Napoleon and the French Revolution


The French Revolution had the following ideals “Equality, Liberty, as well as Fraternity,” even though the approaches that were employed to attain these objectives were excessive. For instance, around 40,000 people were executed in that Reign of Terror. Napoleon, the French army officer, got hold of the French government in 1799 through a coup de'tat, and he wanted to restore peace in France through bringing the Revolution to an end. In order to accomplish this, Napoleon had to be in total control: this made him rule as a dictator. The French revolution eradicated the privileges that had been given to the noble class and detached the church from the state leading to the establishment of the French Republic. The revolution ideology inspired the whole Europe’s intellectuals among them being Napoleon Bonaparte, who ascended to the position of the Consul, the first of its kind in the newly formed republic of France.


On the other hand, Napoleon was conscious of the fact that he would have to grant the French citizens some of their freedoms as well as rights that they were seeking for during the Revolution. According to Connelly, this was crucial in gaining the trust of the people and preventing the onset of yet another Revolution. It is, therefore, accurate to assert, "Napoleon stabilized and brought together the French society, yet he supported the French Revolution ideals."


Napoleon's career as well as policies both obliterated and defended features of the Revolution. He gave the citizens rhetoric with reference to liberty, instead of giving it to them. This is best observed during his use of the plebiscite along with crowning himself emperor. Through giving himself all the power, Napoleon violated particular principles of the Revolution. Nevertheless, he did make attempts to protect some features of the French Revolution. These convictions are revealed by his conception of the lycées, which granted the citizens the same opportunities in the government.


Peace in France came with the strong dictatorial rule of Napoleon. Following appointing himself a consul forever, Napoleon re-established the French monarchy, by designing himself Emperor Napoleon I in the year 1804. He integrated the French government by selecting new officers, made tax collections methodical and efficient, as well as formed a National Bank Connelly.


In conclusion, the autocratic ruling of Napoleon was important in stabilizing and unifying the French society, and instill a number of the French Revolution principles. Therefore, it begs the question why the middle class, who fought a bloody revolution to finish supreme rulers put up with Napoleon's ways. It gives the impression that provided that peace, prosperity, as well as some of their ideals, was safeguarded; they would accept Napoleon's more aristocratic rules and surrender some of their fundamental civil rights. 

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