Help
Was Napoleon an enemy of the state; his own people and country?
Page 1 of 1
Napoleon What Do You Guys Think?
MultiQuote
#2
- Group: Moderating Teacher & Admin
- Posts: 4,674
- Joined: 29-December 03
- Gender:Male
- Location:County Durham
Posted 19 June 2009 - 06:41 AM
I am very happy to allow this as an issue for discussion. We have a number of very bright students at the moment who love debating, and I am looking forward to their opinions on this core topic.
Napoleon is a very important topic because it is on this subject - interpretations of Napoleon - that Pieter Geyl wrote his seminal book, which was the first book which explicitly realised that the historiography of a subject is a critical element of its 'history' - that 'history' is interpretations rather than truth.
Napoleon is a very important topic because it is on this subject - interpretations of Napoleon - that Pieter Geyl wrote his seminal book, which was the first book which explicitly realised that the historiography of a subject is a critical element of its 'history' - that 'history' is interpretations rather than truth.
#3
- Group: Student
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 19-June 09
Posted 19 June 2009 - 10:05 AM
I think Napoleon was an opportunist, but I also think he is one who recognized that the Revolution was tearing itself, and the country, apart. With the other European nations implausibly opposed to the new government, I think he believed that taking the actions he did were needed to save the country and the Revolution.
While as an Emperor he did in a way betray the ideals of Revolution, nonetheless carried out legal and social reforms that embodied those ideals. He also created a meritocracy that allowed anyone of talent and drive to rise, regardless of their original social class.
So, all in all I think Napoleon was far more than a man on the scene at the right time, with an interest only in self promotion. Certainly the man did have ego, and did keep an eye out to how history would look at him, but there was far more to him than that.
________________
GOODIES FOR EVERYBODY
While as an Emperor he did in a way betray the ideals of Revolution, nonetheless carried out legal and social reforms that embodied those ideals. He also created a meritocracy that allowed anyone of talent and drive to rise, regardless of their original social class.
So, all in all I think Napoleon was far more than a man on the scene at the right time, with an interest only in self promotion. Certainly the man did have ego, and did keep an eye out to how history would look at him, but there was far more to him than that.
________________
GOODIES FOR EVERYBODY
#4
- Group: Student
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 19-June 09
Posted 04 July 2009 - 09:39 PM
Interesting ramboto2 
Here is what I think...
After the Directory fell, most French people considered Napoleon Bonaparte as the savior of the Revolution. In some aspects, this was true because some of the ideas he introduced, embodied the revolutionary ideas. But, the revolutions most valuable principle, liberty, vanished without a trace. Thus by Napoleon doing this, he not only became an enemy of the state, but also defied the true meaning of why the French Revolution took place.
The idea of liberty changed from the Bourgeoisie, all the ways to the sansculottes, but the common ground was that liberty meant freedom. When Napoleon became the first consul in 1799, and later emperor in December 2, 1804, he by all means did everything to suppress such freedom. This can be seen by complete censorship, crushing any opposition from left to right, instituting the Constitution of the Year VIII, and Code Napoleon which all suppressed freedom of speech and freedom of press. Napoleon Bonaparte also created an aristocracy with his Legion of Honor, which went against one of the reasons of the Revolution, to get rid of any kind of upper royal class. Also, Napoleon's true reason's for giving former Nobles jobs in the government, tolerant religion, keeping the confiscated church land in peasants hands, and having a public sewer system in Paris, was to just keep them happy, at bay. Not really because he was for his people, and wanted to do the best for them. To Napoleon, it was all about him, and he saw doing those things would give him more support, which would lead to much more power for him. Lastly, I believe Napoleon tricked his people, just as other dictators such as Adolph Hitler did. Napoleon gave this such distinct, promising, and healthy future for the French people, and thus, people believed and trusted him. The thing was, Napoleon only made it seem this was what he wanted to do for France. Instead, he would in majority of his dictatorship, be at war, instead of being able to truly concentrate on France, and its people, which if he did, things would of been much more different.
Winning was everything to Napoleon. It mattered to him so much, that he said he was willing to risk as many soldiers as possible to achieve what ever goal he was trying to accomplish. Such a goal can be seen with the assault on Russia. After Russia said they would not follow Napoleon's Continental System, Napoleon got mad because he was not use to people saying no to him. So, he took 400,000 men, and invaded Russia. By the time the Russian winter kicked in, Napoleon and his troops faced enormous hardships, which finally lead to their retreat. In the end, out of the 400,000 Napoleon had at the beginning of the campaign, he ended with only 100,000 men, meaning, he had 300,000 casualties. All of this could of been prevented, only if Napoleon would been more concerned about the welfare of his soldiers and country, instead of his ambition. Also, back to the Continental System, it goes to show that Napoleon's ambition, and wanting to rule all and have as much power as he could, that he didn't care to think what negative effects the System could have on the French Economy. And when it finally did back fire, Napoleon didn't do much to improve the sinking economy. After the whole Russian Invasion failed, and the Coalition of Prussia, Sweden, Austria, Britain, and Russia, defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig, and later occupied Paris, Napoleon became exiled to the island of Elba. But it wasn't long until Napoleon escaped back to France, and not to help the French people, or do them good, as they so thought, but for him to re-gain his power, and try to get back at the coalition that exiled him in the first place. Thus, when he returned to power in March of 1815, he immediately started to built his army up, and in June, attacked at the Battle of Waterloo, which proved fatal to him and his troops. Just four later, Napoleon was exiled again, but to St. Helena. In all here, it went to show that the war he started again after he escaped from exiled, instead of seeking peace, shows it was about him, and not about the welfare of the French people. Napoleon had such disillusioned the French people, that by the time Waterloo came around, he had become disillusioned with himself. His own ambition lead to his downfall. Thus, once Napoleon was gone for good, the whole monarchy came back into France, which make it seem the whole French Revolution and its ideals of liberty were fought for nothing.
