In 1797, Napoleon Bonaparte became first consul after overthrowing the Directory and establishing th
e Consultate. He had many achievements for France under educational, financial, administrative, leg
al and religious reforms. However, these achievements are often exaggerated. Napoleon was indeed t
he ‘heir’ of the revolution as he completed much of the work that the revolution
had started, such as the creation of a Civil Code and the reforming of the education system. Despi
te this, he also destroyed much of the revolution’s work. He ignored and betrayed some of
the revolution’s beliefs and much of his achievements were incomplete. Napoleon&#821
7;s achievements in Europe were mainly for his own purposes – he wanted to enhance his pre
stige and make France a great nation. He appears to have had little interest in helping the Europea
n people.
Napoleon, although his main achievements centered on areas such as administration, ha
d other remarkable, although minor, achievements in France. He improved the appearance of French ci
ties such as Paris by building bridges and canals and by planting trees at the sides of roads to pro
tect them from the sun. This aided the beauty of Paris as it is today. Napoleon also reformed the t
ax system, which meant that no one was tax exempt.
One particular achievement, which may rank
on the same level of importance as the Napoleonic code, but appears to be often overlooked in textb
ooks, is Napoleon’s founding of a national education system from primary to university.
The focus of his attention was secondary schools, of which he opened more. Higher education also b
ecame more available in major cities. Napoleon spent more money on education than anything else dur
ing his time in power. However, Napoleon was somewhat inefficient in this achievement. The educa
tional system discriminated against females. Napoleon saw education as being “not suitab
le” for girls. Female students were to learn the very basics of education – how
to read and write, and also how to do traditional female work such as nursing and embroidering. Pu
pils had little choice over their career – most were forced into a military career.
What is considered to be Napoleon’s most significant achievement for France was his establ
ishment of the ‘Napoleonic Code’. This was the codifying of all France&#8217
;s civil, commercial and criminal law. This marked a trend to centralize and organize power on a nat
ional level. This code was successful as it formed the basis of many European legal systems. This &a
mp;#8216;code’ was requested in many grievances, which were sent to Louis XVI and was dema
nded by the revolutionaries’. Thus Napoleon appeared to be truly the “heir of th
e revolution” as he had so claimed. The code took into account issues that the revolution
had stood for, such as equality before the law and freedom of religion.
This Civil code also g
ave equal inheritance to all offspring should a parent die. Marriage became a civil rather than a r
eligious act. Napoleon stopped a proposal for girls to marry at thirteen and for boys to marry at f
ifteen. Instead, he increased the marital age to eighteen for girls and twenty for boys. The civil
code also permitted divorce. On the other hand, according to John Merriman, this was also an incom
plete achievement and did not satisfy everyone. Napoleon went against one of the revolution beliefs
– equality for women. A woman’s wage went to her husband and she could also not
buy any property without her husband’s or male relatives’ permission . Women h
ad to be committed to obedience and fidelity to their husbands. Napoleon further betrayed the opinio
ns of most French people by declaring women were “ nothing more than machines for producin
g children”. He also betrayed the revolution by abolishing titles that the revolutionaries
had abolished such as Duke or Prince. Although these titles were not heredity as before, it contras
ted the aim of ‘equality’ in that people were still different in terms of social
class.
Prior to the French Revolution, France was bankrupt. Napoleon undertook vast financia
l reforms upon coming to power. The French currency was stabilized and was the most stable in Europ
e until after World War 1. In 1802, Napoleon was successful in achieving the balancing of the budge
t in France. Taxes came from reasonable sources – taxes were raised on alcohol and tobacc
o.
The major financial reform was Napoleon’s establishment of the National Bank of Fr
ance. This improved France’s ability to finance wars without the worry of inflation, whic
h had been a problem for most French governments after 1789. Nevertheless, there was still a finan
cial crisis in 1810. Military spending accounted for around forty to sixty percent of national expe
nditure, leading to an increase in taxation
A further achievement by Napoleon was his reformin
g of the administrative system in France. The Consulate inherited the Council of State from the re
volution. He improved it’s handling of administration and justice issues in France. He u
sed it to help weaken legislative assemblies and ministries. This reform ensured that Ministers wer
e prevented from acquiring their own authority. Local government was practically abolished and pref
ects were appointed to carry out administration in each French region. Government chose prefects, M
ayors and Ministers. The administrative system was Napoleon’s most permanent legacy in Fra
nce and survived until very recently. The revolution had started moves towards administrative reform
, by abolishing institutions such as the ancient parlements. Napoleon’s role was to compl
ete these reforms.
Napoleon also helped to put an end to the conflict with the church, which ha
d existed since the period of the Enlightenment. This is viewed as one of the few achievements whic
h was entirely Napoleon’s – for example, work on the Civil code and the reformin
g of education had been started by the revolution. In 1801, he signed a concordat with the Catholic
Church. Catholicism was recognized as the ‘preferred’ religion in France, but
others were also tolerated. Napoleon was believed to have had a “profound insight into th
e importance of religion for the mass of the people”.
