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Essay on Napoleon's downfall
Rise of Napoleon and reforms
Essay on Napoleon's downfall
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Throughout Napoleon’s rule, many downfalls, as well as achievements took place. While many people died because of the wars surrounded by Napoleon, he also helped improve modern society through a series of political achievements. While Napoleon can be viewed as an overall hero, or overall tyrant, some could say that he falls in the middle based on his history of downfalls as well as advancements. During his time in power, Napoleon showed many actions that could be viewed of those of a tyrant. Throughout his reign a series of wars took place, later to be named the Napoleonic Wars. As a military leader, he was involved in many of the battles. Many people died, whether it was his soldiers, or citizens. French historians say that throughout the series of wars, over …show more content…
These achievement help portray him as a hero in the eyes of many people. When Napoleon became emperor, France was in a time of chaos . He was able to restore order and stability to the country in ruins. He developed the Napoleonic code as a way to provide order to Frances society, and economy. “Each state was granted a constitution, providing for universal male equality and a parliament containing a bill of rights. The code also gave male French citizens freedom from arrest without due process, equality of taxation and the right to choose one's work.” (...)The Napoleonic code was a way to restore a sense of nationalism or pride to the country of France. These ideas helped pave the way to many ideas of modern society. Their basic rights are similar to what rights we have today, such as freedom of religion, and equality for all men in the eyes of law. Napoleon began a system of schools that all boys could go to. These reform schools helped pave the way to future public schools and education, eventually being extended to girls as well. Many of Napoleon’s achievements led to advancements in modern
Being a supporter of equivalent rights, he picked up notoriety with the French individuals. After some time, Napoleon utilized these standards to increment and set his energy.
He was a man who made French stronger, provided his own legacy and impression that will most
After the Reign of Terror, Napoleon Bonaparte rose to authority. When he was in power, Napoleon only kept some of the ideas that were used in the French Revolution. For example he was for equality, but disregarded liberty. Napoleon started many wars for France, in hopes of gaining land. France did win some land, but more times than not France lost the wars, putting them into extreme war debt.
Through the Napoleonic Code, a unitary legal system for all of France, private property was protected and equality was preserved before the law. During his reign, France was a meritocracy in that positions were awarded to people with the most talent and ability, preserving equality. He also allowed the people to vote through the plebiscite, a yes or no vote for the leader of France. Napoleon also preserved the ideal of religious toleration. He did this by agreeing to the Concordat of 1801.
Napoleon had betrayed the idea of liberty of the French Revolution through his conquests and new laws. His conquests led to multiple reforms and laws which failed because they were considered politically impossible. He established new codes that limited the freedoms that the conquered had previously. After crowning himself Emperor, Napoleon started regulating public opinion, censoring books and media, and monitoring his people to avoid rebellion. He had suppressed anyone who tried to write articles that attacked him, curtailed free speech and freedom of the press, and
Napoleon was able to grant French citizens natural rights, which was the main purpose of the Revolution, and use this to better society as a whole. For example, he used a plebiscite, vote of the people, to approve a new constitution that gave him power to rule. By getting the consent of the people to rule and to create and pursue certain actions in government, Napoleon used the governed as a ruling mechanism; he didn't ignore them. He created a system of meritocracy (what the people wanted): granting positions to those that deserved them based on qualifications, not just handing out jobs to people of higher social status giving “careers open to talent (Coffin and Stacey, 494).” Finally through his supremacy as French ruler,...
But, most importantly, Napoleon did what he thought would make his country stronger. One of Napoleon’s first areas of concern was in the strengthening of the French government. He created a strong centralized government and pretty much got rid of the hundreds of localized law codes that had existed while under the control of the monarchy. He also created an army of government officials. He had the entire country linked under a rational administration.
