La France sous Napoléon Bonaparte: Self-Promotion Over French Ideals Napoléon Bonaparte, although sometimes regarded as a magnificent leader, only managed to control his empire by defying essential concepts presented by the French Revolution. Napoléon acted egocentrically rather than promoting the ideals of the French Revolution, many of which he transgressed frequently. As a result of these actions, Napoléon succeeded in deceiving his people, also preventing a united French society. In short, Napoléon acted out of self interest, defying integral ideas of the French Revolution and gaining the support of his people through deceit rather than virtue, causing French society to be deeply divided.
To begin, Napoléon’s actions could have been meant …show more content…
Otherwise you would not be the liberators of the people; you would be their scourge… the French people is the friend of all peoples… Peoples of Italy… your property, your religion, and your customs will be respected. We are waging war as generous enemies, and we wish only to crush the tyrants who enslave you.” (Document 1) In this quote, Napoléon expresses the positive French ideals in the revolution, such as the right to property and freedoms of religion and property, but does so while talking to his troops in an effort to make his image better and to make conquest easier.. How can he talk of equality and liberation to the people he is sending off to conquer more land for him? He used the ideals of the French Revolution as an excuse to fulfill his personal desires of conquest and expansion while protecting his image. In addition, Count Mole, a …show more content…
This is demonstrated by his violation of many ideals of the French Revolution. First, Napoléon crowned himself “consul for life,” which essentially made himself a dictator of France (Napoléon Presentation, Slide 11). This directly contradicts the democratic values of the French Revolution. Next, although Napoléon preached the values of the French Revolution, he didn’t actually implement these values. Napoléon kept a political prisoner, Moreau, who wrote to Napoléon, “You swore to establish a government, not depending upon the life of one individual, not tyrannical but firm, stable and liberal; bestowing freedom on Frenchmen, and worthy to obtain by gratitude from foreign nations, that confidence and esteem, which your predecessors and yourself have commanded by the dread of your bayonets. When I shortly afterwards went to lead armies -- disorganized and defeated -- your last words were: 'I know your love of your country; be victorious, and France shall force admiration, even from her rivals and foes, by the liberty she enjoys at home, and by the generosity of her external negotiations!' How have you respected these fulfilled these promises? How have you respected these oaths? In my degraded country, I see nothing but cringing slaves and proud tyrants; base placemen and infamous spies.” (Document 10) Moreau drew attention to the hypocrisy of Napoléon. One important value of the
To begin, Napoléon’s actions could have been meant …show more content…
Otherwise you would not be the liberators of the people; you would be their scourge… the French people is the friend of all peoples… Peoples of Italy… your property, your religion, and your customs will be respected. We are waging war as generous enemies, and we wish only to crush the tyrants who enslave you.” (Document 1) In this quote, Napoléon expresses the positive French ideals in the revolution, such as the right to property and freedoms of religion and property, but does so while talking to his troops in an effort to make his image better and to make conquest easier.. How can he talk of equality and liberation to the people he is sending off to conquer more land for him? He used the ideals of the French Revolution as an excuse to fulfill his personal desires of conquest and expansion while protecting his image. In addition, Count Mole, a …show more content…
This is demonstrated by his violation of many ideals of the French Revolution. First, Napoléon crowned himself “consul for life,” which essentially made himself a dictator of France (Napoléon Presentation, Slide 11). This directly contradicts the democratic values of the French Revolution. Next, although Napoléon preached the values of the French Revolution, he didn’t actually implement these values. Napoléon kept a political prisoner, Moreau, who wrote to Napoléon, “You swore to establish a government, not depending upon the life of one individual, not tyrannical but firm, stable and liberal; bestowing freedom on Frenchmen, and worthy to obtain by gratitude from foreign nations, that confidence and esteem, which your predecessors and yourself have commanded by the dread of your bayonets. When I shortly afterwards went to lead armies -- disorganized and defeated -- your last words were: 'I know your love of your country; be victorious, and France shall force admiration, even from her rivals and foes, by the liberty she enjoys at home, and by the generosity of her external negotiations!' How have you respected these fulfilled these promises? How have you respected these oaths? In my degraded country, I see nothing but cringing slaves and proud tyrants; base placemen and infamous spies.” (Document 10) Moreau drew attention to the hypocrisy of Napoléon. One important value of the