Does Power Corrupt: Napoleon Bonaparte
John Locke and Thomas Hobbes were two different people who had completely different views on humanity. John Locke believed in the good of humanity. He believed that humanity is good and can be trusted to rule themselves using democracy. This is nothing like what Thomas Hobbes believed. He believed that humans are evil and can not be trusted to rule themselves, so he believed in monarchies and social hierarchies. Hobbes thinks that man is not strong enough to be ruled by themselves but need a more powerful person. Napoleon Bonaparte was an example of a man more powerful than the rest he got into power throughout people of France likening him a lot. After that he slowly took control and keep giving himself …show more content…
On May 18, 1804, Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor, and made Josephine empress. His coronation ceremony took place on December 2, 1804, in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. Napoleon even paid for Pope Pius VII, who had signed the Concordat of Rome, to travel to France for the occasion, believing that his presence would imbue the event with a solemn, religious feeling. Pius agreed to come, hoping to win Napoleon's goodwill towards Rome and the Papal States. Napoleon surprised everyone by not allowing the Pope to crown him. Instead, he placed the crown on his own head, and then crowned Josephine empress. A few months later, on May 26, 1805, Napoleon crowned himself again– this time with the iron circlet that symbolizes the rule over all of Italy. This is a proof of corruption by power because he had enough power as first consul. As first consul he could make almost any decision towards the better or worse of France but decided to make himself emperor. Also during his coronation he invited Pope Pius VII to coronate him but he ended up doing it himself which is pretty rude to someone you invited to do that job but then he did it …show more content…
On April 20, 1814, Napoleon left France for the isle of Elba where he was exiled under the terms of the Treaty of Fontainebleau. Napoleon was allowed to rule Elba. It seemed as though Napoleon was content to a life of relative retirement. All the while, however, he was plotting his return to Europe. On Elba, Napoleon was under the constant watch of Austrian and French guards. Nonetheless, he was not isolated: he received thousands of letters from all over Europe and read major newspapers that kept him abreast of events throughout the world. It was probably via these sources that he learned of Josephine's death on May 29, 1814. On February 26, 1815, Napoleon managed to sneak past his guards and somehow escape from Elba, slip past interception by a British ship, and return to France. Immediately, people and troops began to rally to the returned Emperor. French police forces were sent to arrest him, but upon arriving in his presence, they kneeled before him. Triumphantly, Napoleon returned to Paris on March 20, 1815. Paris welcomed him with celebration, and Louis XVIII, the new king, fled to Belgium. Using the army that Napoleon decided next to attack the English, then at Waterloo, a village near Brussels. On June 18 1815, the British, aided by the Prussians, defeated Napoleon for the last time. Napoleon abdicated on June 22, 1815. On October 15, 1815, the British sent him to the remote
John Locke and Thomas Hobbes were two different people who had completely different views on humanity. John Locke believed in the good of humanity. He believed that humanity is good and can be trusted to rule themselves using democracy. This is nothing like what Thomas Hobbes believed. He believed that humans are evil and can not be trusted to rule themselves, so he believed in monarchies and social hierarchies. Hobbes thinks that man is not strong enough to be ruled by themselves but need a more powerful person. Napoleon Bonaparte was an example of a man more powerful than the rest he got into power throughout people of France likening him a lot. After that he slowly took control and keep giving himself …show more content…
On May 18, 1804, Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor, and made Josephine empress. His coronation ceremony took place on December 2, 1804, in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. Napoleon even paid for Pope Pius VII, who had signed the Concordat of Rome, to travel to France for the occasion, believing that his presence would imbue the event with a solemn, religious feeling. Pius agreed to come, hoping to win Napoleon's goodwill towards Rome and the Papal States. Napoleon surprised everyone by not allowing the Pope to crown him. Instead, he placed the crown on his own head, and then crowned Josephine empress. A few months later, on May 26, 1805, Napoleon crowned himself again– this time with the iron circlet that symbolizes the rule over all of Italy. This is a proof of corruption by power because he had enough power as first consul. As first consul he could make almost any decision towards the better or worse of France but decided to make himself emperor. Also during his coronation he invited Pope Pius VII to coronate him but he ended up doing it himself which is pretty rude to someone you invited to do that job but then he did it …show more content…
On April 20, 1814, Napoleon left France for the isle of Elba where he was exiled under the terms of the Treaty of Fontainebleau. Napoleon was allowed to rule Elba. It seemed as though Napoleon was content to a life of relative retirement. All the while, however, he was plotting his return to Europe. On Elba, Napoleon was under the constant watch of Austrian and French guards. Nonetheless, he was not isolated: he received thousands of letters from all over Europe and read major newspapers that kept him abreast of events throughout the world. It was probably via these sources that he learned of Josephine's death on May 29, 1814. On February 26, 1815, Napoleon managed to sneak past his guards and somehow escape from Elba, slip past interception by a British ship, and return to France. Immediately, people and troops began to rally to the returned Emperor. French police forces were sent to arrest him, but upon arriving in his presence, they kneeled before him. Triumphantly, Napoleon returned to Paris on March 20, 1815. Paris welcomed him with celebration, and Louis XVIII, the new king, fled to Belgium. Using the army that Napoleon decided next to attack the English, then at Waterloo, a village near Brussels. On June 18 1815, the British, aided by the Prussians, defeated Napoleon for the last time. Napoleon abdicated on June 22, 1815. On October 15, 1815, the British sent him to the remote