Napoleon despot Essay Example for Free

Napoleon despot Essay â€Å"Napoleon I is sometimes called the greatest enlightened despot. Evaluate this assessment in terms of Napoleon I’s policies and accomplishments. Be sure to include a definition of enlightened despotism in your answer.†(1981 #4) â€Å"Napoleon was a child of the Enlightenment.† Assess the validity of the statement. Use examples referring to specific aspects of the enlightenment and to Napoleon’s policies and attitudes (1992#5) I. Intro Napoleon I (Napoleon Bonaparte), sometimes considered the greatest enlightened despot, was the first modern political figure to use the rhetoric of revolution and nationalism, to back it with military force, and to combine those elements into a mighty weapon of imperial expansion in the service of his own power. As an enlightened despot, or ruler with absolute, unlimited power, but following ideas of the enlightenment, such as rationality, religious toleration, and freedoms, Napoleon made several changes to the government of France. Through the changes he made and reforms based on the enlightenment, he ruled, absolutely, as an enlightened despot, becoming the first, and greatest in history. Coming into power on the wings of the Revolution, he established himself as the First Consul. His policies included the Constitution of the Year VIII, making peace domestically and in foreign affairs, agreeing to a concordat with the Roman Catholic Church, and establishing a dynasty, and accomplished abolishment of the Old Regime, nationalism and loyalty of the nation to him, and unification of the lands he gained and controlled under the Napoleonic code. II. Policies Constitution of the Year VIII 1. Suggested democratic principles, appealed to republican theory and a Council of State, and established the rule of one man, the First Consul, Bonaparte. 2. Under the Consulate, the revolution ended in France. By then, the Third Estate had achieved most of their goals, the peasants had gained they wanted and destroyed the old feudal privileges, and Bonaparte gave them security. 3. This marked the beginning of his rule as despot, and the destruction of the old feudal privileges was the start of his enlightened policies, that were inspired by the political and social reformers who called for change, and new forms of government in France. Making peace 1. In foreign affairs, he made peace with France’s enemies, which justified the public’s confidence in him. Russia had already left the Second Coalition. A campaign in Italy brought another   victory over Austria at Marengo in 1800. The Treaty of Luneville early in 1801 took Austria out of the war. Britain was now alone, and in 1802, concluded the Treaty of Amiens, which brought peace to Europe. 2. Bonaparte used generosity, flattery, and bribery to win over enemies at home. He required only loyalty of the offices of royal legislature. 3. Through these methods, he rose in power. The peace was a very enlightened policy, because Voltaire, a major enlightened thinker had advocated peace. 4. He established a highly centralized administration in which prefects responsible to the government in Paris managed all departments, employed secret police, and stamped out the   royalist rebellion in the west, and made the rule of Paris effective in Brittany and the Vendee for the first time in years. 5. Napoleon used and invented opportunities to destroy his enemies. When a plot on his life surfaced in 1804, he used it   as an excuse to attack the Jacobins, though it was   the work of royalists. In 1804, he violated the sovereignty of the German   state of Baden to seize the Bourbon duke of   Enghien, who was accused of participation in a   royalist plot and shot the duke of Enghien, even   though Bonaparte knew him to be innocent. Concordat with the Roman Catholic Church 1. Napoleon made an agreement with Pope Pius VII. The settlement required both the refractory clergy and those who had accepted the revolution to resign, but in return, the church gave up its claims on its confiscated property. 2. The clergy had to swear an oath of loyalty to the state. The Organic Articles of 1802. Similar laws applied to Protestants and Jews, reducing further the privileged position of the Catholic Church. 3. The Concordat declared, â€Å"Catholicism is the religion of the great majority of French citizens.† This fell far short of what the pope had wanted: religious dominance. 4. Control of religion advocated enlightened thinkers’ ideas, because many thought of religion as irrational, and the cause of fanaticism, which was against the morals and teachings of the rational thinking enlightened thinkers advocated. The Napoleonic Code 1. In 1802, he was ratified as consul for life, and granted full power. He thereafter passed the Civil Code of 1804, usually known as the Napoleonic Code. 2. It safeguarded all forms of property and tried to secure French society against internal changes. 