Napoleon: Strident Revolutionary or Powerful Dictator

1. Introduction:
Military feats, la gloire back to France
Embodiment of the perfect outsider: constantly prove that he was
more French than the French.
Second lieutenant at 16
Partly involved in politics: pamphlet won support of Augustin
Robespierre. Hated French high society, welcomed the Revolution.
Appointed artillery commander at Siege of Toulon in 1793
Success => Brigadier general.
By age 26 had command of the Army of Italy
Began first military campaign against Austrians and Italians. Decisive
victories gave him fame.
2. Effects of the Revolution:
1788-99 upheaval of life
Equality preached, foundation for Constitution and Declaration of Rights
of Man
Vacuum in military command, led to Napoleons rise
Feudal system abolished
equality before law, freedom of religion, liberty, equal taxation, security
Enlightenment thinkers and philosophes created ideas, Revolution
cemented them
Robespierres Republic of Virtue-> Great Terror-> 25,000-40,000 deaths.
70% peasants
Wanted Stability
3. Rise

to Power:
The Napoleonic Era was the 4th and final stage of the French Revolution
Coup of 18 Brumaire in 1799 -> defeat at Waterloo 1815.
French nobility persecuted, but Napoleon was Corsican and not suspect.
Power vacuum in military.
After success at Toulon was given charge of Army of Italy. Led the
underfed, undersupplied army to defeat after defeat and final victory
over the Austrians. Solidified his reputation
Egyptian campaign 1798 an extension of the fight against the British.
Attacked them where they didnt expect it. Nelson destroyed French
fleet in Battle of the Nile.
Returned a hero. You need a savior? Here I am.
Pressed Sieyes to change constitution and allow only one first consul
Coup of 18 Brumaire- had army on his side- became First Consul.
By 1800 he was first Consul.
The revolution is over, I am the revolution.
He would protect the ideas of the French Revolution because he was a
product of it himself.

4. Justification:
Elevated himself to the highest level of government, consolidated his
power through successful military campaigns.
Why would France welcome a dictator to a throne they had spent 10
years and countless lives toppling?
Napoleon was aware of the intricacies of his quest for political power:
child of the revolution
Champion of the revolution-> The revolution gave him power, and it
was his job to propel the revolution, both inside France and in Europe.
His successful military campaigns proved this.
Would use his power to cement the ideals of the revolution and bring
stability and prosperity to France.
Rousseau, The Social Contract: man is born free, but everywhere he is
in chains.
Napoleon claimed he was breaking the chains
This is what the French people wanted
5. Domestic Policies:
Many of Napoleons greatest, and most lasting, achievement were
accomplished through his domestic policies.
Economic Reforms (1800)
i. Bank of France solved government borrowing, stabilized currency.
ii. Widely successful, Franc most stable currency. Bank remains
today
Concordat (1802)
i. Reconciliation with the Church. Church accepted church lands
confiscated during revolution
ii. Education put into states hands -> propaganda. Allow people to
work for the common good, where the common good was
arguably Napoleon himself.
iii. Pope present at Crowning Ceremony, 1804. I saw the crown of
France laying on the ground, and I picked it up with my sword
iv. France had just beheaded a king, and now they were crowning an
emperor.

Property
i. Secured biens nationaux, church and migr lands seized during
Revolution.
Code Napoleon (1804)
i. Most significant achievement. Consolidated 360 laws of Ancien
Regime, local laws and customs into uniform law. Equality of all
male citizens before the law, religious freedom, right of individual
to choose profession, freedom from unlawful arrest (not alwaysFouch), equality of taxation.
ii. Arguably biggest continuation of Revolutionary ideals
iii. Compilation of ideals of French Revolution.

6. Foreign Policy:

Napoleon succeeded in converting France from a semi-powerful nation

to a dominant one. Made France La Grande Nation of Europe, and for
this a vigorous foreign policy of militarism was needed. After his
enthronement he aimed to dethrone the rest of Europe.
Treaty of Amiens removed danger from England- gave both countries a
rest.
Colonial Expansion/ Loss
i. Haitian Revolution 1791-1804 (San Domingo)
ii. Dreams of American empire: sold Louisiana in 1803
Austerlitz 1805: Napoleon gained control of Europe with his victory over
Austria and Russia. Was at the peak of his power.
Confederation of the Rhine (1806)
Continental system (1806)
i. Failed to conquer England on sea and decided to defeat her as a
nation of traders.
ii. The Berlin decree (1806) banned commerce with Britain.
iii. Spanish campaign: traded with GB, wanted to seize Spain. Bloody
guerilla war. Unsuccessful.
Marries Marie Therese (1810) and unites two empires.
Domestic policies were a success, his foreign ones in the end were not.

7. Reversal of Revolution:
Believed in neither liberty nor liberation, but rather in himself as the
liberator.
Women should stick to knitting
Livret- identity cards for sans-culottes during Ancien Regime
reintroduced. Prevented workers from traveling far without permission.
Tied them to work.
I have come to realize that men are not born to be free
He publically touted the revolution, but any Revolutionary principles
that hampered his absolute rule were dismissed.
More similar to Hobbes Leviathan.
Made his will the General Will. Duped the French people.
Was Influenced by John Locke: the only thing modern nations care for
is property and although they want equality they will gladly renounce
it if everyone could entertain the hope of rising to the top.
What must be done then is to give everybody the hope of being able
to rise.
shrewd propagandist- David and Gericault.

8. Conclusion
Unscathed by Robespierres bloodbath, and came best out of the
revolution.
Corsican Upstart -> General
Meritocracy, then, was arguably the revolutionary ideal that Napoleon
agreed most with.

Every French soldier carries a marshals baton in his knapsack

By 1814 Napoleon had regained stability and won glory for his country.
Much progress established by revolution had been reversed by
Napoleon, and in 1814 France saw herself in an alarmingly similar
position to pre-revolution France. Bonaparte Dynasty. Yet the Code
Napoleon became a lasting legacy of his rule, and enshrined the ideals
of the revolution.
The revolution and its ideals were means to an end, with the ultimate
goal being for Napoleon was to conquer all of Europe and hold as much
power as possible.
The veneer of democracy hid the dictator.
Hubris deflated his success, and the disastrous Russian campaign
destroyed the Grand Armee and marked the beginning of the end.
Napoleonic legacy: the ordinary man who brought power and glory to
France, who brought stability and prosperity, the master of
administration and organization, the military genius, the dictator, the
power-hungry tyrant who championed a system through his sheer will
and determination.