French Revolution Essay - 'Napoleonic rule in Europe brought more hardship than gain for the common people.' Assess the validity of this view.
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A-Level History essay. 2H France in Revolution. Marked 25/25 by my teacher. Answering the question- ‘Napoleonic rule in Europe brought more hardship than gain for the common people.’ Assess the validity of this view.
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‘Napoleonic rule in Europe brought more hardship than gain for the common people.’ Assess the
validity of this view. (25 marker)
Napoleon’s rule in Europe brought more hardship than gain for many of the common people,
especially in the outer Empire (satellite states such as the Ligurian Republic). The policy of ‘France
First’ meant that often common people suffered due to economic hardship and policies that only
benefitted France. For example, bans on non-French manufacturing meant industry in some satellite
states suffered which caused a spiral of decline for the common people.
Despite the hardship brought by economic policies across the Empire, there were some gains for the
common people. For example, the continental blockade (ban on English goods and trade in Europe)
meant the Belgian cotton trade and silk trade in Lyons thrived. The benefits of the continental
blockade can mostly be seen in the Inner Empire as the successes in the countries was largely
dependent upon status. Another economic benefit for many was the simplified tax system and
removal of corruption. In Naples over 100 indirect taxes were replaced by a single land tax. This
made taxation fairer and increased the revenue. In particular, merchants benefited due to the
removal of indirect taxes on goods and trade. Furthermore, the Kingdom of Italy also benefitted as
the ‘granary of the Empire’. The agriculture industry was largely unaffected due to the growing
population and demand for produce. This was a gain for many people as a large majority of the
population was agriculture based. Therefore, some economic policies of Napoleon’s rule benefitted
the common people in Europe because they improved efficiency of taxation and boosted
manufacturing in the Inner Empire.
However, economic policies during Napoleon's rule in Europe also brought hardship to the common
people and worsened their situations. The ‘France first’ policy meant that for many Satellite States
industry declined and they contributed large sums for French protection. The ban on non-French
manufacturing had negative consequences for many satellite states. For example, all raw silk had to
be imported to Lyons which meant the silk industries in Piedmont and Lombardy declined. This
resulted in unemployment and poverty for many common people in these areas. It is also evident
that the Grand Duchy of Berg couldn't compete with the textile industry that was based in the
Rhineland due to the continental blockade. This shows how Napoleon was focused on France’s
income rather than the self-sufficiency and circumstances in satellite states. As well as this, it also
shows how the continental system caused a decline in global markets which led to France becoming
a main centre of trade. Therefore, Napoleon's economic policies largely caused hardship for many of
the common people and led to a decline in industry which lead to unemployment.
In addition to this, Napoleon also focused on gains for the wealthier members of society
(Bourgeoise) And also his own family, this meant the common people were often overlooked. In 1806
Napoleon introduced dotations (gifts of the revenue from lands) for wealthy individuals in return for
an oath of loyalty. Westphalia and Poland contributed 25% of the land for these dotations. this
reduced their national income greatly and impacted on their ability to be self-sufficient. Napoleon’s
aggressive war policy also meant that the Empire’s income never covered its expenses, so Napoleon
didn't have funds for reform or boosting economies. Therefore, Napoleon's use of nepotism and
favouring of the Bourgeoisie meant that the common people were often disregarded and overlooked
which lead to hardship.
Until 1808, Napoleonic rule in Europe did bring some social gain for common people in the empire.
For example, the spread of Enlightenment/ Revolutionary ideals such as liberty and equality led to
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