Here is what I think...
After the Directory fell, most French people considered Napoleon Bonaparte as the savior of the Revolution. In some aspects, this was true because some of the ideas he introduced, embodied the revolutionary ideas. But, the revolutions most valuable principle, liberty, vanished without a trace. Thus by Napoleon doing this, he not only became an enemy of the state, but also defied the true meaning of why the French Revolution took place.
The idea of liberty changed from the Bourgeoisie, all the ways to the sansculottes, but the common ground was that liberty meant freedom. When Napoleon became the first consul in 1799, and later emperor in December 2, 1804, he by all means did everything to suppress such freedom. This can be seen by complete censorship, crushing any opposition from left to right, instituting the Constitution of the Year VIII, and Code Napoleon which all suppressed freedom of speech and freedom of press. Napoleon Bonaparte also created an aristocracy with his Legion of Honor, which went against one of the reasons of the Revolution, to get rid of any kind of upper royal class. Also, Napoleon's true reason's for giving former Nobles jobs in the government, tolerant religion, keeping the confiscated church land in peasants hands, and having a public sewer system in Paris, was to just keep them happy, at bay. Not really because he was for his people, and wanted to do the best for them. To Napoleon, it was all about him, and he saw doing those things would give him more support, which would lead to much more power for him. Lastly, I believe Napoleon tricked his people, just as other dictators such as Adolph Hitler did. Napoleon gave this such distinct, promising, and healthy future for the French people, and thus, people believed and trusted him. The thing was, Napoleon only made it seem this was what he wanted to do for France. Instead, he would in majority of his dictatorship, be at war, instead of being able to truly concentrate on France, and its people, which if he did, things would of been much more different.
Winning was everything to Napoleon. It mattered to him so much, that he said he was willing to risk as many soldiers as possible to achieve what ever goal he was trying to accomplish. Such a goal can be seen with the assault on Russia. After Russia said they would not follow Napoleon's Continental System, Napoleon got mad because he was not use to people saying no to him. So, he took 400,000 men, and invaded Russia. By the time the Russian winter kicked in, Napoleon and his troops faced enormous hardships, which finally lead to their retreat. In the end, out of the 400,000 Napoleon had at the beginning of the campaign, he ended with only 100,000 men, meaning, he had 300,000 casualties. All of this could of been prevented, only if Napoleon would been more concerned about the welfare of his soldiers and country, instead of his ambition. Also, back to the Continental System, it goes to show that Napoleon's ambition, and wanting to rule all and have as much power as he could, that he didn't care to think what negative effects the System could have on the French Economy. And when it finally did back fire, Napoleon didn't do much to improve the sinking economy. After the whole Russian Invasion failed, and the Coalition of Prussia, Sweden, Austria, Britain, and Russia, defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig, and later occupied Paris, Napoleon became exiled to the island of Elba. But it wasn't long until Napoleon escaped back to France, and not to help the French people, or do them good, as they so thought, but for him to re-gain his power, and try to get back at the coalition that exiled him in the first place. Thus, when he returned to power in March of 1815, he immediately started to built his army up, and in June, attacked at the Battle of Waterloo, which proved fatal to him and his troops. Just four later, Napoleon was exiled again, but to St. Helena. In all here, it went to show that the war he started again after he escaped from exiled, instead of seeking peace, shows it was about him, and not about the welfare of the French people. Napoleon had such disillusioned the French people, that by the time Waterloo came around, he had become disillusioned with himself. His own ambition lead to his downfall. Thus, once Napoleon was gone for good, the whole monarchy came back into France, which make it seem the whole French Revolution and its ideals of liberty were fought for nothing.
#5
- Group: Student
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 09-December 09
Posted 14 December 2009 - 06:45 AM
Hi Friends,
Napoleon is the most charismatic general in French history, famed for his military successes and (at the same time) for not quite conquering Europe. Starting as a second lieutenant in the French artillery, he rose quickly through the ranks until he staged a 1799 coup that made him First Consul of France. (In 1804 he went further, proclaiming himself emperor.) He led his armies to victory after victory, and by 1807 France ruled territory that stretched from Portugal to Italy and north to the river Elbe. But Napoleon's attempts to conquer the rest of Europe failed; a defeat in Moscow in 1812 nearly destroyed his empire, and in 1814 he was deposed and exiled to the island of Elba. The next year he returned to Paris and again seized power, but this success was short-lived: the French army's 1815 loss to the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo finished Napoleon for good. He was sent into exile on the island of St. Helena, where he died in 1821. His body was returned to Paris in 1840, and his tomb there remains a popular attraction.
Napoleon is the most charismatic general in French history, famed for his military successes and (at the same time) for not quite conquering Europe. Starting as a second lieutenant in the French artillery, he rose quickly through the ranks until he staged a 1799 coup that made him First Consul of France. (In 1804 he went further, proclaiming himself emperor.) He led his armies to victory after victory, and by 1807 France ruled territory that stretched from Portugal to Italy and north to the river Elbe. But Napoleon's attempts to conquer the rest of Europe failed; a defeat in Moscow in 1812 nearly destroyed his empire, and in 1814 he was deposed and exiled to the island of Elba. The next year he returned to Paris and again seized power, but this success was short-lived: the French army's 1815 loss to the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo finished Napoleon for good. He was sent into exile on the island of St. Helena, where he died in 1821. His body was returned to Paris in 1840, and his tomb there remains a popular attraction.
Share this topic:
Page 1 of 1