The world has seen the likes of many dictators, tyrants, and rulersꟷ the ‘leaders’ that would go to great lengths to get what they wanted. Among this list lay the names of Napoleon Bonaparte (b.1769, d.1821) and Adolf Hitler (b.1889, d.1945). Both Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler are well-known historic figures that have played a significant part in shaping World History. Many people believe that Napoleon and Hitler are akin: notorious warlords who wanted to conquer Europe and put their respective countries on top. However, this is not true. Although they were both autocrats who shared much in common, there are vast differences that set them apart. The former French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte and Führer of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler can …show more content…
Hitler preferred traditional, extreme right-wing values while Napoleon possessed more progressive political views compared to the other governments of his time. Hitler’s views were anti-democratic, anti-liberal, anti-communist, pro-ethnic-nationalism, and anti- Semitic. As the leader of the Nazi Party of Germany, he articulated for Lebensraum (the need for space for the German nation to expand), autarky (the idea Germany should be economically self-sufficient), and that the Peace Treaty of Versailles should be abolished. Hitler also strongly believed that the German “Aryan” race was superior to all other races and that Jews, and Gypsies were “subhuman.” Napoleon, on the other hand, had a different political agenda and view of races and culture. Although he was a practicing Catholic, he allowed the people of his conquered lands to practice whichever faith they chose. More so, Napoleon freed the Serfs and ended discrimination against Jewish people by making them French citizens. He strongly believed in the idea of a strong central government and implemented reforms in France. For example, he passed a law to make all French men equal before and under the law as well as granted religious freedom for all. Although, it is true that Napoleon, like Hitler, strictly regulated his territory, and disregarded the rights of women, he was far more …show more content…
Napoleons legacy is lived on by the many reforms he instituted in France during his reign. As emperor, Napoleon abolished slavery, freed the Serfs, and reorganized France’s legal system into something that was more unified and progressive. This system, called the “Code Napoléon” is the basis of the legal structure in France, and several other countries, including the state of Louisiana in the United States of America. He is remembered as the man who turned around the devastating French economy that led to the French Revolution of 1789 by implementing fair taxes, increasing trade, improving infrastructure and developing a Central Bank. He is also remembered for his distaste of religious intolerance. Prior to the French Revolution, the Catholic Church dominated French Society, and Napoleon settled an agreement with the Pope that still allowed the church to play a large role in the French society while providing religious freedom for all creeds. In addition, his memory lives on in the form of the education system in France. He established secondary schools (called lycées), created other educational institutions for the general public, promoted education for girls and improved teacher training. His reign helped to promote the principles “equality, liberty, fraternity” and European unity. In comparison to Bonaparte, Hitler’s legacy is much more bitterly reminisced, and indirect. His
Maier, Wendy A. "Adolf Hitler." In World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2005. Accessed February 4, 2014. http://worldatwar.abc-clio.com/.
From the time Hitler and the Nazi’s took control of Germany in 1933 until the collapse of the Third Reich in 1945, the aim of the regime under the calculating guidance of Hitler himself sought no less than global conquest. This ambitious objective can be further dissected into short term and long term goals that provide insight into Hitler’s character, thoughts and actions.
Napoleon was a military general that participated in multiple war victories. His interests included history, law, and mathematics. His strengths as a leader benefitted in planning financial, legal, and military plans. His aspiring attitude made him believe he was destined to be the savior of France (Coffin & Stacey, 494). He favored a republic over a constitutional monarchy. When Napoleon came to power, he immediately consolidated personal power by overthrowing the five-man Directory and created a Republic. Napoleon used his status and power during the Revolution to bring out and surface Revolution ideals and help his people. Napoleon’s role in European history was the savior of the French Revolution due to the fact he accomplished most objectives that the people hoped for. Goals of the French Revolution included overthrowing the old regime of an absolute monarch, write a basic and worthy constitution, and give more rights to the third estate and limit the first and second estates power in the Estates-General.
