'Napoleon established a police state in France in the years 1800-1814' - CENSORSHIP AND ENEMIES

Question 1

Censorship

Answer 1

• Controlled people’s attitudes rather than just police responding to disorder
• By 1801, only 4 newspapers allowed to Publish in Paris from 73 in January 1800
• Sensors are appointed to each paper from 1809 and no people was allowed to discuss controversial subjects, only official news and military bulletins could be published

Question 2

Response to Jacobin threat

Answer 2

• Napoleon instructed police to be vigilant of non-tolerated Jacobinism and spies used to infiltrate potential Jacobin groups and leaders made an example of
• Some Jacobins behind a failed ‘dagger conspiracy’ to assassinate Napoleon in October 1800
• 1801, 129 Jacobin leaders arrested and deported to the Seychelles or Guiana
• Civil servants suspected to be Jacobin sympathisers also dismissed

Question 3

Madame de Stael

Answer 3

• Wanted to share views on a liberal government with Napoleon
• Her salon became hotbed for liberal resistance group
• Napoleon banished her more Paris in 1803 and didn’t return from exile until 1814

Question 4

How was it not really a police state?

Answer 4

• Reliance on people’s support
• Police force would have been hugely overstretched had there not been considerable amounts of real support (or, at least, apathy) towards N’s gov
• 1800, 1802, 1804 plebisicites supported all of his constitutions

Question 5

Propoganda/consensus?

Answer 5

• Napoleonic coin from 1800 minted with his effigy; everybody had coins
• Imperial Coat of Arms tried to strike a balance between dynastical emperor but not be a symbol of AR
• Arc de Triumphe in middle of Paris where everybody could see to commemorate soldiers and victories