Analysis of a Primary Document: Napoleon’s Account of the Internal Situation of France in 1804

This document is about Napoleon summing up the general situation in France to the Legislative Assembly on December 31, 1804. There were no threats to the public calmness, no sign of the offenses that had created the Revolution. Everywhere in France, useful enterprises and companies were propping up, and the public and private improvements in the nation brought confidence to the nation and a sense of security. The previous Revolution had taught that a divided power in the state is at odds with itself and proves a source of anarchy and discord. In order to solve this, a series of provisions had been created in order to regulate the succession of the French throne after prolonged consideration, repeated conferences with the Senate, discussions of the councils and the suggestions of Napoleon’s most prudent advisors. Napoleon was made the emperor of France, and there was no better way to sanction his right and consecrate his authority. Napoleon used his new power to recall the divine institutions in France and give the French proof of his paternal affection to them. Fewer laws had to be submitted to the Legislative Body, as the legislative laws were safeguarded by the coronation oath. The citizens were satisfied with the civil code, which served as their guide. Because of Napoleon’s reforms, new schools were being opened in France, and the lycees/secondary schools were filling up with youth eager for instruction. Commerce was also being re-established on the Rhine, and the manufacturers were improving. There was also religious tolerance in France between the different Christian sects. Such was the situation in France.[1]

 

This document was written by Napoleon on December 31, 1804. This was a time when France had come out of the unrest and violent of the French Revolution, and the country had become calm and peaceful. Napoleon’s policies and decrees were transforming France and bringing it newfound prosperity. The French people were happy with the new improvements and enterprises that were in progress in the nation.1 The greatest improvement that took place in France was the Napoleonic Code, established by Napoleon himself. The code forbade privileges based on birth, allowed freedom of religion, and specified that government jobs should go to the most qualified. The Napoleonic Code was well received by the citizens of France, and the code endures today in countries conquered by Napoleon. [2] Napoleon had been the head of the French government for 5 years. Previously the First Consul of France, having become so in 1799, he had been elevated to the status of Emperor earlier that same year in May by the French Senate. The French Empire had also been established that same month. To make sure the citizens of France were happy with the establishment of the French Empire, Napoleon held a constitutional referendum in November. A nearly unanimous French electorate approved the change. Earlier in December, Napoleon’s official coronation as Emperor had taken place in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, along with his wife, Josephine, who was crowned Empress. Napoleon did not want to rule like one of the old monarchs, saying “To be a king is to inherit old ideas and genealogy. I don’t want to descend from anyone”.[3] The French people also did not want an old monarch, as this was one of the major reasons why they had fought the French Revolution, because they did not like the absolute power that the French monarchs had. France was also at war with most of Europe during this time, including Britain. In October of 1804 the British Navy invaded the French port of Boulogne. However, the assault on Boulogne had achieved little for the British, though France did lose 1 ship, and the assault also prevented Napoleon’s proposed invasion of Britain. All these events are surrounded to the nature of the document, and were described by Napoleon to the legislative body.

 

This document was produced by Napoleon Bonaparte, who was the Emperor of France during the time. Napoleon had a very central role in stabilizing France, as his reforms and actions as the First Consul and later Emperor of France had created the internal situation which was described by him in the document. Napoleon had been the head of French government for 5 years, previously as First Consul, though he had been made Emperor earlier that year. Napoleon had made himself First Consul by staging a coup d’état in 1799. After the coup, Napoleon negotiated a peace in Europe. This allowed Napoleon to focus on reforming France. Napoleon reformed the country’s economy, legal system, education, and even the religion, establishing Roman Catholicism as the state religion. He also instituted the Napoleonic Code, a civil law code which was adopted in the European countries which he conquered.[4] Napoleon’s reforms became popular and restored prosperity to France, and helped elevate him to the status of consul for life and later emperor. He had also saved the country from bankruptcy by establishing the first central bank in French history, the Banque de France.[5] There is some bias by Napoleon in the document towards the British, as he describes the French products as equal to the British products, and how the French would soon compete with the British in all the markets of the world. This is biased because Napoleon favors the French over the British with this statement. Another bias in the document is how Napoleon thinks that hereditary power is a great nation’s only salvation.1 The document itself can also be considered a bias, as Napoleon describes himself as the saviour of France. He talks about how in the short time that he has been leader of the country, he was the one who had saved France by instituting reforms in the nation. These biases are normal, as most leaders glorify themselves and their nations because they want to impress the people of their country and lead the country effectively. Napoleon was proud of his country and what he had done for it, which motivated him to produce this document to the Legislative Assembly about what was happening in the nation.