Napoleon Bonaparte was an interesting ruler in that he was compromised of attributes of both a tyrant and a hero. Napoleon had a strong following throughout his reign and even during his two exiles. He was the emperor of France between 1799 and 1815, following the fall of the Directory. Despite the efforts of the French Revolution to rid the country of an autocratic ruler, Bonaparte came to power as Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte I in 1804. He claimed that he preserved the goals of the Revolution, which can be easily argued as his rule became more dictatorial as it progressed. Despite his departure from some of the gains of the Revolution, he overall was a hero for the French people. Through his military ventures, political changes and social reform, Napoleon proved himself as a hero. This is not to say that there were aspects of his reign that were tyrannical, but he was overall beneficial for France.
The name Adolph Hitler often brings to mind images of either a madman or an evil military genius. While Hitler was arguably an evil madman, he was no military genius. Hitler attempted to use Germany’s military muscle to overpower the world and make room for the Nazi party to survive and create what he called a thousand-year Reich. Hitler’s political activity was part luck and part skill; he found a way to turn the sentence of treason that was against him and turn it into a political stepping-stone to power. While Hitler and his generals successfully changed the world, they made too many mistakes, both military and otherwise, for the Nazi party ever to lead the world into Hitler’s dream of the thousand-year Reich.
Napoleon was a great soldier that graduated from military school at the age of sixteen and quickly worked his way through the ranks. Napoleon was a brilliant leader in battle and consistently defeated armies larger than his own; including when he forced the Austrians to make peace after defeating four of their generals. In 1799 Napoleon and his colleagues overtook the French government and established power. He revised the constitution in 1802 to make himself consul for life, and then again in 1804 to make himself Emperor of France. Soon after Napoleon came to power he restructured the administration, simplified the court system, and began monitoring the schooling system; French law was also put in the Napoleon Code which guaranteed the rights and liberties that were gained through the revolution. Napoleons violent behavior caused war with Britain to break out, who allied with Russia and Austria. Prussia later allied themselves with Russia; creating a huge alliances against France and Napoleon. Napoleon successfully extended his reign over large parts of Europe and put each state under the Napoleon Code, which gave citizens new rights and privileges. In 1812 all of Europe turned against Napoleon, which lead to his exile in 1814. He regained power in 1815 just to loose it later that year. He died in exile in Saint Helena in 1821.
The person that closely embodied Machiavelli’s “The Prince” was Adolf Hitler. There is more to Adolf Hitler than everyone usually knows. Besides from being one of the most hated people in the history of the world, he had the characteristics of a good leader. The correlation between him, and Machiavelli’s perspective on what a good prince/leader is supposed to be is extremely similar. It is as if Hitler Studied “The Prince” before he began to pursue his rule over Germany. There are several ideas that are presented, to prove this comparison plausible.
From the beginning of time to the darkest days in history, people have managed to see light. Within these dark times, a great deal of violence was cast upon the world, but light and peace always prevailed. If it were not for these two leaders, history would have been completely different. Even though both had very different political views, Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin will all forever be known as two of the most feared totalitarian leaders in history.
Napoleon's domestic policy, "was his greatest legacy to France" (Mitchner, pg 57). His domestic policies had such an immense impact on the way of life in France that they are used today in the civilized world. Through his domestic policy, Napoleon created the Bank of France. By creating the Bank of France Napoleon stabilized the French economy where the previous leaders of France had failed and made the franc the highest currency in all of Europe. Napoleon claimed "Equality must be the first element in education" (Mitchner, pg 59). This was the basis of the educating system Napoleon strived for. The Education reforms which Napoleon introduced in 1802 called lycees allowed this equality to occur and enhanced the way of learning for all of the citizens. Finally the serious rift with the Roman Catholic Church (which was created during the French revolution) was healed when The Concordat was introduced by Napoleon. Mending the rift between the Church and State allowed freedom of religion and rejuvenated the beliefs within the people of France. This contribution to France ended in French domestic tranquility. Napoleon was not only a great leader, he also was a military genius.
Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “Nothing has been simpler than my elevation…It is owing to the peculiarities of the time.” Coming to power at a time of instability and disorder in France immediately following the French Revolution, Napoleon quickly established himself as the political leader and military power behind France. Easily and efficiently overthrowing the poorly managed Directory, Napoleon established a three man governing body referred to as the Consulate. Naming himself Consul for Life in 1802, and crowning himself emperor in 1804, Napoleon made it clear that is was a time of dramatic change in France. Although establishing himself as an absolute ruler, Napoleon did it all with the support of the people, through the use of a plebiscite. Obviously a man that held immense power, Napoleon has been credited with many great successes. To the people of France, Napoleon was a savior, a man who could, despite being an autocrat, implement the ideals of the French Revolution. Establishing order, giving the French people a sense of security, and running his government smoothly became Napoleon’s priorities. Through a variety of reforms including, centralizing the government, establishing public education, instituting religious tolerance specifically signing the Concordat of 1801, and stimulating the economy, Napoleon won the support of French people across the classes, including the peasantry who in years previous had suffered greatly under absolute rulers. One of Napoleon’s most lasting reforms was his installment of the Napoleonic Code, a set of laws that reflected the idea of equality so evidently bannered throughout the French Revolution. Napoleon was able to capture the attention of the French people through every facet except absolutism.
Napoleon was a political mastermind. France was divided in the judicial system they used. Northern France practiced customary law from medieval tradition, while southern France used law evolved out of Roman code. However, Napoleon codified the law code into one code for the entire nation. This gave equality, freedom from arrest without process, equality of taxation and religious freedom. Jewish people were allowed to live anywhere they could afford and not be restricted to ghettos. The Napoleonic Code of law made France a nation of equality, rights and liberty, such qualities expressed in today's western society.
In the year of 1933 Adolf Hitler seized the position of chancellor of Germany and this power that he received in January 30th is what shaped one of the most bloodlust dictatorships that this world has ever known. Hitler’s desire for power and victory made him one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen but it also made him one of the most cruel and heartless people known to mankind. But how did he do this, how did he become one of the greatest and cruellest dictators? Throughout this essay we will explore the long, short and immediate causes for Hitler’s sudden success.
With all the glory and the splendour that some countries may have experienced, never has history seen how only only one man, Napoleon, brought up his country, France, from its most tormented status, to the very pinnacle of its height in just a few years time. He was a military hero who won splendid land-based battles, which allowed him to dominate most of the European continent. He was a man with ambition, great self-control and calculation, a great strategist, a genius; whatever it was, he was simply the best. But, even though how great this person was, something about how he governed France still floats among people's minds. Did he abuse his power? Did Napoleon defeat the purpose of the ideals of the French Revolution? After all of his success in his military campaigns, did he gratify the people's needs regarding their ideals on the French Revolution? This is one of the many controversies that we have to deal with when studying Napoleon and the French Revolution. In this essay, I will discuss my opinion on whether or not was he a destroyer of the ideals of the French Revolution.
French Revolution brought a great number of great ideas, but ideas are not beneficial unless they are realized and stabilized. The man to stabilize the concepts of French Revolution was Napoleon Bonaparte. He started out as an Italian general and ended up being one of the greatest historical figures. First, Directors requested Napoleon's support while organizing a coup d'etat. Then, Bonaparte fought Britain in order to benefit France. Lastly, he was called to help creating a new constitution and ended up as the First Consul of France. At home, he ruled using flattery, but also he strongly resisted the opposition. Napoleon is a pro-revolutionist because he denied all the privileges of the aristocracy, created a new constitution, and also established the Napoleonic Code.
Napoleon Bonaparte is often seen as a tyrant, however; through Napoleon’s strong tactics and military leadership he led France through a time of great turmoil and provided the stability and guidance France so desperately needed. During his reign, Napoleon was able to bring an end to the French Revolution, a series of wars that had fractured the French at their core. After the resolution of the revolution, Napoleon developed the Civil Code or Napoleonic code to unite all of France under one governing law. The Civil Code blended the governing laws of the Roman law practiced in the South with the customary law practiced in the North. Through the Code, Napoleon brought unity to France, improved the rights and lives of citizens, and allowed for France’s own growth and development. The Civil Code is considered one of Napoleon’s