Pros And Cons Of Napoleon Bonaparte

Numerous leaders throughout the history of Europe have received the prestigious title of the “Great” due to their remarkable capabilities as ruler. After the French Revolution, France was left with an inefficient government, known as the Directory, that was in need of a “Great”. Napoleon Bonaparte, an intelligent military leader, took charge with his coup d'etat and established the consulate. As a result of his position as First Consul, Bonaparte was able to rise to power and become the emperor of France. While Emperor and First Consul, Napoleon executed many beneficial governmental reforms in order to restore France to its former glory as a world power. However, despite his impressive political and military actions, it is commonly debated whether or not Napoleon deserves the title the “Great”. As a product of the age of enlightenment and French

Revolution, Bonaparte codified laws with the Code Napoleon, or Napoleonic code. His military expertise allowed him to expand and protect the empire of France from the many coalition powers formed in an attempt to remove him from power. Furthermore, Bonaparte renewed culture and enlightenment thought in France after the dark and dismal Reign of Terror. As a result of the masterful leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte in militaristic and bureaucratic techniques, France experienced idealistic governmental reforms that advanced the notions of liberty throughout Europe. The notable contributions of the French Emperor contributed to the revival of enlightened thought, liberation through territorial expansion, and the forward movement of Europe as a powerful union, which ultimately entitles his legacy to be deemed as "Napoleon the Great."
During his reign, Napoleon reformed the government of France to remedy the flaws that the Reign of Terror left behind. Napoleon stated, “I have always been of the opinion that the sovereignty (power to rule) should lay with the people. In fact, my imperial government was a kind of republic. I was called the head (leader) of it by the voice of the people. My policy was that careers should be open to talent.” Napoleon based a majority of his reforms off of his belief that society should be able to voice their opinion in government. His beliefs were synonymous to the goals of the French Revolution which demonstrated how he was a product of the rebellion. These principles were new to the French, which subsequently allowed them to become a modern republic that treated all people with equality.
After forming the consulate, Napoleon created a new French constitution that declared:
The Government shall propose laws and make regulations necessary for assuring their
execution. 45. The Government shall direct the receipts and expenditures of the State...
46. If the Government is informed that some conspiracy is being plotted against the State,
it may issue warrants of apprehension and arrest against the persons who are assumed to
be the authors or accomplices thereof.
The new French constitution, commissioned by Napoleon, regulated the laws and authority of the government.

Napoleon took the initiative to ameliorate France’s governmental issues left over from the revolution and the Directory. It clarified the boundaries of the Consulate as well as informed society of what the government was permitted to do. This new constitution was voted on by the public to ensure that it was accepted in order to prevent another revolution against the government. The constitution was also, “founded on the true principles of representative government, on the sacred rights of property, equality, and liberty. The powers which it institutes will be strong and stable, as they must be in order to guarantee the rights of citizens and the interests of the State.” Not only did the new constitution assert the privileges of the government, but it protected the citizens rights. By preserving the rights of the government and the people, Napoleon created an authoritative government that had the support of its people. To further reform the government, Napoleon wrote the Napoleonic Code to codify the laws of

France.
The Napoleonic Code affirmed that:
Every offence against the preceding articles committed by any of the officers therein
named, shall be prosecuted before the tribunal of first instance, and punished with a fine not exceeding 100 francs. Every officer entrusted with the registers shall be answerable civilly for any alterations made therein, saving his remedy, as the case may be, against the authors of such alterations.
Before the Napoleonic Code, each section of France had its own laws, which provoked the empire to become disconnected. Napoleon created the code to systemize laws as well as to unite France as an empire. Moreover, the code also organized the government under one system in order to create a more formulated administration. Napoleon also revitalized France by reestablishing the presence of the Catholic Church after it was expelled during the revolution. Maxwell Sewell notes that, “He negotiated the Concordat and made peace with the Catholic Church, but on revolutionary terms, making it subordinate to the state, and the dominant faith of the French once again became a steadying and unifying influence on daily life.” To remedy the bond between France and the Vatican City, Napoleon restored the relationship between the two territories. However, Napoleon made sure that the government would remain uninfluenced by the church in order to keep the government uncorrupt and secular. Overall, Napoleon reformed the the government of France with the new constitution as well as the Napoleonic Code in order to create a functioning and esteemed administration.