What important changes did Napoleon make in France?

Answer 1

He created a stronger centralized government

He established a new legal code.He modernized Paris.

• Napoleon endorsed the Revolutionary land settlement involving the sale of church lands, which gave all peasant and bourgeois purchasers a vested interest in supporting the regime. Financial stability was helped too, by the foundation of the Bank of France in 1803. The tax system was simplified and made more efficient along line sketched out in the 1790s. The administrative reforms of the Revolutionary decade were also maintained, though in an uathoritarian twist in 1800 each department was endowed with a Napoleonic nominee, the prefect.. The prefect were essentially updated and streamlined versions of the intendants of the ancien regime. Within their constituencies they acted as petty emperors to ensure the imperial will was carried out. The reinforcement of the principle of authority was mirrored in the field of liberal freedoms: imprisonment without trial was introduced, overriding habeous corpus provisions. Napoleon reimposed strict censorship. Once the herald of Revolutionary politics, the newspaper no longer had a place in the hierarchical and repressive world of the First Empire: over a thousand new titles had appeared in the decade after 1789: by 1811 only four had full government authorization.

  As the decline of journalism indicates, colourful political hyperactivity gave way to an altogether paler version of public life after 1799. "If the press is not bridled" Napoleon commented "I shall not remain in power long." Politics became little more than a facade, especially after Napeoleon assumed the Imperial title. There were elected representative bodies, but they were toothless. Most legislative work was done by imperial decree - and done in volume. Over fifteen years Napeoloen was personally responsible for 80,000 letters and decrees. Political opponents were either deprived of a platform or sent into exile.

Answer 2

He introduced CANNED FOOD for his troops, for one, and made the French army (They had two before 2 were destroyed in battle and another was created via money from the Louisiana Purchase.) so powerful that they took control over all of Europe up to Russia.

Answer 3

GOVERNING FRANCE

UNDER THE KING -- Louis had absolute

power, and could not be removed. There was

no National Assembly (or Parliament) and

there were no elections, so people did not

have a say in who was in power in France. The

King made all the laws, and as a result, some

were very out of date such as the Estates

system, and inequality of different groups in

society.

THE REVOLUTION brought changes. There

was no single ruler of France, and a National

Assembly was elected by voters (all men).

The Assembly made all the laws, which meant

that many new laws were introduced.

UNDER NAPOLEON -- More changes were

introduced. Napoleon became Emperor of

France, and could not be removed from

power. There were two National Assemblies,

with members chosen by Napoleon from

candidates elected by the people. All men

could vote, but after 1804, there were no

elections. All laws were made by the

Assemblies.

Napoleon has been remembered not only for his military victories, but

also as a 'Great Reformer', bringing about improvements to France and

French Society. Napoleon himself said: "I intend to keep the Revolution's

useful changes, but not to abandon the good institutions it mistakenly

destroyed." So, how did France change under Napoleon? And did it change

for the better? To answer these questions, we need to look at France

before, and during Napoleon's rule.

How Did France Change Under

Napoleon?

CHANGES TO EDUCATION

UNDER THE KING -- Only the

privileged went to schools, which were

run by The Church. Pupils were taught

respect for elders and religion.

THE REVOLUTION brought some

change. Revolutionaries proclaimed

that school was for everyone, and

state schools were even proposed, but

none were set up. The Aim was to

encourage pupils to investigate and

question.

UNDER NAPOLEON -- The education

system in France changed. Four

grades of school were set up; primary,

secondary, lycées (schools run on

military lines) and technical schools.

Schools now stressed the importance

of obedience and military values --

although primary education stayed

almost as it had been before 1789.

Science and maths became more

important subjects in secondary

schools. In 1814 9000 pupils were

attending the 36 lycées -- out of a

population of 30 million.

THINK!! How much

change had taken

place in schools?

THINK!! In what ways

were the regimes of

Napoleon and Louis

different?

By Miss Lavelle www.SchoolHistory.co.UK

"The husband must possess the

absolute power and right to say to

his wife: 'Madam you shall not go to

the theatre, you shall not receive

such and such a person, for the

children you bear shall be mine'.

Women should stick to knitting."

Comments made by Napoleon when

drawing up the Code.

The Code Napoleon, 1804

The Code stated that:

• All people were declared equal before the law.

There were no longer any special privileges for

Nobles, Churchmen or rich people

• Feudal rights were ended.

• Trial by Jury was guaranteed.

• Religious Freedom was guaranteed.

• Parents were given powers over their children.

• Wives were not allowed to sell or give away

property.

• A wife could only own property with her

husband's consent in writing.

• Fathers were allowed to imprison their children

for any time up to a month.

In 1804 the Napoleonic Code was

introduced. It had a set of clear

laws, applicable to all members of

French Society. The Code was also

introduced into other parts of

Europe conquered by Napoleon, like

Italy, Spain and some parts of

Germany.

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND

FREEDOMS.

