Name: ____________________________________

The Napoleon WebQuest

The WebQuest starts with the year 1794. In France, the Revolution has left the country hungry for stability. After tumultuous years of Enlightenment ideals, overthrowing of the monarchy, and the Reign of Terror of Robespierre. A powerful General, Napoleon Bonaparte is drawing the popularity of the People. Napoleon rose to power in 1799 and declared himself Emperor of France, determined to spread his empire at any cost. Napoleon Bonaparte: the man, the myth, the legend. What makes Napoleon a figure of such epic proportions? Through this WebQuest, you will uncover the impact Napoleon had on a local, national and global scale. By gaining an understanding on the role Napoleon had on history, we can understand how his character has transcended generations and had a lasting impact on world history. With the End of the Reign of Terror as our beginning, we will examine the growth of Napoleon in Stage 3 of the French Revolution (The National Convention -> Committee of Public Safety -> The Reign of Terror) and the beginnings of his take over in Stage 4 of the Revolution (The Directory -> Napoleon). Your Quest is to examine the actions of Napoleon from one of the roles listed below. Is Napoleon a Hero or a Villain to the People of France? Step 1: Select ONE of the roles listed below. Links have been provided to you with information about each role, but you are welcome to locate other resources pertaining to the perspective that you select. 1. Soldier in Napoleons army http://www.pbs.org/empires/napoleon/n_war/soldier/page_1.html 2. French peasant woman http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/society/c_women.html 3. Member of the bourgeoisie (middle class) http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/lecture15a.html 4. French noble http://www.pbs.org/empires/napoleon/n_myth/youth/page_1.html 5. French clergyman http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/thenapoleonsandempire/a/The-Concordat-Of1801.htm Step 2: See the worksheet attached to this packet. Answer the questions that correspond to each website listed on the worksheet with at least 3-5 complete sentences. Base your answers on the information provided by the given website, do not conduct additional research. Remember to maintain your chosen perspective. Step 3: In character (see Step 1) decide whether Napoleon is a hero or a villain. Step 4: Evaluate your findings based on your characters perspective. Write a diary entry in character. In your diary entry you must clearly establish your position in society and provide evidence as to why Napoleon is a hero of a villain. Provide specific evidence, just like you would if you were actually writing in your diary during the time period. Diary entries are to be a minimum of two paragraphs in length.

Web Quest:
Information: Website: http://www.biography.com/people/napoleon-9420291(Summary or Detailed)

Stage 3 of the Revolution: Directory & The Rise of Napoleon

The Reign of Terror ended with the execution of Robespierre. The Constitution of 1795 created a five-man Directory and a two-house legislature elected by male citizens of property to ruled France. By 1802, the French government was taken over by a popular general who became the most powerful leader in Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte. How did Napoleon gain popularity in France? Directory: The revolutionary government in France 1795-9, comprising two councils and a five-member executive. It maintained an aggressive foreign policy, but could not control events at home and was overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte. Circle One: Hero or Villian

1. 1. Who Was Napoleon? (Background: Where did he grow up?, How did he become popular?)
Answer:

Information: Website: http://www.biography.com/people/napoleon-9420291?page=2(Summary or Detailed)

Stage 4 of the Revolution: Napoleon Rules France:

The directory has lost control of the political situation and the people. The only control that they had was over the army. Abbie Sieyes (Speaker from the National Assembly) urged Napoleon to stage a Coup dtat (blow of state). Coup d tat: A sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government. Circle One: Hero or Villain?

2. How did Napoleon gain Power in France?

Answer:

Information Website: http://www.nbisd.org/users/0006/docs/Textbooks/World History/WH23.3.pdf (pages 585-586)

Napoleon: Restores Order At Home:

The People were desperate for strong leadership. The people looked to Napoleon to provide a strong central government and to achieve the goals of the Revolution. Lyces: A secondary school in France that is funded by the state. Concordat: An agreement or treaty, especially one between the Vatican and a secular government relating to matters of mutual interest. Napoleonic Code: The first modern organized body of law governing France, also known as the Code Napoleon or Code Civil, enacted by Napolon I in 1804. Circle One: Hero or Villain?

3. How did Napoleon achieve the goals of the Revolution?

Hint: Look at the definitions of Lycee, Concordat, and Napoleonic Code
Answer:

Information Website: http://www.keats-shelley-house.org/en/romanticism/timeline-1804 (also consider what you already know about Napoleon and the above pdf for more information)

Napoleon Creates an Empire: 1804

In 1804, Napoleon was crowned Emperor and began his conquest in Europe. Circle One: Hero or Villain?

4. Why Would Napoleon crown himself?

Answer:

Information Website: http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/napoleon/c_unification.html

Napoleon Conquering Europe:

Circle One: Hero or Villain?

5. 5. What did Napoleon envision for his European conquests?