The French Revolution: Napoleon's Rise To Power

After the French Revolution, a Corsican artillery officer, named Napoleon Bonaparte, became the emperor of France in 1804. After playing a significant role in trying retake the

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. People that were more poor, got a chance to earn more money. Another enlightenment idea that he supported was education and art, and he built free public schools so all children were able to get educated. Some might argue that he crowned himself king and his brother King of Spain, which means that he did not get rid of the monarchy even though that was one of the main ideas during Enlightenment. But Napoleon had plebiscites, people that were allowed to vote, and

In this unit, you examined the American and French Revolutions. The American Revolution, sparked by conflict over British rule and influenced by Enlightenment ideas, broke colonial ties with a monarchy and yielded a new nation. The French Revolution, inspired by the American Revolution as well as the Enlightenment, freed French citizens from an absolute monarchy and secured equality before the law for all male citizens.

From the late 1500’s to the late 1700’s, the Enlightenment period occurred. Thinkers and philosophers across Europe created ideas that changed the way people thought. For example, John Locke thought of the idea that everyone had natural rights. These rights consisted of the right to life, liberty, and property. Voltaire had the idea that the power lies in the hands of the people and their elected government. Benjamin Franklin, who had a great influence on the new government in the Americas as he told the ideas of government structure that he thought was better. Without these three people and their thoughts, the world wouldn't be the way it is today.

From the 16th to 18th century, countries in Europe were experiencing new ideas and reforms.

Prior to Napoleon's reign as emperor, France had been through the rein of terror and the French Revolution. King Louis the Sixteenth and his wife Marie Antoinette had put France in major debt and took no responsibility for it. He was killed by the guillotine. Robespierre took control after his death and caused more problems for France and killed anyone who was not passionate enough about his ruling. He too was killed by the guillotine. Napoleon came into rule after Robespierre and ruled as emperor of France. Napoleon was a hero because he believed in better education for the people of France, he wanted to get rid of the tyrants of other countries to better the lives of people under their rule, and people had civil rights, which they didn’t have prior to his reign as emperor. Others argue that Napoleon was a tyrant because he

How revolutionary was the French Revolution? Did the Revolution simply replace the old ruling elite with a new bourgeois one? What were the major effects on different groups of people, including nobles, priests, peasants, urban workers, slaves, and women?

“They wanted me to be another George Washington” – Napoleon. This was a quote was said by Napoleon Bonaparte, himself. Napoleon intentionally conceded to the fact that he had betrayed the goals of the French Revolution. The values of the French Revolution were Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Liberty of the people, in other words, the freedom of the people was extremely important to the French Revolution. The belief in equality was desired during the French Revolution, they wanted all citizens to be equal to one another. The belief in Fraternity was also very appreciated during the French Revolution, meaning they wanted peace between neighboring countries rather than war or battle. Napoleon Bonaparte ultimately

The Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the Enlightenment both desired to improve European society, however the level of religious tolerance during the Glorious Revolution differed from the Enlightenment. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the Enlightenment both desired to improve European society’s disposition to inherit natural rights. The level of religious tolerance during the Glorious Revolution, which favored Protestant beliefs over Catholicism, differed from the Enlightenment.

Before Napoleon became emperor, France was in a post-revolutionary state after a series of civil wars. Napoleon Bonaparte’s accomplishments were achieved inside and outside of France. Napoleon’s political feats were achieved by having superior military leadership. Napoleons leadership of France ended up turning tables in many different areas from gaining economic stability to establishing an agreement with Pope Pius VII of the Roman Catholic Church. The greatest achievements that made the years 1801-1805 the height of Napoleons political career were the Concordat, the Napoleonic Code, and the reformation of French economy.

The late 1700’s was a time of great discontent in France. The people of France revolted against their government in an attempt to gain power in political decision making. In this time, France experienced many forms of governments as the people fought for change. It was during the 1790’s that Napoleon Bonaparte became known to the people as a strong military leader. Taking advantage of his rising popularity, Napoleon became the ruler of France and eventually the ruler of an empire. Napoleon Bonaparte had a positive impact on France and Europe due to the military, political and economic stability he restored to France, the laws he put in place, the reforms he introduced to the European countries he conquered and his improvement of the education system.

Lately, I feel Napoleon has brought many positive changes to society but few have greatly impacted the peasants. Though in recent events, Napoleon has signed the concordat which is an agreement which establishes a relationship between church and state. Many people think that what Napoleon did was for power, but I think it was obviously for the people to have another freedom. Church is like our second home where we can have freedom to pray and always feel welcome. Now that this is connected with the state it makes religion influence government which provides more social stability. If these are not connected then people would become immoral and society would be unkempt. I believe religious morals and values are important especially after King Louis’s

When people think of dictators, names like Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, and Mao Zedong come to mind. One name that too often joins this list, despite most definitely belonging on it, is Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon was a kind and just leader, and always attempted to do what was right. He was by no means unconstrained and tyrannical, as the word dictator suggests. Napoleon fought for what was best for his people, even when doing so wasn’t the easiest way, and he was never cruel or murderous. Napoleon Bonaparte I would not be considered a dictator to the people of France because he gained power to protect and improve France, he was elected for his position as emperor, and he tried to remove King Henry XVIII.

His civil code, which consisted of seven major ideas, was called the Napoleonic Code and with certain modifications, it is still the basis of French law. At its core, the code was created to establish individual freedoms and equality in certain areas. It also reinforced the ending of feudalism and the privileges that came to certain people through that system. However, some of his major ideas in the codes did not improve the lives of the French, especially women. For example, one of the laws made it nearly impossible for women to receive a divorce and in most cases, the husband would win the case. In this code, as many other laws at the time, women were put at a lower standard than men and this wrongful treatment continued in France until new laws were put in place. Although the Napoleonic Codes had areas of wrongful treatment, for the first time in France’s history, the entire country had the same set of laws and it soon improved their justice system and helped to find common ground on many issues. While influencing France in an extreme manner, Napoleon’s codes also shaped many laws in neighboring countries and set a standard for what laws are used

Napoleon gained advantagement from a situation where the french government ran out of money and in inflation. Taxation and unemployment were at a high rate also. There was a fear in France that a jacobian resurgence or best people would come. Napoleon was a strong military general who always won in battle.