Political change

Question 1

Napoleon’s political aims :

Answer 1

1. Consolidate political power
2. Enhance personal glory, reputation and glory
3. Restore stability
4. Improve running of France
5. Revolutionary principles and enlightenment ideas
6. Support the war effort

Question 2

What are the 4 areas of political change ?

Answer 2

• Enhancing personal authority of Napoleon
• Capitalising on the constitution
• Treatment of the opposition (repression)
• Treatment of the opposition (reconciliation)

Question 3

What was held in 1800 and what did Napoleon due to enhance his prestige ?

Answer 3

• Plebiscite to legitimise the Coup of Brumaire, to approve the constitution of XVIII and confirm Napoleon’s position as First Consul
• Napoleon moved in to Tuileries palace + had coins minted of himself with features of Roman authority

Question 4

How did Napoleon further enhance his position in 1802 and 1804 ?

Answer 4

• 1802 : Senate offered Napoleon the position of consul for life and right to name his heir
• 1804 : Accepted the title of Emperor of the French due to pressure of public opinion (crowned himself and Josephine Empress Dec 1804) and this gave hereditary succession to the House of Bonaparte

Question 5

How did Napoleon limit the power of the tribunal and what did he eventually do ?

Answer 5

• 1801 : Blocked the Tribunate and the legislative body using senatus consultam
• 1810 : The Tribunate was abolished

Question 6

What did Napoleon do in Senate ?

Answer 6

• Increased membership by offering his supporters positions which were accompanied by a large salary and land

Question 7

When was the last meeting of the legislative body following a period of decline ?

Answer 7

1813

Question 8

What happened in Jan-March 1802 ?

Answer 8

• Napoleon purged the government following criticisms (removed 20 from the Tribunate and 60 from the legislative body)

Question 9

How and when did Napoleon change the voting qualifications ?

Answer 9

• 1802 : gave more political power to well off notables

Question 10

How did Napoleon treat the jacobins ?

Answer 10

• His spies targeted potential Jacobin groups and they were punished for assassination attempts against Napoleon
• Civil servants with Jacobin sympathies were dismissed
• 1801 : 129 Jacobin leaders were arrested and deported to Seychelles or Guiana

Question 11

What were Napoleon’s two methods of treating opposition ?

Answer 11

1. Repression

2. Reconciliation

Question 12

How did Napoleon treat Royalists ?

Answer 12

• Revolt : General Brune was sent to suppress royalist rebel leaders in Brittany (1800) where 6,000 Chouan prisoners were taken and 750 were shot
• Royalists behind assassination attempts against Napoleon (1800 and 1804) were imprisoned
• 1804 Duc d’Enghien was kidnapped and killed for fears he was working with emigres against Napoleon

Question 13

How did Napoleon treat liberals ?

Answer 13

• 1803 Madame de Stael and Benjamin Constant were exiled 63km from Paris
• There were criticisms of Napoleon that he was emerging as a dictator and there was pressure for a new constitution

Question 14

What did Napoleon offer to Royalist rebels in the West ?

Answer 14

• 1800 : Amnesty

Question 15

What did Napoleon promise to do with Catholicism ?

Answer 15

• 1801 promised to protect the Catholic religion and signed a concordat with the Pope
• rewards were and posts were offered to emigres and refractory priests who pledged loyalty to him

Question 16

What was Amalgame ?

Answer 16

• Ending the social divisions of the AR by reconciling the old nobility and the new elite BUT Napoleon was anxious to reassure the Bourgeoisie that they would retain influence

Question 17

What was ralliement ?

Answer 17

• Rallying everyone around the regime