CAMBRIDGEASHISTORYREVISION

FRANCE17891917

1.4 NAPOLEONDOMESTICAIMS17991804

THE NAPOLEONIC CODEFrench laws: regional differences created confusion.Civil Code 1804: gave France a common set of laws; included some of the reforms introduced during the revolution.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGESWomen: lost some of the rights gained during the revolution.Taxes: collection of taxation made more efficient.Trade unions: unions banned; strikes made illegal.Bank of France: founded in 1800; helped to improve France’s finances.Religion: 1801 Concordat with pope; Napoleon recognised Catholicism in France but retained the right to appoint bishops (this added to Napoleon’s control over France); minority groups (e.g. Huguenots) allowed to practise their religion.Propaganda: Napoleon used this to cement his power; use of censorship.

THE END OF THE CONSULATE1804: Napoleon ended the Consulate and was proclaimed emperor; claimed that this would unify France.Plebiscites: rigged elections to confirm popular support for Napoleon.Evaluation of Napoleon’s policies: less corruption and inefficiency; taxation was fairer; religious changes were popular; appointments made according to talent not status; benefits to middle class (financiers and industrialists); political opponents suppressed.

FOREIGN POLICYDebate: some historians see Napoleon as seeking to liberate Europe from the control of tyrant rulers, while others claim he was seeking to extend his own power.War: France was constantly at war under Napoleon.Mistakes: campaigns against Spain and Portugal; invasion of Russia.Abdication 1814: forced to leave France; tried to regain power in 1815 but defeated at Battle of Waterloo.