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Napoleon Bonaparte: Hero or Tyrant?

Explore Napoleon Bonaparte's controversial leadership of France, his rise to power, military triumphs, devastating defeats, and enduring legacy as a military genius and power-hungry dictator. Delve into the chaos of the French Revolution, his reign as Emperor, and his ultimately tragic downfall at Waterloo.

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Napoleon Bonaparte: Hero or Tyrant?

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  1. Napoleon Bonaparte Thesis: Napoleon’s controversial time a leader of France generated exceptionally positive and extremely negative views about his influence on France and the rest of Europe.

  2. Outline • Chaotic France • Quick Rise to power • Military Victories • Monumental defeats • The Napoleon Debate: Hero or Tyrant

  3. Background- France prior to Napoleon’s time as leader • Chaos of French Revolution • Reign of Terror • Feared return of King • Weak leaders

  4. Early Life • Born: August 15th 1769 Island of Corsica • Attends military school in France • Appointed lieutenant at 16

  5. The Young Military Officer • Won victories against Austria and Prussia • Disrupted British trade routes • Became popular with the people

  6. Coup d’etat of 1799 • Returns from fighting British in Egypt • Ends Directory; takes title of First Consul • Coup d’etat- leader’s sudden seizure of power

  7. Napoleon Builds a Republic • Holds a Plebiscite- vote of the people • Opens Lycees- public schools for boys • Establishes Banking System; revitalizes the economy • Establishes Napoleonic Code- same laws for everyone • Dismisses corrupt officials

  8. December 2, 1804 Napoleon crowns himself Emperor

  9. Napoleon becomes emperor • Restores relations with Catholic Church (Concordant) • Napoleon crowns himself Emperor • Symbolic of power over Church • Napoleon takes control of most of Europe

  10. Napoleon and North America • Restores slavery in French Colonies • Haiti’s Revolt proves costly • Sells Louisiana Territory to United States

  11. Napoleon’s Success on Land in Europe • Battle of Austerlitz- Napoleon defeats Austria, Prussia, and Russia • Napoleon takes control of most of Europe

  12. Napoleon’s European Empire

  13. Napoleon’s First Major Defeat at Sea • Battle of Trafalgar • Napoleon’s Navy loses to British • Loses most of his Navy • British control most of the seas

  14. The Beginning of the End • Battle of Trafalgar – Navy defeated by British • Continental System- Weakens France more than Britain • Peninsular War- guerilla warfare causes “slow bleed” • Invasion of Russia- defeat leads to exile

  15. Napoleon’s End • First Exile to Elba • Returns for the Hundred Days • Final at Battle of Waterloo • Second Exile to St. Helena • Dies May 5th 1821

  16. Legacy • Military genius: great battlefield general • Power hungry dictator • Tragic Hero: started out positive and ended negative

  17. Works Cited "Peninsular War." World History: The Modern Era. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 13 Oct. 2008 <http://www.worldhistory.abc-clio.com>. "Napoleon I." World History: The Modern Era. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 13 Oct. 2008 <http://www.worldhistory.abc-clio.com>. "Battle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815." DISCovering World History. Online Edition. Gale, 2003. Reproduced in History Resource Center. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/History/ Phillips, Charles, and Alan Axelrod. "Napoleonic Wars." Encyclopedia of Wars, vol. 2. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Modern World History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE53&iPin=EWAR1056&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 13, 2008

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