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A LITTLE ABOUT NAPOLEON
Read about Napoleon’s early life on one of these websites:
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Napoleon rose to prominence during the French Revolution.
Read more about the French Revolution on one of these websites:
NAPOLEON TAKES CONTROL OF FRANCE
As a military officer, he drove the British from Toulon in southern France. Promoted to general, he crushed an attempt to restore the monarchy and led the French army to victories in Italy and Egypt. A military hero to the French people, he seized control of the French government in 1799 with two allies.
He immediately ordered the drafting of a new constitution. This document guaranteed that all adult males could vote, but it did not provide any bill of rights. “What the French people want,” said Napoleon, “is equality, not liberty.” The Constitution of 1799 also created a complicated form of government called the Consulate. But Napoleon, as “First Consul,” held most of the power. Tired of revolutionary chaos and war, the French people overwhelmingly voted to approve the new constitution, which promised stability if not freedom.
Napoleon quickly set to work taking control of the country by appointing cabinet ministers, provincial governors and councils, police commissioners, mayors, and judges—all loyal to him. To his credit, Napoleon selected appointees who generally proved to be efficient and honest.
Napoleon also established France’s first public education system and financed many public-works projects including the beautification of Paris. To end a violent conflict with the Roman Catholic Church brought on by the revolution, Napoleon negotiated a pact with the pope. The church turned its lands over to the state. In return, the government paid the salaries of Catholic priests (France was mostly a Catholic country).
In 1800, Napoleon led his army over the Alps to defeat the Austrians in Italy. A few months later, he reached agreement with Spain to return Louisiana to France. In 1802, a vote of the people made him “First Consul for Life.” That same year, he signed peace treaties with several countries. The short period of peace that followed allowed Napoleon to complete his plans for unifying the French nation. This included writing a new code of laws to apply equally to all French citizens regardless of class.
THE CODE OF NAPOLEON
Napoleon Bonaparte created the first modern code of laws. The Code Napoleon unified French law and became the model for legal systems in most other nations in the world.
After his death, the legend of Napoleon grew. Like all legends, it contained elements that appeal to the popular imagination.
Probably Napoleon’s most lasting accomplishment was the Napoleonic Code, which gave Europe a uniform set of laws. Napoleon also carried forward the spirit of the French Revolution- that individuals should be judged on their merit rather than on their birth. Of his military conquests, none were permanent. But Napoleon’s armies did spread the ideals of the revolution wherever they went, so that many people of the world learned the meaning of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
It must be remembered that Napoleon was a dictator. He ignored the law when doing so suited his purpose. Napoleon’s use of the Declaration of Rights was done largely to strengthen his own power.
The Napoleonic era brought to Europe a sense of nationalism, or extreme pride for ones own country with a disregard for international opinion. As the French armies retreated from Europe, nations began to look to their own rulers for the freedoms and liberty espoused by the French. While this process would take another 50 years, the basic concepts had already been laid they were found in:
Become familiar with the following documents in order to complete the assignment.
Resource links:
The English Bill of Rights
The American Declaration of Independence
The American Bill of Rights
The Napoleonic Code
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