Napoleon during Consolate Era – 1799 to 1804 7.5

Meet Napoleon Bonaparte Born of Italian descent on island of Corsica A “child of the Enlightenment,” yet educated in a military setting Advances through army due to absence of nobility

Rise To Power Took power on Christmas 1799 with constitution giving supreme power to Napoleon Called First Consul Sought to rule by demanding loyalty to the state

SPECIAL QUESTIONS Napoleonic Code “Careers Open To Talent” Religious Changes Financial Unity Changes in Education Police State

REFORMS OF NAPOLEON WHAT GOOD HE DID

Napoleon code Codification of French law Results in strong central gov’t…everyone is forced to enforce central gov’t’s laws Achievements Drawbacks  equality for women not present

“Careers Open To Talent” Citizens could rise in gov’t according to abilities Wealth determined status Wealthy who served state got rewards Former emigres were granted amnesty for loyalty oath Sans-culottes no longer politically significant

Religious Reforms Concordat of 1801 Provisions An agreement between the French state and the Roman Catholic church Motives for Napoleon? Provisions Pope gave up rights to land seized during French Revolution French gov’t has power to nominate bishops Refractory priests return Legal toleration to all religions – including Protestant ministers Replaced calendar

Financial Unity Bank of France established sound currency and public credit Economic reforms

Education/Police State

Drawbacks