Napoleon Betrayed the Revolution Essay -- Napoleon Bonaparte French Re

Napoleon Betrayed the RevolutionIn order to investigate the claim that Napoleon betrayed the transition, it has to be determined what is the French revolution? And what are the new ideals that Napoleon allegedly betrayed? If Napoleon betrayed the Revolution then he betrayed the ideals of liberty, par and fraternity. However if Napoleon did not betray the revolution, he consolidated the revolutionary ideals. The only way of determining whether Napoleon consolidated or betrayed the revolution is to explore his actions such as his military success, Dictatorship and social reforms. The difficulty of this analysis is that Napoleons motives for his actions determine whether he consolidated or betrayed the Revolution.If Napoleon betrayed the revolution, then he betrayed the ideals of Liberty, equality and fraternity. For it is ideals rather than realities that Napoleon allegedly betrayed. The reality of the French revolution is 8 periods of constant change and successions of policies a nd leaders, with each new leader and party bringing amendments to the revolution. Napoleons coupdetat of 18 brumaire was an insurance against both Jacobin revolution and Royalist restoration. The French people expected Napoleon to bring back peace, order and to consolidate the political and social conquests of the Revolution. Napoleon considered these conquests to be the sacred rights of property, equality and liberty. If Napoleon gained power with the promise of upholding the principals of the French Revolution how did he betray the revolution? Many historians argue that Napoleon was an effective but ambitious leader. This competition led to a dictatorship, which they consider Napoleons ultimate betrayal. However other Historians such as Tombs and Furet see Napoleons regime as the most win over though temporary solution to the political and ideological problems bequeathed by the Revolution. Napoleons dictatorship can also be considered a natural progression from the authoritarian disposition of the French revolution. One idea is that is undebatable is - if Napoleon betrayed the French Revolution, this means that his actions, motives and policies were disloyal to the Revolutionary ideals of Liberty, equality and Fraternity. Napoleon was an outstanding military commander and enjoyed many prospered campaigns. Napoleon maintained the Revolutionary syst... ...ad amassed. BibliographyBroers, Michael Europe Under Napoleon 1799-1815 Arnold, London, 1996Ellis, Geoffrey Profiles in Power Napoleon, Longman, New York, 1997Encyclopaedia Britannica, CD Rom, Standard Edition, 1999Furet, Francois Napoleon Bonaparte in G, Kates(ed.) The French Revolution Recent Debates and New Controversies Clarendon Press, Oxford (1997)Gildea, Robert Barricades and Borders Europe 1800-1914, Oxford University Press, New York 2nd edn, 1996Napoleon, Conversation, 1800 Herold, J.Christopher (ed.) The Mind of Napoleon (London,1955), item no.106Holmberg, Tom The empire between dictatorship an d monarchy http//www.iselinge.nl/ snooze/html/body_nap_and_revolution.html, 1998Napoleon to the French Nation, 15 Dec 1799, Howard, John Letters and Documents of Napoleon (London, 1961) p.428.Lyons, Martyn Napoleon Bonaparte and the Legacy of the French Revolution Macmillan, London, 1994Schroeder, Paul The slip of European Politics 1763-1848 Clarendon Press, Oxford 1994Tombs, Robert France 1814-1914, Longman, NewYork, 1996War Times Journal Napoleonic Wars website http//www.wtj.com/portal/wars/modern/napoleonic/