1. End of the French Revolution and
Napoleon’s world.

2. The chaos
• The French Revolution
was tainted by a period
known as the ‘Reign of
Terror’, in which the
French revolutionaries,
under the command of
Robespierre, engaged in a
paranoid hunt for those
who would attempt to
dismantle the new nation .
• During this period, many
died by the guillotine.

3. • Ironically,
Robespierre himself
would end up in the
guillotine. In 1794, the
National Convention
(The new
revolutionary
government) arrested
and executed
Robespierre.

4. • In 1795, the National Convention drafted a
new constitution, which removed
‘Universal Manhood Suffrage’ (the right for
all males, rich or poor, to vote). Now only
male landowners could vote.
• Effectively, the French revolution
degenerated into the very thing the
revolutionaries fought against.

5. • The New constitution created a new
executive branch of government, called
‘The Directory’.
• This Directory was made of 5 directors,
each of which ended being in a constant
power struggle against the others.
• Under the directory, the economic
situation of France became even worse.

6. Napoleon Bonaparte
• Born in 1769, in the
island of Corsica.
• He attended military
school.
• This 5’2 young soldier
was full of ambition and
skill, and would
eventually dominate
the European world.

7. • Napoleon is
considered one of
the greatest
generals in history.
• One of his greatest
skills was the ability
to quickly move
troops in the
battlefield and to
mass forces at
critical points.

8. • Napoleon defeated the Austrians four times,
forced them to sign away all of northern Italy in
their surrender and forced the Sardinians into a
peace treaty with France.
• He was insanely popular among the people. The
Directory feared that he would try to take over,
so they sent him to Egypt to fight.
• He failed in Egypt, but lied, and kept his
popularity up.

9. • When the British, Austrians and Russians
allied against France, the people felt that
only Napoleon could save them.
• The people of France themselves
organized a plot to remove the directory
and give the power to Napoleon.
• When Napoleon put in effect his Coup
d'état, there was no one to oppose him.

10. • Napoleon became dictator of France.
• France kept the government,
supposedly free, but the government
was his puppet.
• The people of France were, for the
most part, happy to have someone
bring order to France.
• Then… Napoleon played his master
stroke. With a plebiscite, the people of
France named him ‘Emperor
Napoleon I of France’.
• All the French had fought for, gone.