Through this move, it can be a
rgued again that Napoleon was indeed the ‘heir’ of the revolution as he did not
change revolutionary reforms such as holding and selling church property and members of the clergy b
ecoming paid servants of the state. Priests and Bishops had still to be elected and the clergy also
had to take oaths of allegiance to the French government. Despite this, there was still some confl
ict with the church in that it was controlled and supervised by the French government, displeasing t
he Pope. The government was given the “power of the police” in all matters conc
erning religion.
Under Napoleon, the French economy also improved. France began to export good
s, which had been imported before the French revolution. France’s industries improved wit
h her exports of silk and cotton increasing (2). Under Napoleon, France produced more corn, meat, bu
tter and cheese. However, D.G. Wright claims that French economic progress was in fact “un
spectacular” due to France’s “lack of industrial and commercial innov
ation compared to Britain”. Communications was another improvement brought by Napoleon.
Three canals three ports and three roads were built. The roads helped carriages to travel through
the Alps, which had previously taken longer due to heavy snow. These roads made communications betw
een France, Italy and Switzerland easier.
Napoleon also had many achievements for Europe as wel
l as for France. Napoleon replaced the old order with a contemporary, modern regime. In 1810, Fran
ce’s boundaries were extended beyond her modern boundaries. France was almost constantly
at war between 1792 and 1814. These Napoleonic wars were supposed to free oppressed individuals thr
oughout Europe. This was true of the wars with Austria and Prussia. France’s boundaries
extended when Napoleon went to war against Austria in Italy in 1801, and succeeded in obtaining the
north of Italy back in control.
Napoleon’s main achievement in Europe was aiding the
unification of the German and Italian states. Defeating Austria in 1805 at Austerlitz, and Prussia
in 1806 left him free to rearrange the German territory, which these nations lost as a result. Nap
oleon reorganized the three hundred German states into thirty-nine states and also developed the Con
federation of the Rhine, which consisted of sixteen states. After Napoleon’s defeat at Wa
terloo in 1815, the forty states remained; therefore Napoleon partly achieved the unification of Ger
many by breaking down medieval boundaries. Napoleon also restored the Cis-Alpine Republic in 1797
and became its president. In 1805, he called it the Kingdom of Italy. Despite this, H Butterfield a
rgues that Napoleon did not really intend to unite the German and Italian states. He believes that t
hese states were ‘open’ to control by a foreign nation and that Napoleon seized
this opportunity in his bid to make France greater.
When Napoleon was defeated, there was a tu
rning back towards the old order. Many of the achievements and changes that Napoleon gave France an
d Europe disappeared. The Grand Coalition, consisting of Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia, rest
ored the old French monarchy, which had been abolished by the French revolution. Napoleon betrayed
France when he escaped from his prison on the Isle of Elba. In 1814, the Coalition had treated Fran
ce lightly – she was allowed to keep her frontiers of 1792 (including the land she won in
conquest) and was not required to pay for the cost of war. There had been constant warfare for twen
ty – five years and the French people appeared to be restless for peace. However, all pea
ce plans ere ruined when Napoleon returned from Elba and started the battle of Waterloo. In the sec
ond treaty of Paris (1815), France was treated much more harshly. Her frontiers were restricted to
that of 1790 and she had to pay seven hundred million francs – the cost of war. The Ger
man Confederation of thirty-nine states remained, but Germany was still divided, ruled by monarchs a
nd still under Austrian presidency. In addition, despite Napoleon’s attempts to give Ital
y unification, Italy was recognized as no more than a “geographical expression”.
In conclusion, it is clear that Napoleon did have many achievements, especially with legal a
nd administrative reforms, which remained long after his defeat. Napoleon established laws, which c
overed all of France, not just different regions, and also gave all French children the opportunity
for education. Napoleon improved the appearance of France and brought France back form bankruptcy.
Nevertheless, he does not appear to have been seriously concerned with the beliefs of the revolutio
n – he had hoped that by getting involved, he would gain promotion. Therefore, he was mor
e concerned with himself than doing anything for France, Europe and their people. This can be prove
n in this statement given after his victory over Austria in Italy:
“I realized that I w
as a superior being and conceived the
Ambition of performing great things”.
