Napoleon Bonaparte: Son or Enemy of the Revolution?

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JS Park

Napoleon Bonaparte: Son or Enemy of the Revolution?

Table of Contents______________________________________________________________

Plan of Investigation____________________________________________________ Page 3

Summary of Evidence___________________________________________________ Page 4

Evaluation of Sources ___________________________________________________ Page 8

Analysis _______________________________________________________________Page 10

Conclusion_____________________________________________________________Page 13

Bibliography___________________________________________________________ Page 14

Plan of Investigation___________________________________________________________

Was Napoleon Bonaparte a son or an enemy of the Revolution?

The aim of this investigation is to assess the role of Napoleon Bonaparte in the revolution; whether he was the son or the enemy of the revolution. The scope of this research rests upon the use of secondary sources and focuses on Napoleon’s domestic, economical, foreign, social and religious policies during his regime; the Napoleonic era (November 1799 to 1815). The investigation will analyze different interpretations of other historians regarding the role of Napoleon in the revolution; whether he was the son or the enemy of the revolution.  

Under the section “Evaluation of Sources,” two sources (Napoleonic Era and Napoleon From 18 Brumaire to Tilsit 1799-1807) will be evaluated according to their origins, purpose, values and limitations.  

Summary of Evidence__________________________________________________________

Background Information:

-Bourbon family, King Louis XVI, ruled France until the French Revolution occurred in 17891.  

-In November 1799, Napoleon seized power of the French empire as The Revolt of Brumaire broke out, triggered by the failure of The Directory, until his fall in 1815.2

Domestic Policy:

-Before Napoleon seized power, the Bourbon family appreciated autocracy.3

-Napoleon’s “creation of the Legion of Honor in 1802 was fundamental to republican meritocracy.”4  

-It abolished aristocracy in France and awarded people who served duties to the country – people were rewarded for their talent without the discrimination and prejudice regarding on their socioeconomic background; class privileges were eliminated.5

-Napoleon highlighted the Constitution of 14 September 1791 to establish merit as the basis for all social hierarchies.6

-Napoleon centralized the government in Paris.7

1 Morris, Terry, et al. “Napoleon, France and Empire.” Europe 1760-1871. London: Collins Educational, 2000: 107.

2 Ibid: 110-114.

3 Herson Jr., James P. Napoleon: A Political Life. Parameters, Vol. 34, 2004: 1.

4 Ihl, Olivier.  French Politics, Culture and Society, Vol. 24, 2006: 1.

5 Herson Jr., James P. Napoleon: A Political Life: 1

6 Pilbeam, Pamela M. Themes in Modern European History, 1780-1830. Routledge, 1995: 48.

7 Matthews, Andrew. “Napoleon and Europe: France 1799-1815.” Revolution and Reaction Europe 1789-1849. Cambridge: Cambridge Univesity, 2001: 76.

-Napoleon used propaganda in education in order to engrave his mentality and moral to the children of France: the imperial catechism.8

-He used propaganda such as the Bulletins, regular reports of Napoleon’s heroic deeds, which were carefully edited and published in France, as a way to gain respect, confidence and loyalty of his men.9

-Napoleon formed prefects in each department and dominated these powerful and usually competent officials, who reported directly to the Ministers of the Interior and Police.10

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-Napoleon used intimidation and execution to eliminate any opponents who were found to be obstacles.11

-The government had forty men on the conseil d’état that chose other four hundred men to sit on Tribunate or the Legislature and vote, “a façade of democracy was retained in that members of municipal and departmental councils were elected by narrow plutocracies, but these bodies could only act in advisory capacities.”12

Economical Policy:

-Napoleon created the Bank of France that regulated the money supply, and paper money was abandoned in favor of metal currency.13

-Central treasury administered and supervised tax officials and ...

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