The Age of Napoleon
By: Kyle Sweda, Madeline Majikas and Lauren Boltz
The Legal System and the Concordat of 1801
Legal System: The Codification of the Laws was the main change that Napoleon made to the legal system. Before he codified the laws there were 300 different systems of laws throughout France. Napoleon worked to make a single set of laws for France. These changes had meant to be changed earlier but nobody got around to it until Napoleon. The most important change he made to the legal system was the Civil code which preserved the gains of The Revolution. The civil code made sure that equality was recognized in all Male citizens. Women lost some of the power they had gained during the revolution.. These laws left a legacy behind Napoleon. After he was defeated they kept the idea of the codification of the laws because they thought that it was a good idea.
Concordat of 1801: The Concordat of 1801 was the agreement signed by Napoleon and the church to stabilize France. Before this Agreement was reached all the churches had been raided during the dechristianization of France. And the lands had been bought. To stabilize France he signed the agreement with the pope that made Catholicism the main religion of France. In return the church agreed to not ask for its property back. Since most of France was already Catholic this decision went well with the people of France. They got to keep their land and stolen items and it put Napoleon more in the people's good wishes. Even after he is exiled the importance of Religion in France is kept.
Reconstructing Government and the Educational System.
During the French revolution the government was changed many times. After King Louis XVI lost his power and was beheaded, the National Convention gave power to the Committee of Public Safety to protect France from potential invaders. The Committee of Public Safety and the National Convention had a huge role with laws during the French Revolution, this included the idea of de christianization which was failed attempt to rid France of religious beliefs in the government and society.Napoleon was part of the coup d’état that overthrew the Directory. One of the first things Napoleon did was establish peace with the Catholic Church and repair what was “lost” with dechristianization. He also made a codification of laws which took the 300 different legal systems from before the revolution and made them into one set of laws for all of France.Originally Napoleon’s changes seemed to be in line with the ideas of the French Revolution. We find out later that Napoleon made these changes to have the people on his side so he could make himself Emperor of France without an uprising.The agreement between the Catholic Church and the rest of France remained beyond Napoleon’s rule.
Educational System: Before Napoleon and the French Revolution people in the Third Estates didn’t have education, many were illiterate. Education was saved for the First and Second Estates so they could govern efficiently.During the Revolution, a law aimed at primary education was passed but wasn’t widely used. Also military schools, like the one Napoleon attended, were built were people of France were forced to attend to learn how to fight in the revolution. Napoleon viewed education as a means of indoctrinating the masses with the right principles. He set up schools around France and changed education in France today.By adding more schools, Napoleon helped abolish the standard that only upperclass men could be educated, which went with the revolution’s ideas of estate equality.Napoeleon’s changes in the setup of schools stayed beyond Napoleon’s rule.
Description of before Napoleon: Before Napoleon and the French Revolution people in the Third Estates didn’t have education, many were illiterate. Education was saved for the First and Second Estates so they could govern efficiently.
Description of changes or reforms Napoleon made: During the Revolution, a law aimed at primary education was passed but wasn’t widely used. Also military schools, like the one Napoleon attended, were built were people of France were forced to attend to learn how to fight in the revolution. Napoleon viewed education as a means of indoctrinating the masses with the right principles. He set up schools around France and changed education in France today.
Were changes or reforms in line with French Revolution Ideas
The Finacial system
Financial System: The French economy had suffered periodically. The near collapse of the government’s finances was an immediate cause to the French Revolution. Napoleon had made many reforms towards the economy. He created fair taxes and had a central bank to control monetary policy. He also increased trade by building new canals and roads. Some of these changes were in line with French Revolution ideas. During the revolution, only the third estate had to pay taxes, and now they were spread throughout the country. Napoleon had a positive influence on Europe’s economic system because during his reign, he boosted trade, simulated industry, and helped create a stable economy.