared self Emperor (Success)
    Napoleon declares himself Emperor at his coronation and crowns himself instead of allowing the Pope to crown him. The French strongly supported him and his policies as Emperor.
  • Battle of Trafalgar (Failure)

    Battle of Trafalgar (Failure)
    The Battle of Trafalgar was a naval battle fought between Britain and allied forces of France and Spain. Napoleon had plans of invading Britain, but that changed whenever the British defeated the French fleet.
  • Continental System (Failure)

    Continental System (Failure)
    Napoleon created the Continental System to wage economic warfare onto Britain as a result of his defeat at the Battle of Trafalgar. This system prevented British goods from reaching European ports. Britain then created their own blockade on European ports. This struggle between the countries would eventually cause the War of 1812. Also, this system failed to create Britain's downfall and actually caused issues against French power.
  • Abolished Holy Roman Empire (Success)

    Abolished Holy Roman Empire (Success)
    Napoleon chose to abolish the Holy Roman Empire and create a 38 member Confederation of the Rhine. He also began to take more territory and put his relatives in power within Europe. These successes boosted nationalism and the people celebrated Napoleon's reign.
  • Resistance in Spain (Failure)

    Resistance in Spain (Failure)
    Napoleon began to attempt to take down the Spanish Catholic Church, but the Spaniards resisted. Napoleon then sent an army to invade them in hopes to intimidate the people to finally give in. However, the Spaniards fought back and conducted campaigns of guerrilla warfare which kept French soldiers from retreating back to France when Napoleon needed them most.
  • Invasion of Russia (Failure)

    Invasion of Russia (Failure)
    Tsar Alexander I and Napoleon were once allies, but tension came along when issues arose and the Tsar withdrew his support from Napoleon. Napoleon responded with an army (Grand Army) that would invade Russia in 1812. However, shortly into the invasion, Napoleon realizes that he will not be able to support his army through the winter. On their retreat, fewer than 20,000 soldiers survived and succumbed to the harsh climate.
  • Battle of Nations at Leipzig (Failure)

    Battle of Nations at Leipzig (Failure)
    Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Sweden formed an alliance after Napoleon's failure when trying to invade Russia. This battle resulted in a devastating loss for the French army. Napoleon lost power in Germany and Poland completely.
  • Abdication (Failure)

    Abdication (Failure)
    One year following the defeat in the Battle of the Nations in Leipzig, Napoleon stepped down from power and was then exiled to Elba. Louis XVIII was then made king of France as his replacement. However, this did not go very well for France as the country went into an economic depression and the people feared that the old regime would make its way back.
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    Hundred Days (Failure)

    Napoleon's "Hundred Days" was the time from his entrance into Paris following his escape from Elba up to the Battle at Waterloo. During this time the Congress of Vienna declared Napoleon an outlaw and set up extra precautionary measures within the country.
  • Waterloo (Failure)

    Waterloo (Failure)
    After Napoleon's escape back to France, enemy soldiers flocked to Waterloo in Belgium to battle. British and Prussian armies defeated the French in a day-long battle and Napoleon was forced to abdicate and was exiled to St. Helena.