Napoleon's Social, Economic, and Political Impacts

Hello readers!

Everyone in their school career has or will learn about the powerful ruler Napoleon Bonaparte. Many people love him but many people also hate him. He was a very amazing leader and ruler. He accomplished many things in his lifetime, including overtaking many other countries. But the question is what was his impact on the social, economic, and political systems of Europe?

Portrait of Napoleon via the BBC website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/bonaparte_napoleon.shtml

Napoleon had a very large social impact on the rest of Europe and France. Marshal Michel Ney speaks of Napoleon's social impact. He says, taken from Napoleon Review, "the times are gone when the people were governed by suppressing their rights". Napoleon gave his people rights and options. He allowed the people he ruled over to get an education. Napoleon established a meritocracy to create jobs and standings based on the skill a person had, not on their father's name. Napoleon also abolished serfdom and nobility. Napoleon created a fair way for his people to live their lives and have opportunities.

Napoleon created a very successful economical system amongst Europe. He had full control over the prices of objects. Napoleon encouraged industry throughout his countries. He put a lot of money towards new roads and canals to improve trade routes. He also established a budget and the Bank of France. He had an understanding of money and how to improve France. Although he did take money from the countries he overthrew he put that money to good use in France.

Napoleon's political impact may be the greatest of them all. Napoleon led by war. He led his armies into countless of successful and unsuccessful takeovers. Madame de Staël sums his method up well in Napoleon Review, "he would like to persuade men by force and by cunning, and he considered all else to be stupidity or folly...". Although she may not be his biggest fan what she says is true. Napoleon would get men on his side exactly by that. It's how he took control of his armies and other's armies. It's how he took control of many countries. In the document The Lost Voices of Napoleonic Historians they describe how smart of an army leader he was. Napoleon ruled all of the countries he overthrew the same way. He allowed them to have some of their own laws and work their own way as long as they follow his main guidelines and laws. Napoleon also got rid of the directory in France; that group unjustly killed people. He also reduced the church's power.

Napoleon had huge impacts on Europe at the time he ruled. These also translate over to now. Roads are still taken care of, industry is encouraged, and more. Napoleon was a magnificent ruler, in both the good and the bad sense. To learn a bit more about Napoleon click here for a five minute overview.

Thanks for reading,

Julianna