Napoleon Bonaparte conquered many countries and caused a great expansion for France. Not only was he a great military leader, he caused huge changes in the world's political, social and economic structure.
Across the world, monarchy was the most popular form of government. The monarchs could raise taxes to fit their needs. The rich got richer and the poor got poorer. There were huge separations between the upper class and lower class. When Napoleon came into the picture, he ended up abolishing serfdom. He reformed the political structure of countries and created new laws. He was described as,"A great soldier, a great liberator, a great reformer and a great lawgiver." (Marjorie Johnston). Others have written about, "his untiring industry, his devotion to the public service, his enlightened views of government and legislation, his humanity." (John C. Ropes). The enlightened views on government
and legislation described by Ropes pleased the people in the countries conquered by Napoleon. As Marshal Michel Nay said, "The times are gone when the people were governed by suppressing their rights. Liberty triumphs in the end." When he was vanquished and their former rulers came back into power, the people wouldn't stand for things to go back to the way they were when they had less say in their government. This caused the monarchs to need to make a change in their political systems.
Napoleon's political reforms also caused change to the social systems in Europe. He abolished serfdom across his empire. He also gave everyone, not just nobles, a say in the government. "He used the noble ideas of personal liberty, of equality, and of fraternity"(Ida M. Tarbell) to help make the people more equal than they were under their previous rulers. Madame de Stael thought that this was all part of Napoleon's plan to win over the people of Europe. She said, "By alternating between cunning and force he has subjugated Europe." Others such as J. T. Headley thought that he genuinely thought this was the best way to rule people and this was how social systems should be. He wrote, "yet as a friend of human liberty, and eager to promote the advancement of the race."Either way, Napoleon won was able to win over the people of the countries he conquered.
Finally, Napoleon managed to change economic systems throughout Europe. In order to boost the economy, he controlled prices, encouraged new industry and built roads and canals. He encouraged trade with more countries than was previously allowed. He sold the Louisiana territory to the US which doubled the size of their nation and encouraged their expansion. Napoleon also set up a new way of "earning merits" where one is rewarded based upon their skills rather than their social class. Norwood Young discussed his reforms and said, "they may be on the whole, be described as making for progress."
The French Empire at its largest during Napoleon's rule
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