History IA -Napoleon

International Baccalaureate History

Napoleon and the French Revolution

Was the French Revolution already over, or did Napoleon continue it on until the end of his bloody reign?

Napoleon in the Saint Bernard Pass

Megg Collins

Word Count - ####

Contents

Section A - Plan of Investigation -Pg 3

Section B - Summary of Evidence -Pg 4

Section C - Evaluation of Sources -Pg 6

Section D - Analysis - Pg 8

Section E - Conclusion - Pg 10

Bibliography - Pg 11

Section A - Plan of Investigation

When did the French Revolution end? I plan to discern whether the French Revolution ended either Napoleon’s reign, or after. To instigate this inquiry, I will research key events of the French Revolution, and Napoleon’s reign in France, and primary source documents. I will then conduct a search through my academic resources -either from books, or from internet sources- and assess Napoleon’s situation in relation to the French Revolution. In Section D, I will then assess my academic resources, searching for bias. I will conclude by answering the question of whether Napoleon’s reign was the end of the revolution, or otherwise.

Section B – Background Information

The French Revolution and the People of France

To fully understand the French Revolution, one must have an adequate knowledge of the people of France. The French Revolution commenced in 1789. The society was composed of three estates, the first being the clergy, the second the nobility, and the third –and 92% of the population- the bourgeoisie. More importantly, the estates were furthermore split into two groups, the wealthy and the disadvantaged. The clergy was split up into bishops who had positions of extreme wealth, and into poor priests had a similar economic status as of the third estate. The nobility in France at this time period was composed of princes and high nobles, and as well courtiers who wished to win favor from those of higher up positions then themselves. The third estate, and most important, was composed of the bourgeoisie and the working class. The working class most likely accounted for 48% of the population, and lived in the poorest conditions in France. The bourgeoisie fought for their rights in the Estates General, but were promptly kicked out, and were forced to create a new National Assembly in 1789.

Blood Lust

As the nobility and the monarchs, King Louis and Queen Marie Antoinette, continued to make fatal errors in their ruling of the country, the bourgeoisie and the paupers slowly became enraged. Bread prices were rising through the country, and the third estate was starving. The National Assembly took control of the monarchy, diminishing the control of the king, whilst increasing the power of the people. The Bastille and other such fortresses were tore down to show the strength of the united people, and soon the third estate seemed unstoppable. Anyone that disagreed with the National Assembly was tortured, and killed. The nobility fled the country, and although the King tried to flee with his family to Varennes, he was sentenced to death for treason, and soon after his wife followed, leaving the position of ruler up for grabs.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon was a young Corsican noble and military genius with a strong command of power. He was born on August 15, 1769. He started off his career as an artillery officer, but quickly progressed through the ranks as he won battle after battle. He became a general during the French Revolution, and then he progressed to elect himself First Consul, weakening the power levels of the other consuls respectively. Only 5 years later he declared himself the emperor of France, and at his coronation he laced his own crown on his head to prove he was the sole ...

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Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon’s fortune turned quickly however, and after the Russian Invasion he was sorely weakened. He proceeded to fight in the Battle of the Nations, but he lost and was exiled. However he still had many supporters, and he managed to escape back to France and take back the position of Emperor. Napoleon was finally overtaken for the last time as the Battle of Waterloo by the Duke of Wellington. He eventually died on the small island of Saint Helena from stomach cancer. In the eyes of many, Napoleon was still a hero for increasing French patriotism.

Section C – Evaluation of Sources

Reflections on the Revolution in France by Edmund Burke

This source is a novel written by the Irish philosopher raised in a Quaker and Catholic tradition, and it is a primary source document as it was written in the time period of the French Revolution. It provides the viewpoint of a noble. The beginning of the book contains a letter from Burke to the noble enlightening the reader of the similar viewpoints that coincide between the two. As well, the alternate viewpoints of the British are helpful in understanding the French Revolution from the viewpoint of an outsider.

It is obvious to draw clear bias from the novel, as it is written by a British, and the audience of the novel would have been British. In such a case, the novel would then contain exaggerations to offend the French. Burke had indeed supported the American Revolution because he had believed in what the Americans were fighting for, however in his reflections, he writes of his disagreement with the French Revolution because he doesn’t believe in what the French are fighting for. He viewed the revolution as a bloody rebellion against proper traditions and authorities, which coincide with his very conservative lifestyle.

History of the French Revolution

This source is another academic novel written by the famous French historian Francois Mignet, and it is also a primary source document. This is definitely a very valuable resource as it was written by a Frenchman, and would contain the viewpoints of a historian caught in a social and political revolution. Mignet was also born into a bourgeois family, and it’s very important to get fundamental knowledge on the largest population in France at the time. Mignet was also a supporter of the French revolution, and therefore having a source that is for the revolution provides positive feedback. One of the best qualities of this work is the witty tone in which it is written. Mignet does an excellent job in writing an interesting historical piece, and by far the easiest to understand out of all academic sources.

