Week 13 and 14- Social Change Flashcards
What did Napoleon do to newspaper publication?
January 1800, Parisian newspapers were reduced from 73 to 13.
By 1801, only 4 were still allowed to publish.
All newspapers were subject to police supervision.
1810- Other papers reduced to one per department
The government published its own paper Le Moniteur
How did Napoleon use censors?
They were appointed to each paper from 1809 so no paper could discuss controversial subjects.
Official news was issued by Napoleon’s ministers.
Military bulletins were written by Napoleon himself.
How did Napoleon control publishing houses?
An 1808 decree reduced the number of publishing houses in Paris from nearly 200 to 60.
They had to obtain licences from police.
When was a censorship board set up and what was its role?
Passed through an 1810 decree.
It approved and rejected books for publication.
What propaganda did Napoleon spread of himself?
Napoleon’s image was more personal than revolutionary propaganda.
Presented self-glorification and bringing order to chaos.
Commissioned artists, architects, sculptors, writers to honour him.
Such as Jacques-Louis David’s Imperial Coronation painting on 2nd December 1804.
How did Napoleon use buildings as propaganda?
He started a programme of rebuilding and building public works in Paris to create a positive image.
This included a rebuilding of the old Church of La Madeleine as the Temple of Glory from 1804.
How was Napoleon’s censorship campaign successful?
Improved his image.
Glorified the regime by including imagery of the Roman Empire.
Prevented political opposition.
Military bulletins encouraged the army’s unconditional faith in Napoleon.
What weakness were there with Napoleon’s censorship campaign?
Loss of support from certain sections of society.
Censorship contradicted the very principles of the Revolution which Napoleon had promised to defend.
How did Napoleon change education under the Church
He removed education from the hands of the Church set up by the revolutionaries.
However, he allowed church-run schools to exist alongside his new secular state schools.
He claimed to devise a new “enlightened” education system for France.
What were the two main purposes for the education system reforms?
To provide the state with a ready supply of civilian officials and administrators and loyal and disciplined army officers.
To unite the nation together.
Did Napoleon support equal education opportunities?
He claimed to but, in practice, failed to deliver equal opportunities.
He denied that the education of girls was a priority as “marriage is their destiny”.
Which law made large reforms to the education system?
A new law established in May 1802.
Set up a state primary school in each commune.
Lycees were to provide secondary education for boys age 10-16.
How many lycees were set up?
Initially, 37 lycees but eventually 45
Napoleon more concerned with Lycees than primary schools.
What was Napoleon’s priority with schooling?
To instil virtues of obedience in pupils.
He saw schools as a source of the Empire’s future military and civilian personnel.
Who benefitted from the new school system?
Property-owning classes and military elite.
2400 of the 6400 places available went to the sons of soldiers and Napoleon’s ‘notables’.
How did Napoleon control what was taught?
All teachers had to give an oath of loyalty and obedience.
School inspections and reports were sent to Napoleon.
The government-appointed teachers would deliver a common syllabus from identical textbooks.
What were the strengths of the changes to education?
Allowed Napoleon to havemanycivil administratorswho would be educated on his regime.
Increased loyalty to Napoleon.
The system was highly centralised.
What were the weaknesses of the changes to education?
Limited places at thelycees meant that only a smallproportion of the population could attend.
Control couldn’t necessarily extend to the Third estate which had the greatest population.
Napoleon failed to provide equal opportunities.
How did Napoleon use patronage?
Allowed him to provide rewards at little cost to himself.
He particularly wanted to bind powerful political and military figures to the regime
When was The Legion of Honour established by Napoleon?
1802
When was the role of The Legion of Honour?
Reward loyal servants (Mostly for military figures, only 1500 civilians were rewarded).
How many rewards were distributed under The Legion of Honour?
32,000 awards were given 1802-1814
What was the structure of The Legion of Honour?
Napoleon was the grand master of the order.
Below him, a council of 7 grand officers administered 15 cohorts (military-like hierarchy within the order).
How were recipients of the Legion of Honour rewarded?
Received a small salary and a star of the order.
After the establishment of the Empire in 1805, a large sash and silver star with an eagle was added.
After establishment of nobility in 1808, members of Legion of Honour could be called Chevaliers.
What was the significance of the symbol of the eagle?
Links to ancient Roman legions and was carried into battle in Napoleon’s Grande Armée.
It linked Napoleon’s rule to the military might of the Roman Empire.
How long-lasting were the rewards from the Legion of Honour?
If the recipient’s annual income was over 200,000 francs, or after 3 generations of recipients, the title was made hereditary
How did the Legion of Honour impact women?
3 women received the honour for military service: Virginie Ghesquière, Marie-Jeanne Schelling and Sister Anne Biget.
When were new titles added to bind supporters to the regime?
1804-1808 new titles were created for officials of the new imperial court.
Some titles brought large estates.
1808 Napoleon created a new imperial nobility
How were senate members rewarded?
Could receive senatoreries - grants of large country estates with an annual income of 25,000 francs, and appointment to prefect of a whole region
How were “Lesser individuals” rewarded?
More than 5000 gifts of enough money were made to army officers, government officials and minor members of the new nobility.
How did Napoleon use bribery?
Napoleon saw bribery as unreliable and insufficient to maintain popular support, so avoided it.
What was the overall significance of Napoleon’s use of patronage and New Honours?
Only rewarded those who already possessed influence and wealth.
The rewards were focused on military figures, reflecting the importance of the army to Napoleon’s authority.
What were the weaknesses of Napoleon’s use of Patronage and New Honours?
Criticised for restoring privilege and divisions of the Ancien Regime.
Mocked as meaningless by some.
Favouritism to the army.
What were the strengths of Napoleon’s use of Patronage and New Honours?
Won him the support of useful figures.
Focused on meritocracy- Rewarding people with prestige for their service rather than status.
Sets Napoleon up as a generous patron.
Encouraged loyalty and obedience amongst civilians.
The fact that the order had so many members reflects its success.