France under Napoleon sometimes

seemed similar to France under King

Louis. The Prison and Courts system

was 'officially' different, in that you

could no longer be put in prison

without charge and everyone was equal

in the courts, nobles did not have

special rights anymore, but even in

Napoleon's rule there were

restrictions. He had a secret police

force, which from 1810 could arrest

people without trial. Napoleon, like

King Louis, and unlike the Revolution,

tried to censor and control the

newspapers, and free speech was not

slowed in France or the French

Empire.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

During the Revolution, the land owned by the Catholic

Church was sold off and any religion was permitted (only

Catholicism was practised in the 'Ancien Regime'). In 1802,

Napoleon made an agreement with the Pope called the

Concordat in which the Pope agreed that the Church would

not get its land back and in return, Catholicism was accepted

as the religion of the majority. As well as this, it was agreed

that Bishops were to be chosen by Napoleon, and agreed by

the Pope. This meant that the government now had greater

control over the Church.

"If the press is not

controlled, I shall not

remain three days in

power." Napoleon.

"The People must have religion,

and religion must be in the

hands of the government."

Napoleon.

ARE YOU STILL THINKING? How

far have things changed under

Napoleon? Are his ways really that

different from Louis?

Some of the things said by Napoleon!

FRENCH SOCIETY

Napoleon tried to make sure that all major groups gained from his rule. For peasants,

Napoleon made sure that they could keep their land by eradicating Feudalism. He restored

the Catholic Church to its former importance through the Concordat, and the peasants no

longer had to pay tithes. For the Nobles, Napoleon offered 'king-like' stability. He created

titles for some people, though these new nobles had no special privileges.

Napoleon tried to reward talented and hardworking people by setting up

the Legion of Honour in 1802. It is still one of the highest honours you

can receive in France today.

DID YOU

KNOW?

Napoleon

introduced the

Baccalauréat,

(BAC) an exam still

sat in France

today!

Public education does

not suit women, as

they are not called

upon to live in public...

marriage is their whole

estimation.

In France women are

considered too highly.

They should not be

regarded as equal to

men. In reality they

are nothing more than

machines for

producing children.

The ignorant class will

no longer exercise their

influence on making laws

It is not what is or on government.

true that counts,

but what people

think is true.

BULIDINGS AND ROADS.

Napoleon ordered the building of new roads, canals and

bridges. Huge amounts of money were invested in improving

the image of France's capital, Paris. Older buildings were

improved, and new buildings were put up. A better network of

roads was planned for Paris, and several memorials to the

Revolution and to Napoleon himself were erected.

L'Arc de Triomphe, Paris -- built in

1813 to celebrate Napoleons

victories in wars all over Europe.

THINK! What do

these quotes tell

us about

Napoleon?

By Miss Lavelle www.SchoolHistory.co.UK

1) Go back through all the information on the worksheets. Write down each

underlined word or phrase and its meaning. You night have to ask your

teacher for help with some, or think back to your previous work. There are 6

altogether!

2) In what ways did Napoleon reform the education system in France?

3) Which aspects of Napoleon's education system did not change?

4) In what ways were the governments of King Louis XVI (pre-Revolution) and

Napoleon different?

5) In what ways were they similar?

6) Read the Napoleonic Code. List the points of the code which you think are:

a. Fair?

b. Unfair?

Give reasons for your choices.

7) How did Napoleon try to restrict individual rights and freedoms?

8) Why do you think Napoleon felt it was so important to control the press?

9) How did Napoleon try to control religion in France?

10) What was the appeal of Napoleon to:

a. The Peasants?

b. The Nobility?

11) Read some of the things said by Napoleon (on all of the sheets). What do

these extracts tell us about Napoleon's attitude towards:

a. His role as Emperor?

b. Women?

c. The Media?

d. The lower classes?

12) How did Napoleon improve France's cities and towns?

HOW FAR DID NAPOLEON REALLY REFORM FRANCE?

This is an extended piece of writing, so you should plan your work in the back of

your book first. You should organise your answer into five sections, which you can

later put into paragraphs. The five areas are: Education, The Government, The

Church, Rights and Freedoms and Society. To answer the BIG question, you need to

look at how far Napoleon reformed each of the sections. For example, in some

areas there had been great change, but in others, there were few differences

from the time of King Louis. You can include in your answer quotes and opinions

from the man himself to support your own thoughts. Once you have planned what

you are going to include in your sections, you need to write a brief introduction to

your work, and sum up your arguments with a strong conclusion. Get you teacher to

check it, put it all together in the front of your book, and VOILA! One essay!

Answer 4

He updated France's water system and made it safe to drink.

Napoleonic Law.

National Bank.

Concordat of 1801.

Public education.

Answer 5

He created a fair modern legal code ()used in court houses the are still used today in. Second, ladies and gentlemen can you please stop putting ignorant answers that are not funny to anyone

Answer 6

He made public education more accessible for all children.

Answer 7

He raised taxes