The Directory and Rise of Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte is considered to be one of the greatest leaders of all time. He became the supreme ruler of France although he was not a French native. He saved France from its imminent self destruction and restored peace throughout the country. He became a major threat to other leaders in Europe because of his military skills and because of his skills in politics.. During his reign he had to quell a rebellion in St. Dominique and proved to himself and to his citizens that he was capable of dealing with a rebellion quickly and efficiently. Because of Napoleon’s leadership skills the country of France and the Continent of Europe will be forever changed.

Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica. He came from a minor noble family and became the supreme ruler of France. War was expensive, and the Directory government (1795–99) encouraged its generals to exact tribute from the local populations they conquered in order to pay for the maintenance of the armies. In 1789, 40,000 Jews lived in France, most of them in the eastern provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. Jews were barely tolerated, although they could practice their own religion under certain conditions. They had no civil or political rights and faced major prejudice by the populous of Europe. Jewish communities declared themselves as separate nations in France. In 1787 and 1788 the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of the city of Metz in eastern France set up an essay competition on the question, "Are there means for making the Jews happier and more useful in France?” Of the three winners, in 1788, was Zalkind–Hourwitz, a Polish Jew. He wrote a pamphlet explaining that more rights to the Jews would make them more like the rest of the French population. He tried to counter all the typical stereotypes of Jews. He supported the Enlightenment and encouraged the conversion to Christianity.

During Napoleon’s reign he encountered many difficulties. One of these many difficulties that he encountered occurred in France’s Caribbean colonies. This was a major to both France and Napoleon because these colonies produced a vast amount of France’s exports. They produced twice the amount of revenue in exports as the British colonies produced and they were also twice the size of the British colonies. In the French colonies there were over 465,000 slaves and in the August of 1791, the slaves in northern St. Dominique organized a revolt. France immediately gave rights to the free people of color and because of this; the white planters and merchants signed an agreement with Great Britain, giving Britain control of St. Dominique. In addition to Britain interfering, Spain offered freedom to any slaves who would join their army and fight for them. Only a few thousand French troops were actually on the island, and they were easily outnumbered. The leader of the revolt was Toussaint L’Ouverture. Toussaint was a former slave who had educated himself and who turned the unorganized slave rebellion into a very organized and successful revolt. Toussaint took control of St. Dominique until 1802, when Napoleon sent French armies to retake control of St. Dominique. Toussaint was then sent to France where he died while in prison. Toussaint became a hero to all men of color and was a symbol of struggles to win freedom.

The First consul was a title used by Napoleon following his seizure of power in France. Originally, three equal consuls made up government established by Bonaparte. This established the consulate in France. Napoleon was the strongest of the three consul members. The term consul was as part of Bonaparte attempt to relate himself to Roman Ruler of ancient times. The title of consul was used in Rome by the two most powerful judges in the government. The consuls ran the republic and were the highest ranking military figures. Both consuls had equal authority and could veto each other. This was supposed to resist the onset of tyranny. The French system was similar except that there were three consuls instead of two. Bonaparte was the most prominent of all the consul members. Napoleon stayed on for much longer then becoming the emperor of Rome. The first French republic was officially the French republic. IT was established during the French revolution. On this day the monarchy was destroyed and King Louis was formally overthrown. This started the new age of republican government in Europe. The republic officially lasted until the establishment of the first French empire. Its leaders included Napoleon Bonaparte who served in the first consul. When he ended the republic he declared himself Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte I.

Napoleon was one of the greatness emperors of all time. He used his political skills to deal with the people of France. He used the directory to control his country by taking leaders and giving them power. Napoleon handled the slave rebellion in St. Dominique very efficiently and controlled the situation professionally. He successfully captured Toussaint L’ Ouverture, who ended up dying in prison. The first consul used three different leaders to rule the republic. Eventually Napoleon ended the republic and became emperor of France. During Napoleon’s reign he accomplished many things that no other emperor could have even thought of.

[1]“Bonaparte, First Consul of the French Republic, 18 Brumaire, Year VIII”, http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/130/
[2]“A Grateful France Proclaims Napoleon the First Emperor of the French”, http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/197/
[3]“Toussaint L’Ouverture”, http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/224/
[4]“The Mode of exterminating the Black Army as practised by the French”,

http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/226/

Dean Sullivan, Christian Ercole, Luke Chiarolanzio