Napoleon Bonaparte: Is Napoleon A Tyrant Or A Hero?

Taking advantage of the people’s desire for strong leadership, military mobility, and political forces that emerged from the French Revolution, Napoleon seized power. He was a very active and revered ruler, implementing several internal reforms that unified the power of the national state and created a fairer justice system. With the passage of the Napoleonic Civil Law Codes, Napoleon reinforced the ideology of equality among all men (not yet women). However, Napoleon did little to bridge the class divide. He limited civil liberties of his constituents through content censorship and virtual oversight.

Napoleon spread enlightenment ideas that benefited the people in France. He created the Napoleonic code, which was basically the first written document of laws. That meant that the judge could not change anything, but the laws applied to all citizens equally and protected their rights. He gave people religious tolerance, which means people had religious freedom. He also created a system of meritocracy, giving positions based on people's talents and not to the ones that are higher classes.

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power through a radical republic produced by the french revolution. He was able to do this through his immense military success and the resulting support from the population. He had painted himself to be a war hero, and the public believed it willingly. His subsequent downfall from power fittingly came from his major military losses. During the french revolution, Napoleon was a supporter, from afar, and let that influence his policies during his reign as Emperor.

In the “Gettysburg Address” Abraham Lincoln shows that the idea of everyone being equal is strongly supported. For instance, Lincoln says that 87 years ago our fathers presented on this new land, a new nation, bringing forth something new in liberty, and dedicated to the idea that all men are created equal (Lincoln, sent. 1). This shows that

Ideas that were formed by the enlightenment philosophers were used in the new government. The French, however, did not make significant progress toward ending absolutism and instead were subject to another absolute ruler immediately after the revolution. After the French revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte became emperor. In this role, Bonaparte had absolute power over France. But some traces of progress were seen, as Bonaparte created a fairer tax system, new schools and a new set of laws (some still in place over 200 years

This new coin solved problems brought by inflation and continued to be the French currency for over one-hundred years. In closing, Napoleon Bonaparte can continue to be characterized in many different lights. Although he showed cruelty and confidence in his conquests, Bonaparte saw a need for change in his conquered kingdoms. Through these changes in education, economics and law, a new way of perceiving Napoleon Bonaparte is brought to the surface.

When it comes to Napoleon there are two views you can have. He was a hero, a champion of the revolutionary ideals who almost united Europe under one flag. He was a demon, a villain who betrayed the revolution that he came into power through, and he dealt more damage to it than all of the ancien regime combined. Some major figures in European history have had the former opinion, Charles De Gaulle, while others have had the latter opinion, Ludwig van Beethoven. Personally, when I think about what happened before, during, and after the revolution, as well as the basic causes and the core of the revolution, I have to agree with the later opinion despite my deep and heartfelt admiration for both Napoleon and his accomplishments.

The French Revolution at the end of the 18th century was a major event in history, and there are differing opinions on whether or not the revolution was successful. I believe that the French Revolution was successful because the goals of the revolution were achieved: a representative government was established, equality between the Three Estates was increased, and the country as well as the lives of its people were improved. Success can have many definitions, but I would define it as achieving one’s goals. Since this happened in the French Revolution, I believe that it was successful. One of the main goals of the French Revolution was to abolish the absolute monarchy in France and establish a constitutional monarchy, and this goal was achieved through the Constitution of 1791.

It was only after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871 and the founding of the Third Republic (1871–1940) that most of France 's later colonial possessions were acquired. A hallmark of the French colonial project in the late 19th century and early 20th century was the civilising mission (mission civilisatrice), the principle that it was Europe 's duty to bring civilisation to benighted peoples. There are many reasons why France wanted to create an empire: Intellectually, ( including speaking and writing French, earning a decent living and displaying good moral standards) economically, financially and for religious and national reasons. According to Jules Ferry, France, as a superior country, had the right to take its culture and civilization in other countries. This is defined as France’s “mission civilisatrice” that took place in continents such as Africa and Asia.

The French Revolution ended when Napoleon Bonaparte, a military genius, stepped in and dismantled the Directory, which promoted middle class interests, and helped with financial crisis and food shortages. Napoleon crowned himself emperor of France, and made a new social order called the Napoleonic Code. Although there may be many reasons he reversed the spirit of the French Revolution, he modernized and changed the political and social construct immensely, for the good of France. The main trait that Napoleon is known for is his genius military mind.

The Declaration of Independence and The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen both stand for equality and freedom for their all of people. Even though the documents were written over a decade apart, both countries with their documents stood for the same cause. The United State’s declaration was fighting for their freedom and equality that they never had back when they were ruled by the crown of Great Britain, while the French’s declaration simply enforced the freedom and equality onto their

The most successful and efficient way for a large population to remain stable is for it to be unified under a single governmental body. But once people are subjected to those governmental powers, the lines between legality and personal freedoms blur. In France, the clear definition of legal freedoms and basic human rights is found in the Declaration of the Rights of Man, written in 1789. The document clearly defines the basic human rights that all citizens of France, and all the citizens of the world for that matter, are entitled to. The Declaration of the Rights of Man is an important document because it clearly states the rights of the formerly oppressed peoples, brought about stability in a time of chaos, had intellectual authors, and is still

history. The Declaration of Independence was the people’s resolution set in stone. It made it sure that citizens’ rights would be kept, and that a just government would coexist with them. The Declaration of Independence stated that “all people were created equal”, and believed that a government should be made to benefit for the people. The document tested their political and moral imaginations and expanded it, shaping the type of government and society we now have today.

Can one be viewed as both a hero and a tyrant? In the case of Napoleon Bonaparte, it is difficult to differentiate between a savior of the values of the French Revolution and another absolute ruler of the French people. The Revolution strove to embody enlightenment ideals by establishing representative forms of government and giving the people equal fundamental rights. As the Revolution became radical, corrupt, and chaotic, the people of France turned to Napoleon as a potential leader. His actions as ruler of France preserved several of the enlightenment ideals that sparked and developed from the Revolution.

Napoleon Bonaparte is a controversial figure in history, while some argue that he was a tyrant, others would say that he was a saviour of the French people, and a spreader of secular values. Regardless of one’s opinion, we mustn't neglect the many accomplishments he achieved throughout his reign as Emperor of France. As a young man, Napoleon joined a military academy, where he grew fascinated by famous figures like Julius Caesar, Hannibal Barca, and especially Alexander the Great. With the eruption of the French Revolution, Napoleon was quickly able to rise up through the ranks, eventually leading the French people to a victory over the monarchy, and later, the tyrants of the Reign of Terror. During his reign, he maintained his belief in the ideals of the revolution, which form the current national motto