Napoleonic Era Facts & Worksheets

The Napoleonic Era is a period in French and European history. It generally includes the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, with the first being the National Assembly, the second the Legislative Assembly, and the third the Directory. 

See the fact file below for more information on the Napoleonic Era, or you can download our 29-page Napoleonic Era worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

THE REIGN OF NAPOLEON I

• France was involved in the Napoleonic Wars from 1803 to 1815, engaging in a series of conflicts with various coalitions of European nations.
• Napoleon bought France’s Louisiana Territory in North America to the freshly founded United States for $15 million in order to collect finances for future conflicts, which became known as the Louisiana Purchase. 
• The British defeated Napoleon’s fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, but in December of the following year, Napoleon achieved a significant victory against the Austrians and Russians at the Battle of Austerlitz, resulting in the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and the formation of the Rhine Confederation. 
• In 1806, Napoleon initiated economic warfare against Britain by implementing the Continental System of European port blockades against British trade. In 1807, after the French defeated the Russians at Friedland in Prussia, Alexander I was compelled to sign the Treaty of Tilsit. 
• In 1809, the French won the Battle of Wagram against the Austrians, resulting in further gains for Napoleon. 
• Throughout these years, Napoleon restored a French aristocracy that had been abolished during the French Revolution and began bestowing titles of nobility on his devoted friends and family as his empire expanded across much of western and central Europe’s continent.

CAMPAIGNS

Here are some key military campaigns and conquests of the Napoleonic era:

• Italian Campaign (1796-1797): This campaign saw Napoleon defeat the Austrian army in a series of battles and conquer much of northern Italy.
• Egyptian Campaign (1798-1801): In an attempt to cut off Britain’s trade routes to India, Napoleon invaded Egypt with a large army. Although he won some initial battles, his forces were eventually defeated by the British Navy.
• Marengo Campaign (1800): Napoleon’s victory at the Battle of Marengo in northern Italy helped secure his position as First Consul of France and brought an end to the War of the Second Coalition. 
• Ulm Campaign (1805): In this campaign, Napoleon defeated the Austrian army at the Battle of Ulm and went on to conquer Vienna and much of Austria. 
• The Battle of Austerlitz, also called the “Battle of the Three Emperors,” was among Napoleon’s most significant triumphs. He defeated a joint Russian-Austrian army, compelling Austria to sign the Treaty of Pressburg.
• Peninsula War (1808-1814): This was a long and bloody conflict between France and Spain supported by Britain. The war saw numerous battles, including the Battle of Salamanca and the Siege of Badajoz.
• Russian Campaign (1812): This was one of Napoleon’s most disastrous campaigns. His invasion of Russia was met with fierce resistance, and the harsh winter and lack of supplies caused his army to suffer huge losses.
• Leipzig Campaign (1813): Also known as the “Battle of Nations,” this campaign saw Napoleon’s forces defeated by a coalition of European powers, leading to his exile to the island of Elba.
• Hundred Days (1815): Napoleon returned from exile in 1815 and briefly resumed his position as Emperor of France. However, his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo by British and Prussian forces led to his final exile to the island of Saint Helena.
• These military campaigns and conquests of the Napoleonic era had a profound impact on European history, reshaping the political and social landscape of the continent for years to come.

CONTINENTAL SYSTEM

• The Continental System was an economic policy initiated by Napoleon Bonaparte during the Napoleonic era to block trade between Great Britain and continental Europe. 
• The policy was put into effect through a series of decrees between 1806 and 1807, which prohibited European countries from importing British goods and products manufactured in British colonies.
• The Continental System was designed to weaken Britain’s economy and military power by cutting off its trade with Europe, a major source of revenue for the British. 
• However, the policy was unsuccessful as Britain responded by imposing a naval blockade on Europe, which prevented French goods from being exported to Britain’s colonies and other overseas markets.
• The Continental System had negative effects on the economies of the countries that implemented it, particularly France, which faced shortages of goods and rising prices. 
• The policy also led to tensions between France and its European allies, who resented being forced to participate in an economic war against Britain.
• Some countries, such as Portugal and Russia, defied the Continental System and continued to trade with Britain, leading to further conflicts.
• Ultimately, the Continental System failed to achieve its objectives and was abandoned by Napoleon in 1812. 
• However, it had lasting effects on the economies and politics of Europe, as it contributed to the rise of nationalism and protectionism in many countries and paved the way for the free trade movement that emerged in the 19th century.

HUNDRED DAYS CAMPAIGN AND THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO

• After spending less than a year in exile, Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from Elba and returned to the French mainland on February 26, 1815, with over 1,000 supporters. 
• Upon his arrival in Paris on March 20, he was greeted by cheering crowds, and the king at the time, Louis XVIII, fled the country. 
• This event marked the beginning of Napoleon’s Hundred Days campaign.
• Upon his return, however, a coalition of his old adversaries, including the Austrians, British, Prussians, and Russians, started to plan for war. 
• Napoleon formed a new army and intended to attack first, eliminating the Allied forces one by one before they could mount a coordinated offensive against him.
• In June 1815, Napoleon’s forces invaded Belgium, where British and Prussian troops were stationed. 
• The French won a victory against the Prussians at the Battle of Ligny on June 16. However, two days later, at the Battle of Waterloo near Brussels, the French were defeated by the British, with assistance from the Prussians.
• On June 22, 1815, Napoleon was once again forced to abdicate. 
• The Hundred Days campaign and the Battle of Waterloo marked the end of Napoleon’s rule and his final defeat in the Napoleonic Wars. 

