Napoleon Bonaparte

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plebiscite - a vote by the people of an entire country to decide on some issue, which was popular after the Revolution as a representation of popular sovereignty lycée – an upper-level secondary school first established in 1801 by Napoleon as educational reforms to prepare students for the baccalauréat (degree for university admission) consul - an official appointed by the government to live in a foreign city and protect the government's interests and citizens concordat - an agreement or treaty, especially between the Vatican and a government relating to matters of mutual interest (i.e. the Concordant of 1801 between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII) 1. What was the significance of the concordat with the pope? In 1801, Napoleon settled a concordat…show more content…
In other words, the Civil Code allowed France to be much better off than during the Revolution, when there wasn’t a single code of laws. The Civil Code of Napoleon also provided the recognition of equality of all citizens before the law, abolishment of serfdom and feudalism, and religious toleration. Not only that, the people of France also had a chance to hold powerful positions in the civil or military offices based solely on their ability. This was what the bourgeoisie fought for in the Revolution, careers that could be easily obtain by one’s talent rather than one’s rank or title. Compared to the beginning of the Revolution, the Civil Code of Napoleon made the gap between the nobility and the poor less…show more content…
In turn, the principles of the Revolution were influenced by thoughts and philosophies of the Enlightenment. For instance, the Civil Code of Napoleon preserved the principle of equality of all citizens before the law, abolition of serfdom, economic freedoms, and religious tolerations. These principles were natural rights the philosophes believed in. Furthermore, the definition of a liberal empire means to be radical by preserving the individual liberty both socially and politically. The development of a powerful, centralized government that chose officials based on talent also represent a liberal principle in an empire. Instead of allowing a majority of the nobility to acquire powerful positions based on rank, the lower classes were also given a chance to showcase their ability. The nobility no longer held special privileges in the new Grand
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