Preview

Napoleon: a Leader or Dictator.

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
616 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Napoleon: a Leader or Dictator.
Napoleon: A Leader or Dictator.

There are never ending inquiries on the nature of Napoleonic power. But reason can prove to one that the Age of Napoleon was infact a time of democratic rule. Through Political, Social, and Economical reforms, Napoleon Bonaparte did not only transcend France, but he changed the course of history for Europe and the World today.

To begin, Napoleon proved himself a democratic leader thorough many Political reforms. In 1798-99, Napoleon, with the directory's blessing, he launched his Egyptian Expedition. It was a military disaster, but Napoleon came to France a hero and saved France from the second coalition. In 1799, he staged his "Coup D'etat," and setting up the Consulate, government body representing a country in another host country, with himself as First Consul. At first this does not seem just, but Napoleon then submitted his new constitution to a Plebiscite, a vote of the people, and it was approved by a vast majority. Although the constitution gave almost complete power to the First Consul, it was the people of France who voted , as a democratic society would, to enforce this new structure of government. In 1802, Napoleon again held a Plebiscite, and was named to be First Consul for life. Also, in 1804, he submitted to Plebiscite a new constitution, ending the consulate and establishing the First French Empire. Also showing Democratic Political advancement, Napoleon signed The Concordat of 1801 with the Catholic Church. He thus disarmed the threat of counter revolution among the catholic peasants. Catholicism became the "preferred" religion of France, but most importantly, Napoleon did tolerate other religions.

Next, Napoleon helped show the Age of Napoleon as democratic through many Economic reforms. To begin, Napoleon reformed the tax structure. This exempt no person or persons from paying their taxes because of birth or privilege. Amazingly, people willingly, began to pay their

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    There were many positive aspects of Napoleon's reign. Napoleon had supported the changes brought about by the Revolution. He accepted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and did not restore feudalism. He improved the French system of laws by installing the Napoleonic Code, which made the laws more equal. Napoleon also increased the French education by establishing public high schools, universities, and trade schools. He also used his incredible gift of persuasion in order to assuage the Roman Catholic Church and replaced the Civil Constitution of the Clergy with the Concordat, which also allowed religious freedom. He also used these exceptional gifts to disband the alliances that arose against France.…

    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Another of Napoleon’s domestic achievement was the Civil Code of 1804, otherwise known as the Napoleonic Code. This new law reform emphasized the abolishment of privileges based on birth, it also “allowed freedom of religion and stated that government jobs must be given to the most qualified” (Bio.com). Privileges that the aristocracy enjoyed were no longer exclusive to them, Napoleon made it available for everyone. This reform made him very popular among the people, so in 1804 Napoleon was declared Emperor…

    • 444 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Napoleon Info

    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Concordat of 1801 | It solidified the Roman Catholic Church as the majority church of France | Creation of Republics | He rules as a dictator, there was no real voting power for anyone |…

    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Napoleon Bonaparte DBQ

    • 614 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Peace came to France with Napoleon's strong rule. After making himself a consul for life, he re-established the French monarchy, naming himself Emperor Napoleon I in 1804. He centralized French government by appointing new officials, made tax collections more efficient, and created a National Bank. He believed that he was chosen by God to be in power and made others believe it through the Napoleon Catechism. It showed the French people that Napoleon was blessed to get the throne. "…he whom God had raised up under difficult circumstances to re-establish the public worship of the holy religion of our fathers and to be the protector of it" (Document 7).…

    • 614 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Napoleonic era began in 1799 with Bonaparte’s coup d’état, which overthrew the Directory and by that established him to be the youngest new French Consulate in the history. In France, Napoleon showed to be an organizational genius as he worked to restore unity, peace and order to post-Revolution France. At that time he also worked to improve the relations to the catholic church as it was the leading religion in France.…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    During his rule, Napoleon reformed much of the laws surrounding the Church, as well as changing French society. He eradicated not only feudalism, but the tithes that citizens had to pay. This made him popular simply because many…

