Was Napoleon A Good Leader

Napoleon first came to power after taking part in a coup and setting up a government where he held absolute power. He ruled France as an emperor for many years, until he failed to conquer Great Britain, which sparked the downfall of his reign. Throughout his rule, he set up reforms, and expanded French territory, but his defeat brings up the question of whether or not he was successful or not as a ruler of France. After analyzing the two essays both in support and against this claim, one should see that Napoleon was successful as a ruler because of his commitment to French reforms, his influence over the people of France, and because of the significant amount of military achievements during his reign.

The essay arguing that Napoleon was more

One way he was able to gain supporters was through getting the support of the Catholic Church, by declaring Catholicism as the religion of the “majority of the French.” Through this statement, Napoleon was able to keep religious toleration for people with a different faith, but also gain the support of the Pope and in turn, the civilians who were Catholic. Along with religious toleration, Napoleon made other civil reforms through the Napoleonic Code which states that there can be no social privileges, meaning that all men were subject to equal treatment. It also meant that individuals had the right to choose their own profession, and that serfdom and any feudal obligations would be abolished. The second essay states that Napoleon’s rule consisted of political oppression through the censorship of the press, which stifled free speech and thought. Although it is true that he shut down many publications subject to government scrutiny, it is important to note that he still managed to hold the support of the French

His achievements turned him into a hero for the French, which allowed him to properly stage a coup and pronounce himself as France’s leader without any opposition. The military tactics that he used are studied by many today, which demonstrates the impact of Napoleon’s legacy and his impact on people. After being exiled to the island of Elba, Napoleon managed to escape and he again tried to announce himself as emperor. Instead of being met with opposition, the people of France supported this claim because they believed him to be a better fit ruler than the current one at the time. The end of Napoleon’s reign came from leaders of other countries like Russia, Great Britain, Austria and Prussia. The second essay, claiming that Napoleon was a failure as a ruler, states that although Napoleon experienced early successes, he also encountered significant defeats, which ultimately led to his downfall. Although it is true that he experienced several defeats, Napoleon was still more of a success as a ruler because of the power he had over the French