 

The purpose of this document is to sum up the general situation that was happening in France during the year 1804. The document described how France had emerged from the years of unrest and revolution and had become a peaceful and prosperous country. Reforms were being instituted in the country such as the development of a criminal code, the building of new schools, the encouragement of new education and the establishment of prizes in various branches of science, letters and arts. In short, the purpose of the document is to talk about how France has improved as a nation since the Revolution, and how there is only a bright future ahead. Napoleon created this document as part of his plan to increase and maintain his power and to prove to the Legislative Assembly that he is worthy of being Emperor. Another way Napoleon proved he was worthy as Emperor is how he handled the opposition against him. During his tenure as First Consul, Napoleon faced several Royalist and Jacobin assassination plots. Some of them were the Conspiration des poignards (Dagger plot) in October 1800 and the Plot of the Rue Saint-Nicaise (The Infernal Machine) 2 months later.[6] Napoleon survived all these assassination attempts, and used to justify the creation of an imperial system in France based on the Roman model. He believed that it would be more difficult for his enemies to restore the Bourbon monarchy if the Bonaparte succession was entrenched in the constitution.[7] As Emperor, Napoleon had even more power in France, but he had to make sure that the people were satisfied with him, so he launched a referendum. 99% of the 3.6 million voters voted in favor of Napoleon as Emperor.[8] This showed that the people were mostly happy with Napoleon as their leader. This was mentioned by Napoleon when he said “The French people, by a free and independent expression, then manifested its desire that the imperial dignity should pass down in a direct line through the legitimate or adopted descendants of Napoleon Bonaparte, or through the legitimate descendants of Joseph Bonaparte, or of Louis Bonaparte.”1 So the overall purpose of the document is to advance Napoleon’s power.

 

This document is very useful in history, as it can help us understand the situation that was happening in France at the beginning of the 19^th century.  The document details a lot of what was happening in France during this time, such as the peace in the nation, and the reforms that were being implemented by Napoleon. The reforms included the Napoleonic Code, the new schools that were being opened, and the reestablishment of trade and commerce on the French Rhine It also helps us understand how much France had changed during the 5 years that Napoleon had been in power since the Revolution ended in 1799, and how France had gone from the unrest of the Revolution to a strong and stable nation once again. The document summarizes everything for us, and prevents us from having to do a lot of reading and research. The document is obviously biased as it glorifies Napoleon as the savior of France, and it leaves out the bad things that may have been happening in the nation during this time, but the document is still very useful in history. In fact, the bias can help us understand Napoleon’s mindset and how narcissistic he was. When you read through the document, you can see how much Napoleon cared about himself and his self-image. Some examples are how Napoleon said that he was unquestionably the Emperor of France, and that he had paternal affection for the French. You can also see how much Napoleon loved his country and cared about his people when you read the document. Napoleon says in the document that France is a great nation, and that French geniuses produce works of distinction. .The document also details how Napoleon had been crowned Emperor by the consent of the French people, showing us that Napoleon cared about whether his people wanted him as Emperor.1  So even with its biases, the document is still very useful to historians and readers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

1. “Creation of the Banque de France by Napoleon Bonaparte.” Accessed March 25, 2017. https://www.citeco.fr/10000-years-history-economics/industrial-revolutions/creation-of-the-banque-de-france-by-napoleon-bonaparte

 

2. Hart, Angela “The Napoleonic Code”, CiteLighter, accessed March 20, 2017. https://www.citelighter.com/legal/international-law/knowledgecards/the-napoleonic-code

 

3. com “Napoleon Bonaparte.” Published 2009. http://www.history.com/topics/napoleon

 

4. Lyons, Martyn, Napoleon Bonaparte and the Legacy of the French Revolution. Martin’s Press, 1994

 

5. McLynn, Frank, Pimlico, 1998

 

6. Robinson, J.H, Brooke Harris, Angela Rubenstein, Jonathan Perry. “Napoleon’s Account of the Internal Situation of France in 1804”. Hanover Historical Texts Project. http://history.hanover.edu/texts/NAPOLEON.html

 

7. Woodsworth, William, Richard Matlak. Poems, in Two Volumes. 2015.

[1] Robinson, J.H et al. “Napoleon’s Account of the Internal Situation of France in 1804”.  Hanover Historical Texts Project, http://history.hanover.edu/texts/NAPOLEON.html

[2] Hart, Angela “The Napoleonic Code”, accessed March 20, 2017, CiteLighter

https://www.citelighter.com/legal/international-law/knowledgecards/the-napoleonic-code

[3] Woodsworth, William, Matlak, Richard. Poems, in Two Volumes. (2015), pg. 245-246

[4] “Napoleon Bonaparte,” History.com, published 2009, http://www.history.com/topics/napoleon

[5] “Creation of the Banque de France by Napoleon Bonaparte.”  Citeco. Accessed March 25, 2017 https://www.citeco.fr/10000-years-history-economics/industrial-revolutions/creation-of-the-banque-de-france-by-napoleon-bonaparte

[6]  McLynn, Frank, Napoleon (Pimlico, 1998) p. 243

[7] McLynn, Frank, Napoleon (Pimlico, 1998) p. 297

[8] Lyons, Martyn, Napoleon Bonaparte and the Legacy of the French Revolution (St. Martin’s Press, 1994) p. 113