3. Conservative attitudes toward labor and women during the revolution received full support. Workers had fewer rights than employers, and Men had much control over children and wives. 4. Primogeniture (passing of inheritance to only the first, usually male, child) remained abolished, and property was distributed among all children, males and females. However, married  women could dispose of their property only with the consent of their husbands. 5. Divorce remained more difficult for women than men. 6. Before, French law had differed from region to region, but the confusion was ended by the Napoleonic Code. 7. The Napoleonic code ended the old regime, which was the main goal of enlightened thinkers, who wanted social change, and political reform. With the end of the Old Regime, both the social and political establishments were revolutionized.   Establishing a Dynasty 1. In 1804, he seized on a bomb attack on his life to make himself emperor, arguing that it would secure the new regime and make further attempts on his life useless. 2. Became Emperor, and called Napoleon I. 3. The establishment of a dynasty went against all of the revolutionary, liberal thoughts of the enlightened thinkers, and was paradoxical to France’s original plan of a democratic state, because this was equivalent to the establishment of a monarch, which they had just fought to remove. III. Accomplishments Napoleon ended the Old Regime and feudal trappings throughout Western Europe after conquering most of Europe. He forced the eastern European states to reorganize to resist his armies. 1. Wherever Napoleon ruled, the Napoleonic Code was imposed, and hereditary social distinctions abolished. Feudal privileges disappeared, and the peasants were freed from serfdom and manorial dues. In towns, guilds and local oligarchies that had been dominant for centuries were dissolved or deprived of their power. ï‚ § The established churches lost their traditional independence and were made subordinate to the state. Church monopoly of religion was replaced by general toleration. ï‚ § His army, from the revolution, was immensely loyal to the nation and him. ï‚ § He could conscript citizen soldiers in unprecedented numbers. No single enemy could match his resources. ï‚ § He made his ruling dominions uniform. Wherever he ruled, the Napoleonic Code was imposed. ï‚ § Never before had there been a unified German state. And not since the Roman Empire had any state been able to conquer and control a territory this large. ï‚ § Napoleon spreads the idea of nationalism. After Napoleon humiliated Prussia at Jena in 1806, German intellectuals began to urge resistance to Napoleon on the basis of German nationalism. The French conquest endangered the independence and achievements of all German-speaking people. Many saw France as an example of greatness attained by enlisting the active support of the entire people in the patriotic cause. Several reforms were made by the rulers of the surrounding conquered countries in order to stand up to Napoleon’s strength. ï‚ § These reforms spread enlightened ideas everywhere, outward from Napoleon, and into the rest of Europe. His rule inspired toleration, rationalism, and nationalism, and was the start of the modern European political and social era. As such a great influence, he is one of the greatest enlightened despots in history. IV. Conclusion Napoleon I rose to become an enlightened despot. As one, he implemented social, religious, and political reforms and policies that resulted in the accomplishment of abolishing the old regime, national loyalty to the state and its leader, and the imposition of the Napoleonic Code. He successfully made France dominant as a European power, and glorified himself and his nation. Through his rise and rule, he was able to implement absolute rule, rising far enough to become emperor of France, virtually unchallenged. As such, he made reforms inspired by the enlightenment, and ruled as despot of France, making changes to society, inspired by progressivity and rationality of the Enlightenment. Bibliography Kagan, Donald. The Western Heritage. 8th ed. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2004. 668-76. Print. Coffin, Judith G. Western Civilizations. Fourteenth Edition. Volume 2. New York,NY: W. W. Norton Company, Inc., 2002. 710-720. Print. Napoleon Bonaparte 1769-1821. Napoleon I Bonaparte, Emperor of the French King of Italy. 2007. Solar Navigator, Web. 15 Dec 2009. http://www.solarnavigator.net/history/napoleon_bonaparte.htm.