Napoleon was a great soldier that graduated from military school at the age of sixteen and quickly worked his way through the ranks. Napoleon was a brilliant leader in battle and consistently defeated armies larger than his own; including when he forced the Austrians to make peace after defeating four of their generals. In 1799 Napoleon and his colleagues overtook the French government and established power. He revised the constitution in 1802 to make himself consul for life, and then again in 1804 to make himself Emperor of France. Soon after Napoleon came to power he restructured the administration, simplified the court system, and began monitoring the schooling system; French law was also put in the Napoleon Code which guaranteed the rights and liberties that were gained through the revolution. Napoleons violent behavior caused war with Britain to break out, who allied with Russia and Austria. Prussia later allied themselves with Russia; creating a huge alliances against France and Napoleon. Napoleon successfully extended his reign over large parts of Europe and put each state under the Napoleon Code, which gave citizens new rights and privileges. In 1812 all of Europe turned against Napoleon, which lead to his exile in 1814. He regained power in 1815 just to loose it later that year. He died in exile in Saint Helena in 1821.
The articles goes to express the importance of civil rights for every Frenchman, regardless of their social status of condition. Napoleon’s installments of these articles also incorporates the virtues of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, which places public equality as an utmost necessity. Thus, Napoleon’s action of preserving the French revolutionary ideal of equality through the Napoleonic code, supports the argument of my big thesis.
Napoleon maintained the Revolutionary system of conscription and encouraged promotion based on ability.... ... middle of paper ... ... Broers, Michael.
Napoleon was born in Corsica and went to military school where at that time France was at war with Britain, Austria and Russia. Being in the military he led the French army and achieved victory from the Austrians in 1797 who also negotiated with other nations such as Britain (MORAN 6-22). He established a new Napoleon code which had traditional laws resembling the new revolution in France. He later crowned himself emperor of France and combined social rehabilitation with his own arbitrary power. He also worked a covenant with the Catholic Church where there was a purification of Napoleon and Empress Josephine, who was from a wealthy family. His rise created a new empire which covered much of Europe apart from Britain (MORAN 6-22). He used his family, relatives and friends to power the European countries, hence to why his pride and aspiration led Europe to unite against him. His fall was brought by the detested of French rule all over
The biggest and the most important thing that Napoleon did in order to preserve the French Revolution was the Napoleonic Code or the Civil Code of 1804.
Have you ever wondered if Napoleon was actually a hero, or a tyrant? Napoleon was a hero to the French because he led France to victory, gave his siblings countries, and he never left his army if he didn’t think he would win. Napoleon was a hero because he led France to victory many times against many countries in Europe. When Napoleon won against Spain he was considered a hero because Spain was a hard country to conquer. He drove the Portuguese out of their land because they did not comply with the continental system.
Napoleon’s military career is what eventually led to his prominence. Napoleon began his military career above most of the other men his age. He rapidly made his way through the ranks eventually gaining a great support system. As the directory leaned more and more heavily upon the military, a coup d’état developed. Because of his military expertise, he immediately became first consul of France. The empire of France was soon to grow once Napoleon was in reign. In the 1790s the French army was near one million men, an advantage in the Austrian wars as well as future ventures. Wars raged with other European countries in the early 1800s. Napoleon was able to beat the continental coalition, thus gaining territory for France. France annexed some of Italy but also controlled states such as Spain, Holland ...
Napoleon Bonaparte is often seen as a tyrant, however; through Napoleon’s strong tactics and military leadership he led France through a time of great turmoil and provided the stability and guidance France so desperately needed. During his reign, Napoleon was able to bring an end to the French Revolution, a series of wars that had fractured the French at their core. After the resolution of the revolution, Napoleon developed the Civil Code or Napoleonic code to unite all of France under one governing law. The Civil Code blended the governing laws of the Roman law practiced in the South with the customary law practiced in the North. Through the Code, Napoleon brought unity to France, improved the rights and lives of citizens, and allowed for France’s own growth and development. The Civil Code is considered one of Napoleon’s