Napoleon Bonaparte Rise And Claim To Power example essay topic

Napoleon Bonaparte rise and claim to power was as multifaceted as was his effect on the people of Europe. He was part of the history of the French Revolution and the ideals; freedom and equality, popular sovereignty, a goal of rational administration, rule of law, the liberation of Europe from feudal oppression, and the legacy of war helped to advance his career. Napoleons lasting contributions were achieved when his personal destiny corresponded with the needs of France. The French Revolution saw the reorganization the Catholic Church in France, sale of much of its property, and the turning of the clergy into salaried public servants. A Civil Constitution of the Clergy was introduced with no reference to the Pope what so ever. In addition to this an oath of loyalty to the Revolution was demanded of the clergy, this caused a split between the clergy and the country and broke universal religious practice.

As Bonaparte grew into power there was the beginning of a religious revival happening, in order to gain control over his regime he needed to come to terms with this and the Pope. Both men flexed their muscles in this struggle for power, both finally agreed to the Concordat. Church property that had been auctioned during the Revolution were to be honored, but compensation was to been given to the church, a sum to be determined by Napoleon himself. Catholicism was restored not as the universal religion but the religion of the great majority. The clergy did remain salaried employees of the state and did have to pledge loyalty to the government. Bonaparte had the authority to nominate bishops, while the Pope gave them their spiritual authority.

The church was no longer independent from the state but a corporation dependant upon the government. This corporation was relieved of its monopoly over the education the French youth; they were left with the educational duties of girls and younger children. Ecoles Centrales created by the Directory were the Republics best attempt at secondary education; they were eventually replaced by the lycees. These have government appointed teachers who used a similar curriculum as the Ecoles Centrales. There was to be uniforms and military discipline at the lycees. They did not solely focus on the scientific syllabus or professional training.

There was tow steady streams of instruction, the first based on Latin and literature and the second based upon mathematics which included geography, technical drawing, natural history and chemistry. The libraries contents were to be determined by the government to ensure that the government schools all used the same texts. In 1809 Napoleon introduced the baccalureat, a national exam which include all areas of secondary study; it eventually became a requirement for any professional career. The Civil Code or Code Napoleon was another unifying project taken on by Bonaparte; it became an instrument of French rule in Europe and an object of replication all over the world. The main purpose of the Civil Code was to give order to the various legal systems of the past. The same laws would apply equally to all citizens regardless of social status.

Economic liberalism was encouraged by the Code; this gave employees advantages over their workers. It embodied the modern notion of property ownership, ? the right to enjoy and dispose of one's property, provided it is not used in a manner prohibited by law. All children were given the right to inherit the family's estate equally. Marriage had become secularized and divorce permitted on the grounds of; parental consent, ill treatment, criminal conviction or adultery by a women.

Women had been granted several civil rights during the Revolution; Napoleon put a stop to that. They were stripped of their property when married, treated like minors in law suits, and denied any political rights. The Codes have been adapted to recognize modern concepts but their basic structures still stays intact, abolishing privilege, recognizing individualism and equality and eradicate the legal system from a religious framework. The Counsel d?

Etat was a committee of experts who advised the first Counsel on administrative and legal business and were responsible for drafting legislation. They were not selected for their political loyalties but for their expertise they had. Prefects were present in every department of the Republic. Appointed by the First Counsel they became the essential agent for gathering information and of central control. They were given wider powers of administration and more freedom due to their distance form Paris.

The prefects were agents of the government not supporters of revolutionary factions, they stood above all parties and their first loyalty was to the state. Appointments to the Senate were a way for Napoleon to pay his debts and reward his supporters. They held office for life, received a comfortable salary and given estates by Napoleon. As he grew comfortable with the thought that the Senators would comply with his wishes he used it to his advantage. The Senate had the power to issue decrees which would bypass the legislature, he could nullify parliamentary opposition. A new formation of social hierarchy was achieved, Napoleon gathered unto him notables, bound by a personal allegiance to the Emperor and loyal service to the state.

There were three tiers, elected at local, departmental and national levels. State service and propertied wealth not birth and inherited rank would now determine social and political hierarchy. Land owners, administrators, professional men and businessmen were most representative of the new hierarchy. The military did not figure into this hierarchy, they were fully recognized in the creation of the imperial nobility, legion d? honneur. The Imperial Nobility also had a hierarchy, Grand Officers, Commanders, Officers and Legionnaires. At the summit of the military hierarchy stood the Marshals, they were an exclusive group: never more than sixteen were active at one time.

They were proof of the new opportunities for social promotion; talent would give rise no matter what the origin of birth. They enjoyed their titles, princes, dukes, counts, barons, and knights, by 1814 Napoleon had created more than 3200 imperial titles. They were and open elite not a feudal order bound by blood, marriage. This seemed to be a return to the very principle that caused the Revolution, but these nobles did not enjoy tax exemptions and had no legal privileges.

They received a title, land in a conquered territory and a coat of arms. If they wanted to make their title hereditary they needed enough francs to maintain it. Napoleons affect on the economy of France can be broken down into three sections; agriculture, international trade and industrial change. The war and maritime blockades deprived of good, especially dyes and sugars which were in heavy demand form the expanding cotton industry. Substitute crops were introduced but were of minimal consequence. Champagne and wine sales flourished during this time.

Share croppers and laborers received little material benefit, but larger land owners saw a different story. There were no spectacular advances in agriculture, they found it better extend the areas under cultivation to achieve greater productivity than to apply more sophisticated methods. The Naval war and Continental Blockade disrupted the patterns of international trade. Middlemen and the United States ships inserted themselves more into the exchange network. Many dealers form Bordeaux set up offices in the United States, the enticing prospects offered by the Americans and the use of the Caribbean helped set up New York as an important international commercial center. Port cities were not the only ones affected, the shipyards lay idle and rope makers and sail makers as well as other industries geared towards oceanic trades.

The Continental System was set up to prevent Britain form exporting her manufactured goods to Europe, as to choke their economy. With out the British competition France could colonize the European markets. New commercial centers of trade were to be established since her seaports were stagnating. The river trade in Rhineland boomed exporting wines and tobacco; Strasbourg handled on-third of Frances imports and the territories exports. Once the era ended where France competed with Great Britain of global commercial supremacy, France began to emerge as a modern industrial power. The most important industry was textiles, cotton being the most predominate.

It responded to the demand for cheaper printed materials, water powered and steam powered mills helped achieve this, as well as several millers taking all the parts of the production over. In the heavy industries like iron, steel and coal, technological advances were limited, but their production increased. In the years 1810-1811 the markets hit a slump due to over production and the economy took a downward turn. The economic balanced shifted permanently form the west to the east. All that Napoleon Bonaparte truly did was quench his own thirst for power and glory. If that thirst somehow coincided with what was best for France than France profited as well as Bonaparte himself.

For all the advances that are still present in some form today in European culture he is still best remembered as the? little General? .