The Napoleonic Era

Sarai Pulido
First Event: Napoleon takes part in coup d’etat
Napoleon took part in the coup d’etat of 1799 that overthrew
the Directory and set up a new government. He was called
the first consul, a title borrowed from ancient Rome. He also
appointed officials, controlled the army, conducted foreign
affairs, and influenced the legislature.
Second Event: Napoleon is crowned emperor
In 1804 Napoleon crowned himself Emperor Napoleon. He
only claimed that he had preserved the gains of the revolution
since he destroyed the republican form of government when
he took power. You are probably wondering how can
Napoleon make his boat ? That is an important question
because of his domestic policies and is possible to judge
whether the emperor’s claims had any merit.
Third Event: Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo
At Waterloo in Belgium, Napoleon met a combined British
and Prussian army under the Duke of Wellington on June 18,
1815. He suffered a bloody defeat, and this time the
consensus of the victorious allies was to exile him to St.
Helena, a small island in South Atlantic. He remained exile
until his death in 1821, but they say his memory haunted
French political life for many decades.
Contribution/ Why is it important?
● Napoleon spread equality, liberty, religious toleration, and
economic freedom
● He bought the French Revolution to an end
● Helped bring peace between the Church and the French
government after the French Revolution.
Connection to Enlightenment
● Napoleon believed in reason and felt that religion had no
place in government
● When he came into power he accepted the Church as the
major religion of France put gave it no power of
government
● Spread Enlightenment beliefs and ideals to other
countries