The reign of Napoleon: war and legal reforms
I can describe Napoleon's impact on France and the wider world after 1799.
The reign of Napoleon: war and legal reforms
I can describe Napoleon's impact on France and the wider world after 1799.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Napoleon seized power in 1799, failed to recapture Saint-Domingue and completed the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
- Napoleon made himself 'Emperor of the French' in 1804 and took on absolute power.
- Napoleon introduced the Code Napoleon in 1804 which replaced feudalism with a modern legal framework.
- Britain, France and Russia entered a military coalition against France in 1805 known as the Third Coalition.
- Napoleon conquered much of Europe and exported French laws and ideals to those territories.
Common misconception
Napoleon became Emperor of France after he seized power from the Directory in 1799.
Napoleon became First Consul after seizing power from the Directory, but did not crown himself Emperor of France until 1804.
Keywords
Consulate - a Consulate is a government normally ruled by more than one ‘Consul’ in a power-sharing arrangement
Emperor - an emperor is a ruler with absolute power, with control over an empire, which is usually a group of countries taken by conquest
Feudal - feudal describes the old French social hierarchy where the king owned all land and distributed it to those below him, who did the same for those below them, in exchange for work, money or service
Coalition - a coalition is an alliance between countries against a common enemy
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
leader of a Republic, usually as part of a power-sharing arrangement
leader of the army
a ruler with absolute power, with control over an Empire
Exit quiz
6 Questions
1799
1803
1801-1803
1804