Napoleon Bonaparte

Savior or Destroyer?

Scarlett Ramos

AP European (3)

Mr. Adair

2/8/2013

The French revolution was time of great turmoil in European history. The 3 rd

estate was tired of being mistreated and demanded for changes to be made in the French

government. Many struggled on a daily basis to make enough money to pay the bills and

let alone food, while others feasted away. They decided to take measures into their own

hands and fight with fire. After many reforms, and new enlightened ideals the revolution

was finally over. To control executive responsibilities, they created the directory. Though

it technically had no legislative control, the directory abused their powers and

transformed France in to what they stood against. France was saved by Napoleon who in

a short amount of time made France into one of the most powerful countries in Europe.

Napoleon metaphorically helped France get out of quick sand but by doing so he not only

protected the ideals of the French revolution but he also destroyed them. Through our

European history Napoleon Bonaparte was viewed as an enlightened despot by fulfilling

and destroying significant ideals of the French evolution. Napoleon protected and

diminished the ideals of the French revolution because he believed in the equality of man,

supported economic prosperity and essentially demanded absolute power.

To preserve the ideals of the French revolution Napoleon began reconstructing

France, by creating a new system that stated all men were born equal under the law. The

Civil code of 1804 commonly known as the Napoleon code provided the framework for

the French legal system during napoleon’s reign. According to Kenneth Pearl, author of

Cracking the AP European history exam “the code enshrined the equality of all people

before the law and safeguarded the rights of property holders” (Pearl 143). The Napoleon

code had a huge influence in France. It established the right to choose your own

profession, equality before the law, and freedom of religion. Unlike previous laws, this

code was uniform throughout the country. The Code reaffirmed the right of all adult

males to vote as well as the sanctity of private property. By creating the civil code

napoleon enforced the concept that all men are equal. During the French revolution many

people fought for equality. Napoleon supported the many ideas of the French revolution

by embracing and enforcing the idea of equality by eliminating feudalism. Feudalism is

when a certain class of society has special privileges, like tax breaks. In the hand out

Napoleon Brings Order to France it claims that “old order (privilege based on birth) was

dead” (Adair). Napoleon once again enforces the concept of equality in all men towards

the nobles, leaving them powerless. By doing this he preserves the concept that all men

are equal, whom many people died fighting for during the French Revolution. Napoleon

believed in the equality and by doing so he helped protect the ideals of the French

revolution.

Not only did Napoleon help protect the ideals of revolution by believing in the

equality of man but also by supporting economic growth. Since 1789, France was been

wracked by turmoil. Napoleons primary goal was to restore France. According to Nathan

Barber , author of the complete idiots guide to European History ,he claims that Napoleon

“created a Bank of France to tackle financial problems and over several years the

economy started to turn” ( Barber 240).Napoleon decided to create the first bank of

France to collect taxes for a more stable income for France. The bank of France also

loaned money to help improve the economy and make more jobs. During the revolution

many people wanted a government that was fair and economically prosperous to improve

living conditions. By altering the structure of the government Napoleon was able secure

many of the hopes and dreams of the French revolution. Besides creating Bank of France

napoleon also make changes in France’s currency. According to Barber a banker would

be very affirmative on how Napoleon had truly helped France in its economic problems

he claims that “He made the franc the most stable currency in Europe” (Barber 240). In

order to improve France’s economy napoleon decided to create a new currency. The franc

helped Napoleon protect the ideals of the revolution because the main purpose of the

revolution was to have a prosperous and fair nation and the franc was everything related

to prosperous. By reconstructing the government to make a more prosperous nation

Napoleon was able to make France into the ideal country.

Although Napoleon protected some of the ideals of the French revolution he also

destroyed them by demanding absolute power. In 1799 France adopted a new constitution

appointing Napoleon as first council with numerous powers resembling those of a

dictator. According to Barber 2 years later France adopted an updated constitution he

claims that “the constitution of year X made napoleon first consul for life” (Barber 240).

In the 16th century France was ruled by a monarchy but during the revolution the

monarchy was replaced with a republic. When Napoleon declared himself 1st council for

life he destroyed the some of the ideals of the French revolution because I a matter of

days he removed a policy that needed a revolution to occur in order to recognized.

Napoleon destroyed ideals of the revolution by demanding absolute control over France.

According to Barber, he claims that “Napoleons men discovered a Bourbon plot against

him. Using this plot he proclaimed himself emperor in 1804” (Barber 240). By

proclaiming himself emperor of France napoleon he essentially demanded total control

over France. The purpose of the French revolution was to remove monarchy and replace

it with a republic and by Napoleon crowning himself emperor he stood against and

destroyed the principals of the revolution. Napoleon not only protected the ideals of the

revolution he also destroyed them by essentially demanding total control over France.

Due to France’s unbalanced government France was in complete turmoil.

Napoleon not only saved France from complete destruction but he also helped France

into becoming one of the most powerful countries in Europe. Napoleon was an

enlightened despot he saved and destroyed the ideals of revolution because he believed in

the equality of man, economic growth, and demanded total control over France. Though

some people believed he destroys the ideals of the revolution while others believed he

saved them napoleon did both by reconstructing France’s government.