These revision notes cover how Napoleon developed and consolidated his political position in France for example through defeat of political threats, controlling publications and the Papal Concordat. They are for the new a level specification and are to an A*standard. Contains a link to free online ...
17: The Impact of Napoleon's Rule on France - Political Change
Plebiscite of Napoleon appealed directly to the French people for ratification of the Constitution of the
1800 Year VIII in a plebiscite in an apparent show of concern for more representative
government and a retrospective justification for the Coup of Brumaire. It supplied
Napoleon with the necessary confirmation of his position as First Consul to challenge
politicians who had spoken out against him. The ballot was not secret - voters wrote yes or
no against their names on a public list so manipulation and intimidation affected the vote.
The vote in 1800 nearly backfired since few of the electorate chose to turn out to vote - an
estimated 25%, representing 1.5m people - suggesting that there was no immediate rush
of enthusiasm for the regime. Fairly low-level participation was not totally out of keeping
with earlier plebiscites however. Lucien, who had been appointed Minister of the Interior in
December 1799, adjusted the statistics to suggest that 46.26 per cent of the electorate
had participated and that they overwhelmingly supported Napoleon's actions. 99.94%
were said to support the regime
Napoleon's He behaved almost like a monarch by moving into the Tuileries Palace and having coins
actions minted with his effigy on them. On these he either appeared bar-headed or wearing a
laurel wrath, recalling the ancient Roman symbol of supreme authority. He selected
members of the Council of State over which he presided, awarding them various
ministerial positions e.g. Cambacérès with his first Minister for Justice and Fouche became
Minister for Police. He enjoyed ceremonial and entertained at 'state banquets'. He
established prefects which strengthened central control
Continuities There was no further attempts to raise his status immediately. The constitution provided for
some continuity of personnel between the Directory and the new Tribunate and
Legislative Body. The structure of the government remained much the same, with most
civil servants continuing in their posts - ensuring stability. New innovations were introduced
however - in particular the establishment of prefects - simply strengthened central control
within the existing framework. Prefects were similar to the intendents and the
representatives-en-mission. Napoleon could claim that he had responded to the people's
and the country/s needs by supplying strong and effective government from a ruler whose
decisions were taken 'in the people's best interests'
Threat from It was strong in the lower ranks of the army and among the lower classes in towns. It was
Jacobins not tolerated and Napoleon instructed the police to be vigilant for it. He wanted to avoid
another Terror and didn't like the unpredictability of them. Some Jacobins were behind
failed 'dagger conspiracy' to assassinate Napoleon in October 1800. They were wrongly
blamed for the abortive bomb plot in the 'infernal machine' in December 1800; this was
actually perpetrated by royalists, who were also found and guillotined
How Spies were used to infiltrate potential Jacobin groups and leaders made an example of. In
Jacobins 1801, 129 Jacobin leaders were arrested and deported to the Seychelles or Guiana. Civil
were dealt servants thought to be Jacobin sympathisers were also dismissed
with
Threat from Some initially entertained the false hope that Napoleon would quickly place the comte
Royalists de Provence (who had styled himself Louis XVIII) on the throne, while a few thought he
would advance Louis-Philippe d'Orleans. There was a royalist demonstration in Paris on the
anniversary of Lousi XVI's execution (21 January 1800) when the façade of the church of
Sainte-Madelein was covered in black and the king's will posted on the door. A senator
was kidnapped and a constitutional bishop was assassinated. The 'opera plot', a spy ring
and the Cadoudal conspiracy all involved royalists; following the Cadoudal conspiracy in
1804, 18 aristocrats were condemned to death but reprieved. They remained in 1814. The
'common' conspirators were guillotined. There were various royalist disturbances in the
capital between 1800 and at least two royalist assassination attempts against Napoleon,
in which the army commander Jean-Charles. Pichegru and the Chouan military leader
George Cadoudal were implicated. By 1804, it seemed that Bonaparte's patience had
run out when his spy network (wrongly) reported news that a Bourbon prince was involved
in these conspiracies. Suspicions fell on the Bourbon prince, the duc d'Enghien, who was
living 15km from the French border in Baden and was said to have been in touch with
emigres and royalists
How threats In September 1800, Napoleon responded to a letter from the comte de Provence making
from his position clear 'You should not hope to return to France. It would be better for you to
Royalists march over one hundred thousand corpses'. He dealt firmly with outbreaks of royalist
were dealt revolt and associated protests against conscription and general banditry in western
with France, continuing the use of military tribunals to deal with rebel leaders. General Brune,
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