Week 13 and 14- Social Change

Question 1

What did Napoleon do to newspaper publication?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

How did Napoleon use censors?

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

How did Napoleon control publishing houses?

Answer 3

An 1808 decree reduced the number of publishing houses in Paris from nearly 200 to 60.
They had to obtain licences from police.

Question 4

When was a censorship board set up and what was its role?

Answer 4

Passed through an 1810 decree.

It approved and rejected books for publication.

Question 5

What propaganda did Napoleon spread of himself?

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

How did Napoleon use buildings as propaganda?

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

How was Napoleon’s censorship campaign successful?

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

What weakness were there with Napoleon’s censorship campaign?

Answer 8

Loss of support from certain sections of society.

Censorship contradicted the very principles of the Revolution which Napoleon had promised to defend.

Question 9

How did Napoleon change education under the Church

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

What were the two main purposes for the education system reforms?

Answer 10

To provide the state with a ready supply of civilian officials and administrators and loyal and disciplined army officers.
To unite the nation together.

Question 11

Did Napoleon support equal education opportunities?

Answer 11

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”.

Question 12

Which law made large reforms to the education system?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

How many lycees were set up?

Answer 13

Initially, 37 lycees but eventually 45

Napoleon more concerned with Lycees than primary schools.

Question 14

What was Napoleon’s priority with schooling?

Answer 14

To instil virtues of obedience in pupils.

He saw schools as a source of the Empire’s future military and civilian personnel.

Question 15

Who benefitted from the new school system?

Answer 15

Property-owning classes and military elite.

2400 of the 6400 places available went to the sons of soldiers and Napoleon’s ‘notables’.

Question 16

How did Napoleon control what was taught?

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

What were the strengths of the changes to education?

Answer 17

Allowed Napoleon to havemanycivil administratorswho would be educated on his regime.
Increased loyalty to Napoleon.
The system was highly centralised.

Question 18

What were the weaknesses of the changes to education?

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

How did Napoleon use patronage?

Answer 19

Allowed him to provide rewards at little cost to himself.

He particularly wanted to bind powerful political and military figures to the regime

Question 20

When was The Legion of Honour established by Napoleon?

Answer 20

1802

Question 21

When was the role of The Legion of Honour?

Answer 21

Reward loyal servants (Mostly for military figures, only 1500 civilians were rewarded).

Question 22

How many rewards were distributed under The Legion of Honour?

Answer 22

32,000 awards were given 1802-1814

Question 23

What was the structure of The Legion of Honour?

Answer 23

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).

Question 24

How were recipients of the Legion of Honour rewarded?

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

What was the significance of the symbol of the eagle?

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

How long-lasting were the rewards from the Legion of Honour?

Answer 26

If the recipient’s annual income was over 200,000 francs, or after 3 generations of recipients, the title was made hereditary

Question 27

How did the Legion of Honour impact women?

Answer 27

3 women received the honour for military service: Virginie Ghesquière, Marie-Jeanne Schelling and Sister Anne Biget.

Question 28

When were new titles added to bind supporters to the regime?

Answer 28

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

Question 29

How were senate members rewarded?

Answer 29

Could receive senatoreries - grants of large country estates with an annual income of 25,000 francs, and appointment to prefect of a whole region

Question 30

How were “Lesser individuals” rewarded?

Answer 30

More than 5000 gifts of enough money were made to army officers, government officials and minor members of the new nobility.

Question 31

How did Napoleon use bribery?

Answer 31

Napoleon saw bribery as unreliable and insufficient to maintain popular support, so avoided it.

Question 32

What was the overall significance of Napoleon’s use of patronage and New Honours?

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

What were the weaknesses of Napoleon’s use of Patronage and New Honours?

Answer 33

Criticised for restoring privilege and divisions of the Ancien Regime.
Mocked as meaningless by some.
Favouritism to the army.

Question 34

What were the strengths of Napoleon’s use of Patronage and New Honours?

Answer 34

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.