Preserver of the French Revolution rice supplement essay help Political Science assignment help

Napoleon Bonaparte was a military and political leader of France during the late 18th and early 19th Centuries. He was able to gain power in a short amount of time and eventually became a very influential dictator. In many ways, Napoleon could have been considered a tyrant of the time period; however, it can also be looked at in another way. Napoleon Bonaparte could be considered a preserver of the French Revolution through the creation of the Napoleonic Code, the Concordat of 1801, and the establishment of the Bank of France. In 1804, Napoleon installed a civil code in France known as the Napoleonic Code.

This code had a huge influence on France. It established the right to choose one’s profession, equality before the law, and freedom of religion. Unlike previous laws, this code was uniform throughout the country. The Code reaffirmed the right of all adult males to vote as well as the sanctity of private property. Through the Napoleonic Code, Napoleon encouraged nationalism and national self-determination. Not only did this code benefit the country of France, but it also influenced the law of many other countries. During and after the Napoleonic Wars, many of the countries involved adopted some of the aspects of the Napoleonic Code.

Some of these countries include Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and Poland. This code is also still the basis of the French legal system today. In 1801, Napoleon negotiated an agreement with Pope Pius VII which became known as the Concordat of 1801. The Concordat recognized Catholicism as the national religion of France, but Napoleon would not force this religion on the people of France. Instead, he still allowed for the total freedom of worship. Also, the clergy, which included the bishops and the parish priests, became employees of the state.

Napoleon was able to firmly assert religious tolerance in France through the Concordat of 1801 because it did not force Catholicism on the people of France. Other religions, such as Calvinism and Lutheranism, were able to gain much more legal recognition, and thus securing the policy of tolerance. Also, by paying the clergy as employees of the state, it became possible to bring the clergy under government control and reduce papal authority. Because the state paid the clergy, the government was able to have a significantly greater amount of control over the clergy’s actions.

The Concordat of 1801 was able to preserve the accomplishments of the Revolution. In February of 1800, Napoleon established the national Bank of France. This bank regulated the money to avoid the inflationary problems that had happened in the past. It was privately owned so that business men were not alarmed that the government was imposing more authority on them. The bank was able to finance the wars that Napoleon embarked on be selling shares. The Bank of France was able to restore economic stability to the country of France by giving a monopoly of note issue to the new central bank and backing it firmly with gold and silver.

By creating the National Bank of France, Napoleon was able to preserve and stabilize the economy during the French Revolution. In conclusion, Napoleon Bonaparte’s was a great influence on the country of France, as well as the rest of the world. Although he is known for many bad things that he did throughout his life, he is also known for many good things. Napoleon was able to develop the Napoleonic Code, better create religious tolerance through the Concordat of 1801, and stabilize the economy through the Bank of France.