When Napoleon came to power he drastically changed the education system. ...
The Napoleonic Code was the first time that France had a single set of laws that ...
Changes under Napoleon: Education Under the monarchy, only the privileged went to schools, which were run by the Catholic Church. Pupils were taught about respect for elders and religion. This changed somewhat during the Revolution, in which the Third Estate declared that schools were for everyone, but then failed to set any up. However, the focus of schools shifted from obedience to investigation and thinking (thanks in part to the Enlightenment). When Napoleon came to power he drastically changed the education system. He set up for levels of school; primary, secondary, lycees (military schools) and technical schools. While Primary schools stayed relatively the same, the upper schools now stressed that importance of obedience, French nationalism and military values. Science and math also became more important subjects in secondary schools. In 1814, 9000 pupils were attending 36 lycees—out of a population of 30 million people.
Changes under Napoleon: Catholic Church During the Revolution, the land owned by the Catholic Church was sold off and any religion was permitted (except during the Reign of Terror, when Robespierre outlawed religions). This angered the Catholic Church, which had traditionally had a very strong following, not only by the monarch and the nobles, but the peasantry as well. Napoleon recognized the need for a unifying religion in the land, but wanted to be able to control it. In 1802 Napoleon made an agreement with the Pope called the Concordat. In the Concordat, the Pope agreed that the Church would not get its land back, but Catholicism would be accepted as the religion of the majority. Napoleon also stipulated that the French government would pay the salaries of the bishops in exchange for the ability to choose them. His control over the Catholic Church tightened as he also forced the clergy to swear an oath of loyalty to the state and instituted the Organic Articles of 1802, which established the supremacy of the state over the Church.
Changes under Napoleon: Laws After the Revolution, one of Napoleon’s main goals was to establish peace and stability throughout France. One of the most important domestic policies Napoleon would create would be the Civil Code or Napoleonic Code of 1804. The Napoleonic Code was the first time that France had a single set of laws that governed the entire country (they had 300 different legal systems before the Revolution). This code preserved most of the gains of the revolution by recognizing the principle of equality of all citizens before the laws, the right of the individual to choose a profession, religious toleration, and the end of serfdom and feudalism. The code made sure that there would be no special privileges to noble, clergy or other rich people. However, it greatly limited the rights of women, taking away their right to sell or give away property, and their ability to divorce their husbands. Parents were also give extensive rights over their children and could imprison their children for any reason for up to a month. While one could no longer be put in prison without charge and everyone was equal in the courts, Napoleon’s rule of law had exceptions. Napoleon had a secret police force which could arrest people without a trial. He also tried to censor and control the newspapers, and free speech was controlled. During his reign, Napoleon shut down 60 of France’s 73 newspapers and insisted that all manuscripts be subjected to government scrutiny before they were published. Even the mail was read by his government police.
Changes under Napoleon: Bureaucracy Under the King, the bureaucracy of France was run by nobles; people in high places that did little work to get to their appointment and often knew little about what they were actually doing. This made the bureaucracy of France abysmal and difficult to navigate. Napoleon, a man who worked his way up from the bottom, wanted to change this. Napoleon developed a powerful, centralized administrative machine. He worked hard to develop a bureaucracy of capable officials. Napoleon decided that all promotion, whether it be in civil or military offices, was to be based on only ability—not rank or birth. He created tests in which people would have to pass in order to take the position—a practice that we still have today. Opening government careers to individuals based on their ability was one change that the middle class had wanted for a long time. He also created a new aristocracy based on the merit system. He created thousands of new nobles, based on their performances in the military and civil service jobs. Over 60 percent of the aristocracy he created was from middle class backgrounds, not from nobility. This allowed the educated people to advance themselves in France, despite their birth right.
Changes under Napoleon: French Society Napoleon tried to make sure that all major groups gained from his rule. For peasants, Napoleon made sure that they could keep their land by getting rid of feudalism. Since he restored the Catholic Church to it former importance through the Concordat, the peasants no longer had to pay tithes. For the nobles, Napoleon offer “king-like” stability. He created thousands of new nobles, based on their performances in the military and civil service jobs. Over 60 percent of the aristocracy he created was from middle class backgrounds, not from nobility. This allowed the educated people to advance themselves in France, despite their birth right. Napoleon tried to reward talented and hardworking people by setting up the Legion of Honor in 1802. It is still one of the highest honors you can receive in France today. Napoleon also wanted to make the lives of the French people better and culturally rich. HSo he ordered the building of new roads, canals and bridges. Huge amounts of money were invested in improving the image of France’s capital, Paris. Older buildings were improved and new buildings were put up. A better network of roads was planned for Paris and several memorials to the Revolution and to Napoleon himself were erected. The most famous of memorials would be the Arc de Triomphe, which was built to celebrate all of Napoleon’s victories in wars across Europe.
