Essay planning - To what extent was Napoleon a dictator by 1804 Flashcards
context
1802 war of 2nd coalition over, no more uprising in the rest of napoleon’s rule,
CFJ
was he a leader that held power with no limitations,was it beneficial to the french
judgement
By 1804 Napoleon had started to consolidate his power as a dictator, this was done through his contractions which gradually gave him full autocratic powers of emperor, and his repressive measures which silence all oppositions and weakened the power of any possible replacements.
the power of the first consul : point
By 1804 Napoleon had used his position as the first consul to consolidate his power and passed constitutions that led to the crowning of him as emperor of France
power of the first consul : evidence
constitution of year VIII (24th december 1799)
made napoleon the first Consul
gave him power over the other 3 consuls and other bodies in government (appointed council of state and the senate )
first consul was initiator of all legislations so nothing could be passed without Napoelans approval
senate members were selected by napoleon, as their duty was to advise the first consul on draft legislations it almost ensured that all of napoleon advisors were all yes men would not go against any of his legislations
constitution of year X (1802)
made napoleon consul for life with the rights to nominate his own successor
constitution of year XII (1804)
made napoleon napoleon the first emperor of france
position made hereditary
coronated at the notre dame (2 december 1804)
strong top down control
council of state chosen by the first consul so napoleon had the power to fill this sector with his supporters and yes men
senate nominated by the first counsel, were awarded with gifts of land of money and by 1814 membership had increased from 80 to 140 due to napoleon’s nominations so developed into a consultative body which aimed to please its benefactor napoleon
universal male suffrage was very diluted though the tired voting
power of the first consul : eval
napelan had many different experienced bodies that advised him on legislations:
constitution of year VIII (24 december 1799)
council of state
advisory body to the first consul
nominated official and prepared draft legislation
senate
duty to protect the the constitutions
advised the first consul on draft legislations
could override decisions made by the legislature through senatus consultum
legislative body
voted on legislation but could not discuss it
tribunate
could discuss legislations but not vote for it
power of the first consul : interim judgement
the divisions in the government attempted to put cheeks and balances in place to make sure that power was not vested in one person and that a dictator did not appear however, the power of the first consul meant that all other divisions in government soon became a mere show of separation of powers and had no real power to override the emperor that had emerged.
use of repressive measures : point
Napoleon solidified his dictatorship by neutralising of all opposition through repressive measures that weakened the power of other sectors
use of repressive measures : evidence
jacobins
spies infiltrated jacobin groups do napoleon was very aware of their opinions and schemes
1800 129 jacobins deported after being wrongfully blamed for the bomb plot
1801 129 jacobin leaders arrested and deported to the seychelles or Guiana
civil servants thought to be jacobin sympathizers were dismissed
royalist
september 1800 wrote to the comte de provence warning him to not return to france
sent holland to deal with those who refused napoleon’s offer of a truce
1800 6,000 chuan prisoners were taken and 750 were shot
duc d’Enghein kidnapped and wrongfully accused of bearing arms against the republic, receiving funds from england and plotting
april 1800 Chouannerie crushed by the army
any plotters were deported exiled or jailed
moderate republicans
1803 banished Constant and Madame De Stael to 64 km from paris as they accused napoleon of being a dictator
minister of police made sure no new newspapers were published any any articles that were contrary to social order were suppressed meaning the republicans could not freely publish their opinions
use of repressive measures : eval
reconciliation
royalist
offered generous amnesty to rebels on the west who were prepared to lay down their arms and support him (short lived - 2 weeks)
repealed the law of hostages which released some royalist who had been arrested
1400,000 emigres returned to france by 1802
concordat of 1801(and 1802 amendment)
catholic church would recognise the new republic
french state promised to recognise catholicism ‘as the religion of the majority of french men’
state control over the clergy & religious toleration to protestants and jews
moderate republicans
reconcile with the bourgeoisie a he had managed to achieve stability abroad(1802 war of second coalition over, ending 9 years of fighting) so trade with UK was now possible, benefiting the bourgeoisie businesses
asl achieved stability in france by putting down royalist threats
presented as a better alternative to jacobin or royalist rule
prevented the church form obtain its land back in the concordat with the catholic church which benefited the bien nationaux
In 1804 he took an oath to uphold ‘equality of rights, civil and political liberty [and] the irrevocability of the sale of biens nationaux.’
