The end of the 1700’s was a time of turmoil, fear, and uncertainty for the French citizens. The mass violence and killings during the revolution caused the people of France to question the government and what they were doing for the country. France needed a strong ruler to help stabilize the government against, and Napoleon did just that. When Napoleon seized power he was a very successful army general helping him gain popularity with the people. His allowability for citizens to rise in government according to their abilities helped him gain favor throughout the middle and lower classes. Napoleon also created the Napoleonic Code that reassured equality of males under the law and secured their wealth and property. This new code made the citizens
Napoleon used his power to make life better for the people and France. After the revolution, France needed a strong leader. Napoleon said, “The revolution is over. I am the Revolution” meaning that he is going to make a change in France. Napoleon followed enlightened despots such as Maria Theresa, John Locke and Voltaire. Napoleon just like Voltaire and Maria Theresa believed that everyone should be educated, so he opened free public schools and lycees. People
In France in 1789, A revolution began. The people of France were fighting for their inalienable rights such as freedom from serfdom , equality between the classes. Within this chaos in France, Napoleon, a new thinker, came about and changed France in many ways. Napoleon's policies can be seen as preserving the legacy of the French Revolution by giving equality to the lower classes and creating a governmental system that helped to put the people in charge of their sovereignty, however it can be seen as hurting the legacy by protecting the ideas of absolutism.
Napoleon managed to maintain the lesser ideals of the French Revolution. However, he managed to do this by giving all of the former ideals a ‘twist’ of his own if he was displeased by them. This included the fact that he re-wrote the constitution that had previously been written; he partially reversed the relationship with the Church, turning France into a Catholic country. It can also be stated that the way he gained power was against the French Revolution’s ideals: and this was the very beginning! On the other hand, Napoleon managed to maintain equal taxation, which had previously been a big issue, especially for the poor. Distinction was removed and there were no privileges for any parties neither was there a way to ‘sneak out’ of
Once Napoleon had taken power in 1802, there was a large amount of speculation over how he would save France from all of their troubles. With various domestic and foreign problems, the people looked to Napoleon reform France back into the dominant power that it was before. There has been plenty of debate over if Napoleon’s implemented laws and ideas while he was the authoritative power depicted him as being a friend or a foe of the Revolution. The question being asked is did his policies on the social structure of society and his desire to restore an absolute ruler, cause him to be perceived as a friend or a foe of the values of the Revolution. This paper will consist of analysis of those two policies which were made in the time of
In June of 1793, “Little corporal” displayed his immediate support for the Jacobins, a far-left political movement and the most well-known and popular political club from the French Revolution (Biography). Eventually, the Jacobins fell from power and Robespierre. In 1795 the Directory took control of the country, a power it would it assume until 1799 All of this turmoil created opportunities for ambitious military leaders like Napoleon. Napoleon got imprisoned for 10 days on suspicion of treason after refusing an assignment to lead the Army of the West. After being imprisoned for ten days on suspicion of treason and refusing an assignment to lead the Army of the West, Napoleon was later assigned an occupation for the map department of the French war office. His military career was
Napoleon Bonaparte’s plan to revive the French empire was threatened by the American statesmen wanting to expand westward. He planned to use Louisiana as granary and recapture sugar colony of St.Domingue from a slave rebellion for his empire. France took possession in Louisiana in 1802, and sent a large army to St.Domingue and getting prepared to send one to New Orleans. Westerners are becoming afraid about having the French take control over New Orleans. Thomas Jefferson sent James Monroe to accompany Robert Livingston in France to bargain for New Orleans and Western Florida with $10
First, Napoleon centralized the government so he would have the right to do as he pleased. Then, he brought order to the chaos the French Revolution had wrought on the country. He created a new legal code based on that of the Roman Empire's. He insured religious freedom for all, and instituted anti-discriminatory laws for the Jewish people. He even made sure that France had one of the first public education systems in the
The French Revolution was a period of social and political turmoil in France from 1789 to 1799 that greatly affected modern and French history. It marked the decline of powerful monarchies and the rise of democracy, individual rights and nationalism. This revolution came with many consequences because of the strive for power and wealth, but also had many influential leaders attempting to initiate change in the French government and the economy. In 1789 the people of France dismissed King Louis XVI of his title, took apart his monarchy and executed him, his wife Marie Antoinette and thousands of nobles. The French set up a new system of government with specific revolutionary ideals, including liberty, equality and fraternity. This was a