Napoleo
n’s achievements in Germany and Italy were not for the benefit of these nations, as he him
self admitted:
“ If I conquered other kingdoms, I did so in order that France would be
the beneficiary”
Napoleon went against the French revolution’s belief in freed
om of speech. He reduced and suppressed newspapers in France and the newspapers that remained were
threatened or bribed in to supporting him. It has been claimed that “his genius owes more
to propaganda than to deeds”. Napoleon did wish to continue revolutionary reforms. Altho
ugh it can be argued that he did not continue all of its aims, this was because many of the revoluti
on’s goals and believes were impractical: “we must see what was real and politi
cally possible in it’s principles, instead of grasping at their speculative and hypothetic
al side.” After 1815,France lost all of the territory she had acquired in the Napoleonic
wars. The monarchy was restored in France and Germany and Italy were still not united. Therefore,
Many of Napoleon’s achievements did not last. Napoleon was the ‘heir’
of the revolution but his achievements are exaggerated because the revolution had already done much
of his work for him: “…he found the work already three-quarters done for him&am
p;#8221;.napoleon bonaparte became first consul after overthrowing directory establishing consultate
many achievements france under educational financial administrative legal religious reforms however
these achievements often exaggerated napoleon indeed heir revolution completed much work that revol
ution started such creation civil code reforming education system despite this also destroyed much r
evolution work ignored betrayed some beliefs much achievements were incomplete napoleon europe were
mainly purposes wanted enhance prestige make france great nation appears have little interest helpin
g european people although main centered areas such administration other remarkable although minor f
rance improved appearance french cities such paris building bridges canals planting trees sides road
s protect them from this aided beauty paris today also reformed system which meant that exempt parti
cular achievement which rank same level importance napoleonic code appears often overlooked textbook
s founding national education system from primary university focus attention secondary schools which
opened more higher education also became more available major cities spent more money than anything
else during time power however somewhat inefficient this achievement educational discriminated agai
nst females being suitable girls female students were learn very basics read write traditional femal
e work nursing embroidering pupils little choice over their career most forced into military career
what considered most significant achievement establishment napoleonic code codifying civil commercia
l criminal marked trend centralize organize power national level successful formed basis many europe
an legal systems requested many grievances sent louis demanded revolutionaries thus appeared truly h
eir claimed took into account issues that stood equality before freedom religion civil gave equal in
heritance offspring should parent marriage became rather than religious stopped proposal girls marry
thirteen boys marry fifteen instead increased marital eighteen girls twenty boys permitted divorce
other hand according john merriman incomplete satisfy everyone went against beliefs equality women w
oman wage went husband could property without husband male relatives permission women committed obed
ience fidelity their husbands further betrayed opinions most french people declaring women nothing t
han machines producing children betrayed abolishing titles revolutionaries abolished duke prince alt
hough these titles heredity before contrasted equality people still different terms social class pri
or french bankrupt undertook vast financial reforms upon coming power currency stabilized stable eur
ope until after world successful achieving balancing budget taxes came from reasonable sources taxes
raised alcohol tobacco major financial reform establishment national bank improved ability finance
wars without worry inflation been problem governments after nevertheless there still crisis military
spending accounted around forty sixty percent expenditure leading increase taxation further reformi
ng administrative consulate inherited council state improved handling administration justice issues
used help weaken legislative assemblies ministries reform ensured ministers prevented acquiring thei
r authority local government practically abolished prefects appointed carry administration each regi
on government chose prefects mayors ministers administrative permanent legacy survived until very re
cently started moves towards reform abolishing institutions ancient parlements role complete these r
eforms helped conflict with church existed since period enlightenment viewed entirely example reform
ing been started signed concordat with catholic church catholicism recognized preferred religion oth
ers tolerated believed have profound insight into importance religion mass through move argued again
indeed heir change revolutionary holding selling church property members clergy becoming paid serva
nts state priests bishops still elected clergy take oaths allegiance government despite there some c
onflict with controlled supervised displeasing pope given police matters concerning under economy be
gan export goods been imported before industries exports silk cotton increasing under produced corn
meat butter cheese however wright claims economic progress fact unspectacular lack industrial commer
cial innovation compared britain communications another improvement brought three canals three ports
three roads built roads helped carriages travel through alps previously taken longer heavy snow mad
e communications between italy switzerland easier europe well replaced order contemporary modern reg
ime boundaries extended beyond modern boundaries almost constantly between napoleonic wars supposed
free oppressed individuals throughout true wars austria prussia boundaries extended when went agains
t austria italy succeeded obtaining north italy back control main aiding unification german italian
states defeating austria austerlitz prussia left free rearrange german territory nations lost result
reorganized hundred german states thirty nine states developed confederation rhine consisted sixtee
n defeat waterloo forty remained therefore partly achieved unification germany breaking down medieva
l restored alpine republic president called kingdom despite butterfield argues really intend unite i
talian believes open control foreign nation seized opportunity make greater when defeated there turn
ing back towards order changes gave disappeared grand coalition consisting britain prussia russia re
stored monarchy abolished when escaped prison isle elba coalition treated lightly allowed keep front
iers including land conquest required cost constant warfare twenty five years appeared restless peac
e peace plans ruined returned elba battle waterloo second treaty paris treated harshly frontiers res
tricted seven hundred million francs cost confederation thirty nine remained germany divided ruled m
onarchs austrian presidency addition attempts give unification recognized geographical expression co
nclusion clear have especially legal remained long defeat established laws covered just different re
gions gave children opportunity appearance brought back form bankruptcy nevertheless does appear ser
iously concerned beliefs hoped getting involved would gain promotion therefore concerned himself doi
ng anything proven statement given victory over realized superior being conceived ambition performin
g great things germany benefit nations himself admitted conquered other kingdoms order would benefic
iary belief freedom speech reduced suppressed newspapers newspapers threatened bribed supporting cla
imed genius owes propaganda deeds wish continue revolutionary argued continue aims because goals bel
ieves impractical must what real politically possible principles instead grasping speculative hypoth
etical side lost territory acquired monarchy restored united therefore last exaggerated because alre
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