Note- the world is devoid of oil but has huge coal deposits mostly in the South-Eastern United States 1799- Napoleon performs a coup against the First French Republic establishing himself as emergency President until the new form of government is sorted out. 1801- French intellectual, Luis de Gaulle, creates the percussion cap. Napoleon orders that all muskets and rifles are retrofitted. 1802-Napoleon marches his troops into the Low Countries, Britain and Prussia rise to their aid. the First Napoleonic War begins. 1805- the Royal Navy destroys French trade routes to India and America.