Napoleon was finally able to come about the political ascendency he so desired, when was approached by the French revolutionary leader Abbe Sieyes. It was the overthrow on November 9, 1799, of the French revolutionary government. The coup put Napoleon Bonaparte in power as one of three counsels intended to head the government. Sieyes had intended only to use Napoleon’s military powers to stage the coup, and had not reckoned on the fact that Napoleon was eager to take control from then onwards. A consulate was formed, with the young Napoleon becoming first consul; the other counsels had little influence, acting primarily as advisors to the ambitious Napoleon. The coup had given most of what he wanted: effective political power in France.
To lend legitimacy to the new Constitution, it was put to the people in a plebiscite (citizen’s vote) in 1800. The new Constitution was endorsed. However, the plebiscites were doctored, but whatever the doubts about the process, the plebiscites did lend legitimacy to Napoleon’s rule. Through propaganda enforced by Joseph Fouché of the Ministry of Police, Napoleon was able to get support from the majority of the people of France. As he said ‘the truth is not half as important as what people think to be true’. He employed painters to paint him in various modes the statesman, the romantic military hero, and the Roman emperor. This support enabled him to rise higher in the politics of France.
Napoleon’s domestic policies were wildly successful. Reforms in the economy stimulated the country’s finances, and the franc was stabilized. Napoleon revolutionized the educational opportunities in France. Under the Bourbon rule only the rich and elite were able to get an education and have the best opportunities. Napoleon changed this, and thus gained further support. The Civil Code he introduced in 1804 was arguably his greatest achievement. It was this populist policy that enshrined many of the liberal achievements of the Revolution that appealed to France. Religious freedom was brought to France in the form of the Concordat in 1801. In this aspect, Napoleon was regarded as a national hero.
However, he had also introduced several illiberal measures such as censorship, the subordinate view of women, arbitrary arrest, slavery reintroduced to colonies, and the enforcement of a police state. Although these aspects to Napoleon’s rule contradicted the republicanism that was at the heart of the French Revolution from 1792, it promised to maintain the ideals of the Revolution whilst, at the same time, ensuring order and efficiency.
On 2 December 1804, a revision was made to the Constitution which recognized Napoleon as emperor, which was endorsed by the plebiscites. He was crowned by Pope Pius VII as Napoleon I on 2 December 1804. All effective decision making was placed in his hands. It was a top-down government, centralised and authoritarian. Napoleon had achieved the title of Emperor he had sought so long to achieve.
In conclusion, Napoleon was able to become emperor of France mainly due to the support of the majority of France. There was no truly decisive opposition to his regime, and despite the illiberal measures introduced to France many were still in favour of his rule. He had, amongst other things, maintained the core ideals of the Revolution. The minor illiberal policies were not so serious and did not affect France so much, and therefore on the rise towards being crowned Emperor, they were largely overlooked.
by
yorkey (student)
