Napoleon and His Reforms: Hero or Traitor to the Revolution?
Document A
Napoleon took power in France in 1799
following the chaos of the Reign of Terror and
five years of weak governments. By 1805
Napoleon had not only stabilized France, but he
had issued his own set of landmark laws and
conquered an Empire for France that consisted
of most of Europe. Napoleon had French law re-
written. In order to streamline the confusing,
sometimes repetitive elements of French law,
had the law of the land codified in one supreme
law.
Document C
Napoleon focused on public education in France
for all children. Schools were built allowing all
to gain an education. This was a crucial
development because in Napoleon’s France one
received their job based upon ability not family
connections. For children whose fathers had
been killed in battle, Napoleon ordered the state
to pay for the children’s care and education.
Document E
When Napoleon Bonaparte seized power in
France in 1799, he quickly attempted to gain
control of public opinion. He did this, in part, by
censoring (restricting) newspapers, plays, and
books. His aids were ordered to review news
sources and literary works to make sure he was
cast in a favorable light. Napoleon’s secret
police enforced his policies. People were not
always allowed to speak freely against
Napoleon’s government.
Document G
Bishop Guy Levesque — Catholic Priest
“Since the rise of Napoleon and his signing of
the Concordat I am living a new life. No longer
am I hunted by the people of the revolution.
God once again has a place in the sun and in the
lives of the French. He made the right decision
in making Catholicism the religion of all the
French.”
Document B
One of Napoleon’s main goals was to fix the
economy and reform France’s finances. Napoleon
ended runaway inflation and stabilized prices. Under
Napoleon the French people could afford to eat.
Napoleon began state sponsored projects building
roads and canals. Napoleon also established a
national bank where people could keep, invest, and
borrow money which still exists to this day. The tax
system before Napoleon had forced the peasants to
pay the most while the nobility was exempt.
Napoleon reformed the tax structure so that no
person could be exempt from taxes because of birth
or privilege. In 1802, Napoleon was successful in
achieving the balancing of the budget in France.
Document D
Napoleon brought order to French society by giving
strength to the central government (himself). In 1804
Napoleon invited the Pope to Paris to crown
Napoleon Emperor of France for life. Once the Pope
arrived, however, Napoleon took the crown from the
Pope’s hands and placed the crown on his own head
in essence saying that his power comes only from
himself and he is below no one.
Document F
Rene Montesat — Lawyer
“Thank the heavens for the Napoleonic Code. Today
we once again have order in our courts. Napoleon
has taken the best ideas of the revolutionaries and
married them to traditional law. He has thrown out
the unmanageable dreams of the revolutionary rabble
and now we once again have an orderly system of
law. Sure Napoleon does rig the votes in the national
elections, but so what, at least his laws make sense
and we have order.
Document H
Marie Du’Franc – former revolutionary
“Napoleon is not part of the revolution that I fought
so hard for. Sure we have order, stability, and money,
but where are our freedoms of speech and right to
vote and change the government?”
Name _________________Napoleon and His Reforms: Hero or Traitor to the Revolution
Directions: Use the sources on the other side to answer the following questions.

1. What are two of the accomplishments of Napoleon listed in Document A?

2. In Document B, how did Napoleon fix the French economy and tax system?

3. Looking at Document B, how did his reforms relate to Enlightenment /Revolution ideas or did they not?
Explain.

4. Using Document C, explain how Napoleon changed the education system.

5. Describe Napoleon’s actions in Document D and whether they did or did not reflect Enlightenment and
Revolution ideas.

6. How does Napoleon gain control and influence public opinion in Document E?

7. Do the things he did to control public opinion and speech reflect Enlightenment and Revolution ideas?
Explain.

8. Using document F, what is a positive and negative effect of Napoleon’s rule ?

9. How did the Catholic Church and Catholicism position in French society change under Napoleon?

10. Why does the person in Document H believe Napoleon has betrayed the Revolution?

11. Using your notes and these sources, explain whether Napoleon did or did not continue the ideas of the
Revolution/Enlightenment. (3 or more sentences)