The Rock :: essays research papers

nothing (III.iii.75). Happy with Othello's answer, Desdemona leaves the garden and Iago, alone once again with Othello, continues his evil machinations. He asks if Cassio knew about Othello's love for Desdemona from the beginning of their courtship. Othello says yes and adds that Cassio even served as a matchmaker for the two and "went between [them] very oft". Iago shows deep concern and subtly hints that Cassio's ulterior motive had been all along to engage in an affair with Desdemona. Iago plays upon Othello's insecurities, reminding him that Cassio is younger and more handsome and is a white Venetian citizen. It does not take long before Othello is convinced of Desdemona's betrayal. He chooses the words of Iago over his trust in his wife, and declares "my relief must be to loathe her." (III.iii.268). Desdemona enters with Emilia to call Othello for supper. He tries to hide his inner turmoil but Desdemona can tell that he is troubled. He complains that he has a headache. She pulls out a handkerchief embroidered with strawberries and lovingly puts it to his head, but he pushes it away and it falls to the ground. Othello insists she not bother picking it up, and he tells her that he is ready for supper. For some time Iago has asked Emilia to steal Desdemona's handkerchief and now, alone in the garden, she has the opportunity. Hiding it in her pocket, Emilia wonders what Iago's intentions are for the handkerchief. Iago enters and Emilia proudly shows him the handkerchief. He calls her a "good wench" and she asks him for what purpose will he use it. He refuses to tell her and she leaves on his command. Once alone, Iago reveals what Emilia desired to know: I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin/And let him find it" (III.iii.321-2). Othello returns from his short supper and he is distraught to say the least: "Farewell, tranquil mind" (III.iii.350). Desdemona's treachery consumes his thoughts and he lashes out at I ago, demanding immediate proof of her betrayal.

Climate change as environmental challenge Essay

Climate change is the most imperative environmental challenge facing the planet. Due to intensified reliance on fossil fuels for energy, greenhouse gases increase in the atmosphere and warms the Earth warts and all evident from the increasing ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising sea levels (http://www.pewtrusts.org). The warming observed in the past fifty years is very likely to have been caused by the increased greenhouse gases released by human activities like burning of fossil fuels, land use change and agriculture. The atmospheric concentrations of these greenhouse gases have significantly increased since the beginning of industrial revolution (http://ec.europa.eu). The Earth’s average surface temperature since 1850 has risen by 0.76oC and is projected to increase from 1.8oC to 4oC in the end of the 21st century considering that there will be no additional mitigation measure apart from those already in place in 2000 (http://ec.europa.eu). This increase in temperature may lead to severe snow and ice melting, changes in hydrological and biological systems, earlier migrations and shifting towards the poles of species’ geographic ranges. Adaptation measures are already being implemented and are essential to address the projected consequences. The European Union played a key role in the development of the major treaty addressing the issue on climate change, the Kyoto Protocol, agreed in 1997. The Kyoto protocol of cutting greenhouse gas emission to 8% below 1990’s level in 2008-2012 has allowed the establishment of a global response to the climate problem (http://www.pewtrusts.org); however this adaptation effort is limited. Less lenient mitigation measures will also be needed in order to reduce the severity of climate change’s impacts. It may be necessary to set mandatory limits and ratify national climate policies on reduction of greenhouse gas emission across all economic sectors. Also switching to a more sustainable development paths related to energy efficiency, renewable energies and conservation of natural habitats can make a major contribution to climate change mitigation. Works Cited â€Å"Pew Campaign on Global Warming.† The Pew Charitable Trusts. 1996-2008. 3 June 2008  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   . â€Å"Climate Change.† The European Commission. 14 May 2008. 3 June 2008  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   .   

The Holy Bible and Jesus Christ Essay - 900 Words

The Holy Bible is a set of scriptures that were provided to us by our Father Jesus Crist. The bible is the most important book in the history since these scriptures provide knowledge, correction and guide for the man of God to be well equipped for every good work. The bible can be found in several different versions and translations that fit a wide different set of readers. This incredible collection of religious writings begin with the Old Testament followed by the Prophets and ends with a set of writings. The first five books of the bible best known as the Old Testament best describe the story of Israel from the creation of the world to the death of Moses. The Old Testament describes a special relationship between God and his chosen†¦show more content†¦Moses became a leader and a prophet who also had a specific role to apply Gods law to the people. Moses escaped Egypt and crossed the Red Sea to arrive to Midian on the east shore of Gulf of Aqaba. While Moses was in the Midian he had an encounter with God who appeared in the form of a burning bush. God instructed Moses to go back to Egypt and release all the Israelites from slavery. After this event God sent ten plagues to Egypt to request the Pharaoh the release of the Israelites from slavery. The ten plagues were sent by God in order for the Pharaoh to repent and free the Israelite people from slavery in Egypt. After the ten plagues Moses finally led the Israelites out of Egypt trough the Red Sea where they traveled three months through the desert until they arrived to Mount Sinai. Moses knew that he could hear from God at the top of the Mount Sinai but he was the only one allowed to touch or go to the top of the mountain. On the third morning Moses decided to hear from God once again but he stayed at the top of the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights. God used this long time to give instructions to Moses on how the people of Israel should live and what laws they should obey. 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