The system of laws was in a state of chaos. Laws were not codified and were based on Roman law, ancient custom or monarchical paternalism. During the revolution, many laws were changed. It was difficult to determine what law applied in any given situation, and laws were not equally applied to everyone. The mishmash of laws were codified and written clearly so that the people could determine what law applied. It incorporated much of the Roman law. For the first time in history, the law was based on reason and founded on the notion that all men were equal before the law. Napoleon centralized the government, putting control firmly in the hands of the national government making it more efficient. Advancement in the civil service and the military was based on merit rather than rank. The tax system was applied equally to all. He also built many new “lycees”, schools for boys age 10 to 16. He recognized the importance of education in producing citizens capable of filling positions in his bureaucracy and military. Although he did not create a system of mass education, education was more available to the middle class than it ever had been before. (historywiz,
His reforms were very influential and affected the life of many French people. Napoleon will always be remembered by the french people and no one will forget the role he play to bring an end to the revolution. In France, Napoleon’s goal was to unify France by making the necessary reforms and taking the right decisions but also by introducing his own ideas. Therefore, he established the Napoleonic code known as Code des civiles des Français which was one of his numerous reforms. It was a new code of laws and it illustrated the enlightenment principles such as the abolition of feudalism and religious toleration.
In the late 1700’s France was corrupt and economically unstable. It also was in a time of complete chaos and people were killed everyday because they were not revolutionary enough. During this time France was in desperate need of someone who could take control and lead them into the right direction. In 1795, Napoleon Bonaparte was a general in the war and became a hero for many years to come. Napoleon Bonaparte was a military genius and was able to restore and stabilize France because of this he was a hero.
Napoleon is seen as one of the most important figures in history, for the many decisions and acts that he committed that influenced the world throughout his reign in France. During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon was one, if not the most important leader in the world. Throughout the wars, many people questioned if Napoleon’s acts reflected the values of the French Revolution, such as liberty, equality, and friendship. Although many people might say that he was a good leader for France and he helped France a lot, Napoleon’s political/military decisions did not reflect the values of the French revolution.
The development of the Napoleonic Code was a huge step of for the France. It was an essential change in the nature of their old civil law system. The Code of Napoleon made the laws in France clearer and more accessible than ever before. It also substituted the former conflicts between the royal legislative higher class power and the humble lower class power. Not like other poor rulers in France, Emperor Napoleon saw the huge conflicts during the French Revolution, thus in his code, it gave ever citizens in France specific laws to follow, and it abolished the royal laws for the upper classes once for all.
There were many things Napoleon considered a great triumph but there is one that is the greatest and this is called the Napoleonic Code. The Napoleonic Code did a lot of good for the French, the first good thing this code did for the French was it gave the country a set in stone, set of laws and it also eliminated any injustices. But this actually promoted order and authority over individual rights. An example of this is the freedom of speech, and press which was established during the revolution. This made it restricted under the code. Another good but bad thing was that the Napoleonic Code brought back slavery into the French colonies that were part of the Caribbean. There are many reasons Napoleon decided to change the current feudal system of laws and royal laws. Before the Napoleonic Code, there was no “Law” for the French to follow, and the royal and rich were very much treated better and had more privileges so during the revolution Napoleon decided that it would be the best to do away with the feudal laws. This was the set of laws he would use, and some of these laws are still in place, in france today.
Napoleon’s political ideas were efficient and worked well to rule a country; he even adapted his ideas to help France run more efficiently. The Napoleonic Code gave equality to all male citizens and he rehabilitated the Catholic Church for his people, despite his belief in religious freedom. He created a bureaucracy with subprefects, prefects, and mayors that ran France. All of these ideas helped France run smoothly.