To what extent did French society benefit from Napoleonic rule in the years 1800-1808? - SOCIAL/RELIGIOUS

Question 1

Concordat

Answer 1

• Concordat with Catholic Church July 1801
• Pope recognised as head of Catholic Church
• Catholicism recognised as religion of the majority
• Catholic worship was to become freely available
• Publication of the Concordat in April 1802 was accompanied by ‘Organic Articles’ which Napoleon issued and guaranteed religious toleration to nearly 700,000 Protestants and 40,000 Jews in France

Question 2

How did the Concordat effect all of French society?

Answer 2

• Benefitted majority of French society who were Catholic
• Far more toleration for minorities like Jews and Protestants
• Improvement

Question 3

How did Napoleon’s policies towards women oppress them? Influenced by Roman law

Answer 3

• Father/husband confirmed head of family
• Children subordinate to father until marriage and could be imprisoned by him
• Female rights of inheritance restricted: married women unable to accept inheritance or legacy without husbands’ authority
• Divorce law remained unfair; husband adultery only grounds for divorce if he brought his mistress home, vs. wife’s adultery did qualify for divorce and could bring a 3 month gaol sentence.

Question 4

What’s a counter to women’s experience under Napoleonic rule?

Answer 4

• Always been this way (e.g. DoRoMANaC not including women) and so Napoleon merely consolidated what had been the case and
• Arguably partially increased women’s rights and so benefitted them
• Civil Code 1804, women were granted marginally more control over their own property when they married; allowed to possess ‘immovable’ goods in her own right