Education was open to the sons of officers and men of property.
use of repressive measures : interim judgement
Although the policy of reconciliation solidified the french nation and got rid of opposition that would have challenged the harmony of french it also ensured that napoleon was the only possible leader of france, this coupled up with his repressive measure and conditions meant that by the end of 1804 napoleon was an unchallenged dictator of france.
lack of sovereignty : point
the lack of sovereignty and political power available to the french people exemplifies the extent to Napoleon dictatorship
lack of sovereignty : evidence
indirect voting - 4 stage voting
First stage of voting
All frenchmen over 21 (6 million)
Required to live in the same house for 1 year
Voted for 10% of them to form a communal list
Second stage of voting (communal list)
600,000 citizens
Members secreted 10% of them self to form the department list
Third stage of voting (department list)
60,000 citizens
Members selected 10% of themselves to form the notables
tax qualification for voting changed in the constitution of year X
the department list could only be appointed form the 600 leading taxpayers in each department
lack of sovereignty : eval
universal male suffrage
all men over 21 who had lived in the same house for 1 year
february 1800 plessite to agree to the constitution of year VIII
3,011,007 votes in favour, 1562 against
1802 plebiscite to agree to the constitution if year X which made napoleon consul for life
50.55% turn out rate
1804 plebiscite agreeing to the constitution of year XII which made to position if emperor hereditary
turnout of 47.5%
plebiscite for the constitution of VIII had a low turnout rate (25%)
lucien (minister of interior)adjusted the statistics to suggest that 46.26% of the electorate had participated in the 1800 plebiscite
plebiscites were rigged (numbers falsified, legislations already passed)
voting done in public so coercion and intimidation could be used to get desired results
lack of sovereignty : interim judgement
censorship point
Napoleon used censorship to firmly consolidate his regime and quell all opposition against him.
censorship evidence
january 1800 newspapers reduced form 73 to 13 and 4 by 1811, forbade production of new ones
from 1810 publishers in paris had to take out a license and swear an oath of loyalty before they were allowed to print
theaters could only operates in lances and by 1807 had reduced from 33 to 8 in Paris
in 1810 only 1 newspaper was allowed in each department and they were not allowed to discuss controversial topics
tribunate that he set up in the constitution if VIII was purged on 1802 and abolished in 1807
writers critical of the regime faced persecution
1808 control over education became more direct with the creation if the imperial university which promoted national coherence and a unified national identity
censorship : eval
Propaganda
Without the use of propaganda Napoleon censorship measures would have been opposed. By presenting himself as the man of the people and the savior of France, Napoleon was able to establish loyalty and obedience to him and his regime.
books plays and art that were allowed to be circulated were used to honour Napoleon’s achievements
Arc de Triomphe built in legacy
coins minted with effigy and laurel wreath
new catechism was issued to be taught in schools emphasising the duty of loyalty and obedience to napoleon
education ensured the production of agernation loyal to napoleon and benefited the bourgeois
censorship : interim judgement
The use of censorship was integral in setting up the Napoleon dictatorship by silencing all opponents and streams of criticism; however without the use of propaganda the censoring the public would have led to his downfall just like it did for other regimes. By presenting himself as the man of the people and the savior of France, Napoleon was able to establish loyalty and obedience to him and his regime.
overall judgement
By the end of 1804 Napoleon had effectively set up his dictatorship with the agreement of the French people. Not only was all power vested in him, there was no possible opposition to him as a result of his repressive measures and reconciliations as it placated all other factions. Additionally the constitutions of year VIII, X and XI made sure the power of the first consul was enshrined in law and the crafty use of plebiscite ensured that there were no future oppositions to Napoleon’s dictatorship as it looked as if the people had agreed to it.