CONGRESS OF VIENNA

• Representatives of all European countries and other stakeholders convened in Vienna from September 1814 to June 1815 to discuss and agree on a new blueprint for the European political as well as constitutional order. 
• This event was known as the Congress of Vienna and was held after the downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. 
• By resolving concerns resulting from the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars via diplomacy, Congress attempted to offer a long-term peace plan for Europe. 
• The fundamental goal was to reduce the major powers such that they could balance each other and maintain peace while also protecting minor powers.
• The Congress was chaired by Austrian statesman Klemens von Metternich and attended by representatives from all the European powers. 
• Conservative leaders like von Metternich strove to restrict or eradicate republican, liberal, and revolutionary forces that had upended and threatened to undermine the European ancien régime’s constitutional order.
• France was in a poor negotiating position compared to Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia, owing in part to Napoleon’s military tactics throughout the preceding two decades and his recent loss.
• France ended up giving up all of its previous gains in the settlement, while the other three major countries gained important territory.
• Prussia expanded its area by absorbing smaller nations such as Swedish Pomerania, the majority of the Kingdom of Saxony, and even the western half of the ancient Duchy of Warsaw. Austria seized control of most of northern Italy, whereas Russia took control of the middle and eastern parts of the Duchy of Warsaw. 
• They all agreed to ratify the new Kingdom of the Netherlands, which had been created from former Austrian territory a few months earlier.
• The Congress convened following Napoleon’s defeat and capitulation in May 1814, which ended 23 years of practically constant war. 
• Despite the outbreak of fighting caused by Napoleon’s return from exile and the return of power in France from March to July 1815, negotiations continued. 
• The accord was signed by Congress nine days before Napoleon’s fatal defeat at Waterloo on June 18, 1815.
• While some historians have criticized Congress’s outcomes for causing the ensuing suppression of national, democratic, and liberal movements, others have seen it as a reactionary agreement for the benefit of traditional monarchs. 
• Nonetheless, the Congress is lauded for protecting Europe from large, prevalent wars for nearly a century.

END OF THE NAPOLEONIC ERA

• In 1810, Russia left the Continental System, prompting Napoleon to lead a large army into Russia in the summer of 1812. 
• The Russian army employed a strategy of retreating rather than engaging in full-scale battles, causing Napoleon’s forces to trek deeper into Russia despite being ill-prepared for a prolonged campaign. 
• The Battle of Borodino in September resulted in heavy casualties for both sides. 
• Napoleon’s troops marched on to Moscow only to find the city evacuated, with retreating Russians setting fires across the city to deprive enemy troops of supplies.
• Napoleon was forced to order his starving and exhausted army out of Moscow after waiting a month for a surrender that never came due to the onset of the Russian winter. 
• The disastrous retreat was marked by continual harassment from a suddenly aggressive Russian army, resulting in only about 100,000 of Napoleon’s 600,000 troops making it out of Russia.
• Meanwhile, French forces were engaged in the Peninsular War from 1808 to 1814, which saw the Spanish and Portuguese, with assistance from the British, driving the French out of the Iberian Peninsula. In 1813, Napoleon’s forces were defeated in the Battle of Leipzig by a coalition including Austrian, Prussian, Russian, and Swedish troops. Napoleon retreated to France, and in March 1814, coalition forces captured Paris.
• On April 6, 1814, Napoleon, in his mid-40s, was forced to abdicate the throne. He was exiled to Elba, a Mediterranean island off the coast of Italy, and given sovereignty over the small island while his wife and son went to Austria in accordance with the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

Napoleonic Era Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Napoleonic Era across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Napoleonic Era. The Napoleonic Era is a period in French and European history. It generally includes the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, with the first being the National Assembly, the second the Legislative Assembly, and the third the Directory. 

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Napoleonic Era Facts
2. Read and Understand
3. Napoleon I
4. Crossword
5. Napoleonic Timeline
6. Achievement Collage
7. Justifying Answers
8. Important Personalities
9. The Subject
10. What Do You Think?
11. Watch Online Report On Cam

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Napoleonic Era?

The Napoleonic Era refers to the period of Napoleon Bonaparte’s rule, which began with his rise to power as First Consul of France in 1799 and ended with his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

What were the major accomplishments of Napoleon Bonaparte during the Napoleonic Era?

Napoleon Bonaparte achieved significant accomplishments during the Napoleonic Era. He implemented a series of legal and administrative reforms in France, known as the Napoleonic Code, which had a lasting impact on civil law systems. He also conducted successful military campaigns, expanded the French Empire, and introduced various economic and educational reforms.

What were the key battles and conflicts of the Napoleonic Era?

The Napoleonic Era was marked by several major battles and conflicts. Some notable ones include the Battle of Austerlitz (1805), the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt (1806), the Battle of Borodino (1812), and the Battle of Leipzig (1813). The era culminated in Napoleon’s final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

How did the Napoleonic Era impact Europe?

The Napoleonic Era had a profound impact on Europe. Napoleon’s military campaigns and the establishment of the French Empire reshaped political boundaries, abolished feudalism in many regions, and spread nationalist sentiments. The era also stimulated intellectual and cultural exchanges across Europe and influenced subsequent political developments.

What led to the downfall of Napoleon and the end of the Napoleonic Era?

Several factors contributed to Napoleon’s downfall and the end of the Napoleonic Era. These include the failed invasion of Russia, the formation of coalitions against France by other European powers, internal political and economic challenges in France, and the decisive defeat of Napoleon’s forces by the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. Following his defeat, Napoleon was exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he died in 1821.

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