| Reforms
in Law: In
1804, Napoleon took on the legal system of France. The
system of laws was in a state of chaos. Laws were not codified
and were based on Roman law, ancient custom or monarchial
paternalism. During the revolution, many laws were
changed. It was difficult to determine what law applied
in any given situation, and laws were not equally applied
to everyone.
The
mishmash of laws were codified and written clearly so that
the people could determine what law applied. It incorporated
much of the Roman law. For the first time in history, the
law was based on reason and founded on the notion that
all men were equal before the law. It guaranteed individual
rights (except for women and blacks) and the security of
property. In short it codified many of the ideals of the
revolution. The Napoleonic Code became profoundly influential
to other European countries in the 19th century.
Reforms
in Government:
Napoleon
centralized the government, putting control firmly in the
hands of the national government. It became more efficient.
Advancement in the civil service and the military was based
on merit rather than rank. The tax system was applied equally
to all.
Reforms
in Education:
Napoleon
built many new lycees, schools for boys age 10 to
16. He recognized the importance of education in producing
citizens capable of filling positions in his bureaucracy
and military. Although he did not create a system of mass
education, education was more available to the middle class
than it ever had been before. At a meeting in 1807
he declared:
Of
all our institutions public education is the most important.
Everything depends on it, the present and the future. It
is essential that the morals and political ideas of the
generation which is now growing up should no longer be
dependent upon the news of the day or the circumstances
of the moment. Above all we must secure unity: we must
be able to cast a whole generation in the same mould.
He
saw education as a way of indoctrinating "right-thinking" citizens
from an early age. He didn't see the need to educate girls,
since they could learn everything they needed from their
mothers. They were not to be active citizens.
Part
of Napoleon: Tyrant or
Hero exhibit
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