APEH Chapter 19 The Rise of Napoleon and Romanticism

In 1799, as a prominent army general, Napoleon Bonaparte led a military coup and established himself as the leader of France; five years later he crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I. Between his coronation as emperor and his last military defeat in 1815, Napoleon conquered most of Europe. The repercussions of his actions are still felt today. Ironically, one of the most important effects of Napoleon's stunning success in conquering vast parts of Europe -- the rise of the modern form of nationalism -- led to his downfall, as citizens united to protect their land from the French invader. As his army spread the liberalism and nationalism of the French Revolution across Europe, people in the areas ruled by Napoleon began to resent French rule. This resentment eventually turned to opposition and revolt, and led to the emperor's ultimate defeat. Romanticism, too, emerged in this period. The movement, a reaction against and rejection of the rationalism of Enlightenment thought, emphasized nature, individualism, the arts and religion, and it flourished in the turbulent period between the French Revolution and the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

Key Terms:

Concordat of 1801 Treaty of Tilsit Organic Articles of 1802 Coup d'état Romanticism Methodism Milan Decree of 1807 Napoleonic Code (Civil Code)

Emile Holy Alliance

Immanuel Kant Berlin Decrees Categorical Imperative Sturm und Drang Critique of Pure Reason Continental System Critique of Practical Reason Horatio Nelson nd rd Consulate Coalitions (2 and 3 ) Constitution of the Year III Plebiscite Treaty of Luneville Quadruple Alliance Treaty of Amiens Congress of Vienna (Participants) Treaty of Campo Formio Hundred Days Treaty of Pressburg Battle of Waterloo Wars of Liberation

Review Questions:

1. What groups supported Napoleon? 2. What were his major domestic achievements? 3. Did his rule fulfill or betray the French Revolution? 4. Why did Napoleon decide to invade Russia? Why did he fail? Can Napoleon be considered a military genius? Explain. 5. What were the results of the Congress of Vienna, and why were they significant? 6. Compare the role of feelings for romantic writers with the role of reason for Enlightenment writers. What questions did Rousseau and Kant raise about reason? 7. How did the romantic concept of religion differ from Reformation Protestantism and Enlightenment deism?