Tyra Henry: Group #8 1992 Exam

1. Tyra Henry: Group #8 1992 Exam Thematic Essay: “Napoleon was a child of the Enlightenment.” Assess the validity of this statement using specific aspects of the Enlightenment and Napoleon’s policies. Critical Trigger Words: Assess(to what extent/degree) Validity(logically right) Enlightenment(era of reason), Napoleon(his policies) Two Step Direction Phrase: Focus on The ideas of the Enlightenment and Compare them to Napoleon's reforms during his leadership.

2. Introduction:

3. example The late eighteenth century Reign of Terror by Robespierre finally ended. The Enlightenment was one of the main causes for the Reign of Terror. The Enlightenment wasn’t really a bad era or system of ideas. Robespierre however just took Enlightenment ideas way out of proportion. Next in line to control France was Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon changed many policies after he acquired power some you could say were similar to the Enlightenment some not.

4. Body One

5. Example The enlightenment was an era were reason equaled knowledge. Philosophes didn’t much really put religion aside but it wasn’t as important as science. Philosophes favored toleration, freedom of speech, monarchy was limited, courts protected citizens from arbitrary gov.,and a small army. Montesquieu’s “Spirit of laws” he indicated a belief in the equality of sexes although he stilled retained traditional view of marriage and family and expected men to dominate those institutions. He supported the right of women to divorce and opposed laws that oppressed them. John Locke’s theory implied that human nature is changeable and can be molded by modifying the surrounding physical and social environment. Rousseau suggested that society is more important than its individual members, because they are what they are only by virtue of their relationship to the larger community.

6. Body Two

7. Example Napoleon was sort of a child of the Enlightenment. Napoleon formed France into what he wanted it to be. After the de Christianization during the Reign of Terror Napoleon formed a concordat with the pope which said that Christianity was compatible with the ideals of equality and democracy. The constitution of the year 8 established the rule of man, Napoleon. That is an example of how John Locke says that man should take charge of their own destiny and that is exactly what Napoleon was doing. He revoked born privileges of the aristocracy. Napoleon made peace with France’s enemies. Napoleon also made sure to protect the newly established dominant classes privileges. He also used and invented opportunities to destroy his enemies something that shows how creative he was. During his leadership he definitely had French at tie.

8. Body Three

9. In some ways Napoleon wasn’t a child of the Enlightenment. Napoleon was an autocratic ruler. Napoleon used bribery and generosity to win over enemies. However he ruthlessly suppressed opposition. He employed secret police. The enlightenment although didn’t really do much for women had a few ideas for them. He didn’t really enforce the positive ideas about them. In his Napoleonic Code , fathers were granted extensive control over their children and husbands over their wives. Married females needed their husband’s consent to dispose of their own property. His own averse actions led to the downfall of the French people. Since he was so successful in war he would always want to go into battle . When the Congress of Vienna assembled Napoleon had trouble coming his way.

10. Conclusion:

11. Example I think that Napoleon Bonaparte in some customs was a child of the Enlightenment but only to a certain extent. He was also really selfish. Napoleon’s ruling seemed to nationalize France. As France begins to show roots of nationalism , it will influence other countries and nationalists to start working on nationalism all together. A new movement called “Romanticism” will begin to evolve. It was a movement against the Enlightenment. Romanticism will start to focus on nature, religion, and human emotions especially the art, literature, and architecture of medieval times.