    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Napoleon’s personal greed for power drove him to infringe the basic principles of the revolution on the rights to hereditary and absolute rule. Robespierre, an enlightened leader of the Jacobins, stated that the purpose of the French Revolution was to abolish absolute monarchy and institute a “democratic or republican government” that could help increase political equality within a nation (Robespierre). However, Napoleon rejected any republican form of government; he was solely concerned with maintaining a “hereditary power, which… may endure for generations, even for centuries” (Selected). Ironically though, in hopes to gain popularity among members of the 3rd estate, he abolished the power of the nobility and appointed governors that were loyal to the central government. Not only did he crown himself emperor of France, but also, “he established an imperial court and the members of his family were made royalty, while other titles and honors were given to his…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    When he made the changes that he did, it made it all of the classes a little more equal. He was always looking out for the people so he could get their support. Napoleon made a tax system that was fair unlike the old one. The old system would make the poorer people pay more than the wealthy. Another thing at he did for the people was make government ran public schools available for male students of all backgrounds. People that finished the school went to office not with family connections anymore but on the basis of merit. He also made laws that were called Napoleonic Code. These laws gave the country of France set of rules that were for the most part fair and got rid of many injustices. The two major things that were wrong with the code were that the people did not have freedom of speech or freedom of the press. Napoleon wanted to make himself emperor so he did just that. Because of the changes he made the French voters supported him. In 1804 he took the crown from the pope and crowned himself emperor of France. The people would have also been happy with Napoleon when he sold land to the United States. He sold the land for fifteen million dollars. This brought money to France and also would make the British upset. If I was a member of the bourgeoise I would also be happy with how Napoleon was trying to get more land for France. He was a very determined leader which would be another thing that they would be happy about. I would be happy because Napoleon treated the people fairly and made rules in the best interest of the people for the most…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Napoleon Bonaparte

    • 502 Words
    • 3 Pages

    During Napoleon’s reign as Emperor of the French Empire he made laws, or a set of codes, that applied to all of France. He enacted laws that protected the people, promoted religious tolerance and took away the serfdom and feudalism systems, all of which gave people more freedom over their land to support themselves and their families. The well-being of the people was compromised since the workers lacked many rights, this being evident by the fact that trade unions and strikes were illegal, which encouraged employer abuse.…

    • 502 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    After the chaos of the French Revolution Napoleon's empire, Europe wanted to get back to the old days of monarchy. They reasoned: democracy brought chaos, monarchy brought order.…

    • 3587 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Napoleon limited who had power and rights in society in a few ways. Napoleon created the Napoleonic Code, which guaranteed everyone equal rights except for women and black people. Because of the code, it was controlled who had rights. Also, Napoleon created schools for boys ages ten to sixteen, called lycees. While many people saw…

    • 420 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Napoleon Bonaparte rise to power was because of his strong army he formed and his strategy for winning wars however his fall came when he went to Russia intending to defeat them but lost. Napoleon’s policies were to ensure freedom and equality for the people and to give the people the education they needed.…

    • 1522 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Napoleon

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Napoleon was indeed a great man, in that he made a significant impact on the course of history, although with both positive and negative consequences. He was one of history's greatest military commanders and succeeded in conquering most of Europe and did much to modernize the nations he ruled. He also introduced the Code Napoleon, which brought unity, order, progress and reform to France and Europe and the Code is still used today.…

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Napoleon Bonaparte was a very influential character in the history of France. When Napoleon rose to power, many reforms were made regarding the social system, economics, education, and political aspects. For some, the reforms made under his rule were for the better of the people, but others viewed the reforms as negative changes. Nonetheless, Napoleon will always be thought of as a powerful figure in the French Revolution. A leader from the beginning, Napoleon was sent to France for military training at age nine.…

    • 977 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Napoleon

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Napoleon rose to power during the aftermath of the French Revolution. He staged a coup d'état and installed himself as First Consul, later becoming the emperor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest military commanders of all time because of his success in his wars. Napoleon sought to spread ideas of the French Revolution but contradicted them in many ways.…

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays