The French Revolution: Napoleon Essay

In other words, Napoleon supported all citizens being treated equally. In a document written by Napoleon, he said “new schools are being opened and inspectors have been appointed to see that the instruction does not degenerate into vain and sterile examinations” (Document A). In this document Napoleon is talking about the new schools he is opening. This shows he supported égalité because opening schools allowed more kids to receive an education. The Napoleonic Code stated that “the exercise of civil rights is independent of the quality of the citizen” (Document L). Since Napoleon gave everyone the same rights, it shows he supported égalité. Finally, Napoleon created the Bank of France. This bank collected taxes from each citizen so that the government could make loans to businesses (Murphy 12/1216). This shows Napoleon supported égalité because everyone had to pay the taxes. Also all businesses could receive loans from the Bank of

     In Napoleon’s first battle as leader of an army, he became famous. By pointing artillery at the British, Napoleon drove them out of Toulon. The Directory then sent him to Italy to attack an army of Austrians. After this victory, Napoleon gained more fame and was known as a hero.

In 1795 Napoleon was the man of the hour after he defended the delegates and greeted thousands with a cannonade and attackers fled. Napoleon became known as the savior of Paris and many praised him. In his battle against Austria and Sardinia in 1796 he failed to repeat the victory. He gave a speech to his troops to keep the enougared and not to feel set back by the loss. This speech was a success because he and his troops continued fighting many more battles and capturing many more cities(document 1).

The French revolution was a period in French history when the 3rd estate became the National Assembly. These people of the National Assembly were fascinated by the enlightenment ideas of the new world. (Document 1) They were advocates for a non-monarchy. They created a document called the Declaration of the Rights of Man which was their laws that they abided by.(Document 5)

The French revolution which is also referred to as the Revolution of 1789 was a period characterized by both social and political upheaval that span close to a decade in France. It was during this period that the country’s political landscape was redesigned and it involved

After the French monarchy was overthrown on August 10, 1792, Napoleon decided to make his move up in the ranks. After this, Napoleon started becoming a recognized officer. In 1792, Napoleon was prompted to the rank of captain. In 1793, he was chosen to direct the artillery against the siege in Toulon. He seized ground where he could get his guns in range of the British ships. Soon after Toulon fell, Napoleon was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. In 1795, he saved the revolutionary government by controlling a group of rioting citizens by using a famous technique of his. He loaded a bunch of pellets into a cannon and fired it at the crowd. Napoleon was made commander of the French army in Italy. He defeated four Austrian generals in succession, and each army he fought got bigger and bigger. This forced Austria and its allies to make peace with France. But after this, Napoleon was relieved of his command. He was poor and was suspected of treason. Napoleon had no friends. No one would have suspected what Napoleon would do next. In 1796, Napoleon was appointed to put down a revolt in Paris. He calmly took complete control of the situation. He had his men shoot all the rebels in the streets. The French government was saved, but they decided to form a new government called the Directory. Under the new government, Napoleon was made commander of the French army in Italy. During this campaign, the French realized how smart Napoleon was. He developed a tactic

With all the glory and the splendour that some countries may have experienced, never has history seen how only only one man, Napoleon, brought up his country France from its most tormented status, to the very pinnacle of its height in just a few years time. He was a military hero who won splendid land-based battles, which allowed him to dominate most of the European continent. He was a man with ambition, great self-control and calculation, a great strategist, a genius; whatever it was, he was simply the best. But, even though how great this person was, something about how he governed France still floats among people 's minds. Did he abuse his power? Did Napoleon defeat the purpose of the ideals of the French Revolution? After all of his success in his military campaigns, did he gratify the people 's needs regarding their ideals on the French Revolution? This is one of the many controversies that we have to deal with when studying Napoleon and the French Revolution. In this essay, I will discuss my opinion on whether or not was he a destroyer of the ideals of the French Revolution.

Napoleons’ rise to emperor in France was indisputable mostly because of his overthrow of the Directory. His success’s as commander of the French army in Italy, only led to his aspiring status change to “Emperor” of France after overthrowing the Directory in November of 1799. His undying ambition for expansion of the empire he was creating however would be his undoing. Napoleons rule as emperor of France was quit spectacular actually and many admired and adored him as ruler. His ways were very appealing, and as a speaker he was very persuasive and admired by most of his people until his later years in his fall and demise. However, Napoleon did not seriously adhere to the ideals of the French Revolution, he did that of the Enlightenment but his undying ambition and character as “Emperor” undermined the true need of the French Revolution.

Napoleon has been recognised as a military genius. His various military exploits have been widely regarded as great feats and his military prowess was definitely an important factor is his ascension to power. Napoleon has been said to be a great tactician and strategist in war which was essentially why he was able to progress through the ranks of military also while becoming a national hero. In 1793, the then young Napoleon became a national hero by leading the recapture of the French port of Toulon from the British which drew the attention of the upper echelons. 'As a reward for his services, the Representatives

He provided equality for people in the Napoleonic Code written in 1804.  “Every Frenchman shall enjoy civil rights”(Source F).  This provided equality for all that were French, and for all French that were men, which excluded people in French colonies as well as women.  Women’s rights was fought for during the French revolution, so by decreeing this in the code, Napoleon betrays one of the ideals of the French revolution.  Also in the Napoleonic code, Napoleon betrays another ideal that was pushed for during the French revolution.  “The laws are executory throughout the whole French territory, by virtue of promulgation thereof made by the first Consul.”(Source F).  Napoleon, being the first consul of France, gives himself a significant amount of control over France by forcing any laws that he decrees to be followed by all citizens in France.  Ironically he gives rights to some, but forces all to obey him and his laws.  One of the main reasons the French revolution commenced was because the people of France believed in a government where all had rights and political power, rather than only the rich.  The decades fought and the bloodshed was for a democracy, but here, Napoleon returns France back to a constitutional

The French Revolution was a civil revolt that broke out in France against the absolute monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church, which lasted from 1789-1799. This resulted in the establishment of France as a republic, democratic government and caused the Roman Catholic Church’s necessity, as well as its power to be questioned. The French Revolution ended the thousand-year rule of the monarchy in France and began when King Louis XVI gathered representatives from the 3 social groups called the Clergy, the Nobilities and the Commoners to solve a great national debt and economic crisis France was experiencing.

The French Revolution brought about a new era in Europe through Enlightenment ideas. The greatest product of the Revolution was Napoleon Bonaparte. Without the Revolution Napoleon’s genius at military tactics and statesmen charisma would be lost. There is only greatness in people if given the opportunity to show that greatness. Napoleon’s life is not merely one of conquest and domination, but a series of opportunities gained through the Revolution.

to get all the power of France. It should also be said that not all the nobles

Napoleon was a man who had reformed france into something that it wouldn’t have wanted to happen 10 years before he took over in a military coup and ruled by dictatorship. In the eyes of many of the French he was a hero, he

Napoleon Bonaparte established an authoritarian empire, and declared himself emperor. While this seems as far from a republic as possible, Bonaparte asserted many of the recent, liberal socioeconomic ideals of France into his policies. When the Code was published in 1804, it outlined the rights to freedom of religion, equality before law, rights of ownership, and abolition of feudalism. It writes, “Private persons have the free disposition of the property belonging to them, subject to the modifications established by the laws” (The Civil Code), and this absolute right to property benefitted peasant landowners greatly. Under the Civil Code, peasants reclaimed land and property that were under the possession of clergymen and nobility. Another principal idea of the Code was that all people would be equal before the law. All had a chance to improve their social status and gain wealth. As it stated in the first book, “Every Frenchman shall enjoy civil rights” (The Civil Code). These reforms concerning equality before the law were enjoyed tremendously by those living in lower classes during the Napoleonic era. However, despite these improved qualities in the Civil Code, there were elements that contrasted the ideals of the French Revolution as well. For example, the rights of women took a step back under Bonaparte’s policies. Under the chapter of marriage, it states that the wife owes “obedience to her husband” under Article 213 (The Civil Code). Generally, women would need the authorization and guidance of a husband or father in order to participate in the economy with trade or property care. During the Reign of Terror, discrimination against women had begun again, and was established firmly under the Civil Code (Bulliet, et al. 557). Freedom of press was