Napoleon's Impact on France's Sytems

        Triumphant, heroic, cunning, and tyrannical, there are multiple different views, thoughts, and perspectives of Napoleon Bonaparte, and these are a few of the many words used to describe him.  He greatly impacted the social, political, and economic systems in France and many other countries in Europe during his time as ruler. 

       Napoleon’s impact towards the social system in Europe involved many changes that benefitted many people.  Some, including Madame de Stael, believe that Napoleon was intruding and tyrannical.  She explained that "his profound contempt for all the intellectual riches of human nature... are 'the eternal enemies of the continent.'" Her views of Napoleon show her negative feelings towards him, probably because of her bias towards him after being exiled from France and wishing to restore the older French government.  Others who served Napoleon, including Marshal Michel Ney, favored him more and talked well about him.  He said, “To the emperor Napoleon, our sovereign, belongs alone the right to rule over our beautiful country.”  He seems glad and positive about Napoleon’s rule over France, which is quite different than Madame de Stael’s view.  While some people agreed with him and others did not, Napoleon did make many potentially beneficial decisions to the social system while ruling France.  Napoleon established a different system than the monarchy which rewarded people by social class.  This new system was called “meritocracy” and had to do with the people of France earning rewards based off of their skill.  This most likely made the average peasants at the time quite happy, as they could be more equal to everyone else.  Napoleon also made sure that access to education was available to all citizens, as this was not how things were before he became the ruler of France.  So while some may disagree because of their differing perspectives, Napoleon did a lot to ensure that the social system in France was greater than it was before his rule. 

            Napoleon had a created a similar impact in the political field, as well.  Napoleon redrew the map of Europe, and this could have to do with the way we view our globe today.  Also, Napoleon sent French armies to end serfdom and nobility.  This is similar to his addition of meritocracy, as it has to do with his rule involving more equality than the previous monarchy.  He is often regarded as one of the greatest generals, too.  In his article, “The Lost Voices of Napoleonic Historians”, Thomas J. Vance quotes John C. Ropes who said, “’While we do not hesitate to speak with proper severity of Napoleon’s reckless course in 1813 and 1814, of his obstinate adherence to a military solution of the difficulties which encompassed his Empire, of his indifference as a solider to the evils of war, of his forgetfulness as soldier of his duties as a sovereign…’”  Here, Ropes is explaining that while Napoleon was regarded as a tyrant, he was also a great military leader.  He later finished his thoughts by saying, “’let us be equally frank in acknowledging his great qualities…’”  Napoleon’s being a great leader, abolishing noticeable forms of unequal social class, and redrawing maps are some of the many reasons why his impact on the political system was very large. 

 

What Napoleon's re-drawn map of Europe may have looked like. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Revolutions_of_1848_in_Europe_(pasopt_eng).svg/2000px-Revolutions_of_1848_in_Europe_(pasopt_eng).svg.png

            Finally, Napoleon also largely impacted the economic system of France.  First off, Napoleon established a bank known as, “The Bank of France”.  When he established this bank, Napoleon made sure that the budget was balanced and that massive public work programs were undertaken.  This was a big move in terms of the country’s economics.  However, some of the ways Napoleon impacted the economics were wrong through many perspectives.  While the French Revolution was occurring, Napoleon took a substantial amount of money from the country of Italy, as well as some of its beautiful artwork.  While this gave money to France, it has to do with some of Napoleon’s traits as a tyrant.  Another way Napoleon impacted the economic system was a quite famous one.  When Thomas Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase, he bought all of that land from Napoleon.  This was a very interesting way for him to earn money.  Economics were greatly impacted during Napoleon’s rule. 

            The social, political, and economic systems all went through a great change and experience during Napoleon’s rule over France.  While some of it showed that Napoleon was a cunning tyrant, other parts of it supplied evidence that Napoleon was a great leader at times.  But with differing perspectives constantly surrounding historical events, it can be difficult to tell what is right and what is wrong.