Zusammenfassung der Ressource
NAPOLEON'S
CONSOLIDATION
OF POWER
- POLICE STATE
- Joseph Fouche was Minister of
Police
- Prefects acted as trained spies,
censors, propagandists and
searched for draft dodgers.
- Assisted by gendarmes (18,000
by 1810) - each department had
a prefect, and sub-prefect - all
local officials were nominated
by the prefect, mirrored
intendants under Louis' regime.
- Little serious opposition vs. the
regime - nobody able to mount
effective challenge.
- 1810 - Arbitrary Imprisonment
introduced, but rarely used.
(Like Lettres de Cachet)
- PATRONAGE
- Legion of Honour (from 1802) -
38,000 awards made (4,000 to
civilians, most to military)
- 1804 - 1808: new titles created
for imperial court officials -
some titles bought about large
estates.
- 1808: new imperial
nobility (e.g.
princes, counts,
barons, chevaliers)
3,500 titles granted
between 1808 -
1814.
- Senatories - grants of large country estates to
members of the senate and those with
income exceeding 25,000 francs and
appointment as prefects.
- Personal gifts given - e.g. often 5,000 francs,
enough for a Parisian home.
- PRESS
(PROPAGANDA)
- Napoleon devised highly
centralised system of
propaganda.
- So nothing reflected badly on
him, particularly historical
events.
- 1800 - Paris political journals reduced from
73 to 9. The remaining 9 journals relied on
news published from Le Moniteur for
stories, however, this was written by
Napoleon and his ministers; no news was
often outdated and bias.
- 1809 - Censors were
appointed to each
paper. 1810 - One
paper, per department.
- Up to 1810 - reports on all books,
plays, lectures, posters in Paris
were sent to Napoleon. Two copies
of each book were sent to the police
before publication.
- Number of Parisian
papers was reduced
to 4, under police
supervision.
- 1810 (Onwards) - regular systems of
censorship setup: a) 1/2 the presses in
Paris closed. b) Publishers forced to buy
license and swear oath of loyalty. c)
Booksellers controlled and punished. d)
Sculptors and artists used as propaganda
(e.g. David)
- DOMESTIC
POLICIES
(REFORM)
- LAW AND ORDER
- Judges (elected under the Directory) were
appointed by government for life and were
kept loyal by close supervision, purges and
patronage.
- Arbitrary Imprisonment (like lettres
de cachet) introduced, rarely used.
House arrest more common.
- EDUCATION
- AIMS: a) Create and elite military and civilian
leadership who were loyal to the regime. b) Bind the
nation under central control
- Most children only
received perfunctory
education that was
provided by church
or community.
- 1802 - Secondary Education was placed
under government control - 'eccles
centrale' were replaced about lycées (45
eventually) - instructors (teachers) in these
were chosen by Napoleon.
- Highly centralised
curriculum.
- 6,400 scholarships (2,400 sones of
military.gov officials; 4,000 sons of
notables)
- Pupils spoke an oath of daily catechism in
praise of Napoleon, swore an oath every
morning.
- RELIGION
- Napoleon not religious - referred not religions as 'the
mystery of the social order'.
- Concordat, signed in 1801, separation of church / state
ended. Church became subservient to the state. Tolerations
of other faiths remained.
- CONSTITUTION OF THE YEAR
VIII
- Napoleon
claimed to be
establishing a
representative
democracy
based on
popular
sovereignty.
- Universal male suffrage was merely a
token gesture; there were no free
and fair elections.
- First Consul had the
power to appoint and
remove ministers;
initiate all legislation
and make war/peace.
- Principle of 'senatus-consultum' (Jan
1801) meant that legislative bodies did
not need to be listened to.
- Senate was appointed by Napoleon.
Tribunate (indirectly) elected - couldn't
vote on legislation. Legislature very
indirectly elected but full of Napoleon's
supporters.
- FINANCE
- Gaudin (Finance Minister) &
Barbe-Marbois (Treasury)
- Reforms included: 1. Clearer division of
roles - Minister of Finance in charge of
tax collections. 2. Reorganisation of
indirect/direct tax collection. 3. Bank of
France (1900)
- PROBLEMS: a) Increased
military spending; 700
million Francs in 1806 to
1000 million Francs in 1813.
- b) Government deficit made up of forcing
defeated countries to pay reparation - the
military defeats of 1813/14 led to poorer
finances and renewed instability.
- Assessment and collection of
indirect taxation moved from
local authorities (centralised)
- More efficient land register / land tax introduced -
became main source of government revenue.
- Indirect taxation increased
(including tobacco, alcohol,
gold/silver) - crated a central exist
office in 1804.
- Revenue increased
by 400% from 1806
- 1812.
- 1806 - Salt added to
the list of indirect
taxation (gabelle)
- By 1813, 25% government
revenue came from direct
taxation.
- Franc de Germinal -
based on ratio of gold
and silver - became
soundest currency in
Europe.
- CIVIL CODE - NAPOLEON
- Recognised the legal rights of those
who benefitted from the confiscation
of church and bible land - clever way
of binding them to the regime.
- Recognised 'partage' -
equal inheritance, rather
than just eldest son.
- Code exported
throughout Europe.
- Liberal Principles: Abolition of
feudalism, church subservient to the
state, equality before the law,
freedom of conscience / religion.
- Illiberal Principles: Authority of father /
husband could send aduterous wife or defiant
child to prison. Divorce very difficult. Slavery
in colonies reintroduced. Workmen needed
work permit (livret) in order to gain a job
(ensured police supervision)