This source has some important disadvantages. Although it is good to have feedback from a French perspective, Mignet is clearly biased towards the bourgeoisie and liberal ideas. He also got most of his impressions from Talleyrand, an important figure at the Congress of Vienna, who also had liberal viewpoints. Throughout his novel, one can also clearly see the lack of facts. Mignet’s novel contains more theories than truths, which makes it difficult to use statistical wise.

Section D - Analysis

In 1789, the infamous French Revolution commenced2. What started off as a simple battle for liberty, equality, and fraternity for the people of France soon escalated out of control. Because of the influences of the cold winter and lack of food, with the addition of the growing dishevel in the third estate, the National Assembly formed itself to rule France. They proceeded to alienate the king, slowly diminishing his power. For the most part King Louis was compliant to the people’s wishes, but when he tried to escape to Varennes he was captured and tried for treason.

Napoleon started of his famous career as an artillery officer. His military skill, combined with his self confidence assured him multiple promotions, until finally he took the position of general. He then staged a coup d’etat, and proclaimed himself the first consul of France. He fought multiple battles against nearly every strong European power, increasing France’s amassed land, and increasing their feeling of nationality.

The French Revolution was also a time of learning and knowledge. It was an epoch of freedoms. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and religious tolerance were all expected. When Napoleon went on the Egyptian expedition looking for a trade route to India, he also brought a group of scientists with him. One major discovery made while Napoleon was in Egypt was the Rosetta Stone, a fabled stone that allowed for the translation of Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Napoleon was very skilled at influencing his peers to his will, and he had immense luck in his battle because of this. Unfortunately when Napoleon went too power crazy, he began to lose his battles, and ultimately he was exiled from France. However, he did escape one and he became emperor once again, but at the Battle of Waterloo Napoleon was outsmarted and he was exiled for the last time to the island of St. Helena.

Napoleon is immortalized by his Napoleonic code which is still the civil code of France today, and is the basis for modern civil codes in various countries. Napoleon was seen by some as the end of the revolution, but the French Revolution also spurred wars in Austria, Germany, Italy, Austria, and other main European countries that fought for the things France had gained such as liberty, and nationalism.

Napoleon is also well known for having the first modern army with conscription in Europe. Prior to Napoleon’s rule war was all about outmaneuvering the opponents, but during his rule fighting was all about killing as many of the opponent as you could. Both concepts seem to prevail in modern times. In France, Napoleon was also seen as the end of all the disorder that came with the French Revolution while still uniting his people and instilling pride in them. Napoleon also seems to be a model for future dictators of the time, the most well known being Hitler who similarly wished to rule the world, and who thought his country was the best. Both Hitler and Napoleon were fearless going into war, which probably was what ended them.

Section E - Conclusion

In a sense Napoleon’s reign may have not been a continuation of the French Revolution. The people of France wanted to rule themselves, and Napoleon took the National Assembly by storm proclaiming himself emperor of France. He also issued strict control over the media.

However as a macrocosm, Napoleon’s reign was definitely part of the French Revolution. The original government was overthrown, as was the next. Napoleon may have had the most stable government for the time period but he also constituted the Napoleonic Civil Code, and many national policies to help his rule including religious tolerance. His foreign policies were horrific however, and he fought with all the major powers to increase the amassed French land, and to increase nationalistic pride in his people. His battles instigated the beginning of revolutions in all of the major powers of Europe including Austria, Germany, Italy, and Greece.

Therefore it is my belief that Napoleon’s reign was a continuation of the French Revolution not only because he was eventually one of the many governments that were overthrown in that era, but because he constituted the Civil Code, increased the overall French land, and he increased the pride of French people. As well he instigated the commencement of a series of revolutions in 1848, and the need for nationalistic pride.

Bibliography

Books

Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France. [1790] (Penguin Classics, 1982)
Cobban, Alfred. The Social Interpretation of the French Revolution. (Cambridge University Press, 1964)
Carlyle, Thomas. The French Revolution: A History. (Chapman and Hall, 1848)
Hampson, Norman. A Social History of the French Revolution. (Routledge, 1963)
Mignet, F. History of the French Revolution from 1789 to 1814. (H. G. Bohn ,1856)
Kircheisen, Friedrich. Napoleon. (Harcourt, Brace, and co, 1932)
Scott, Sir Walter. Life of Napoleon Buonaparte: With a Preliminary View of the French Revolution. (R. Cadell, 1843)
Stone, Bailey. Reinterpreting the French Revolution. (Cambridge University Press, 2002)
Hazlett, William. The Life of Napoleon Buonaparte. (University of Michigan. 1852)

Internet

Napoleon and the French Revolution. Tom Holmberg. 1998. Napoleon Bonaparte Internet Guide. 09/12/07 <>
Europe and the Superior Being. Steven Kreis. 2006. The History Guide. 09/12/07 <http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/lecture15a.html>