Social Change Flashcards
How was napoleons approach to meritocracy limited?
Napoleon liked hierarchies to give something for people to aspire to, and a way of ensuring loyalty by giving out titles. Only those who were well educated did well in Imperial France, to administer the country.
What were the three approaches Napoleon took to social distinctions and titles?
- Meritocracy vs. Hierarchy
- Legion d’Honneur
- The Imperial Nobility
How did Napoleon reward those tho served him well?
With the Order of the Legion of Honour in 1802, Napoleon could, in theory, reward both military personnel and civilians. However, only 1500 of the 32000 given out between 1802-14 were given to civilians. In 1808, anyone who was given a reward was also given the title of Knight of the Empire which became hereditary after 3 generations of recipients.
How did Napoleon use the Imperial Nobility?
1804- Napoleon was crowned Emporer and gave the title of prince/princess to his siblings, his adopted son, uncle and brother in law.
1806- the title of Lord was established for senior officials and Marshals of France.
1808- the imperial nobility was established which included counts, barons and Knights.
What was napoleons approach to meritocracy?
He wanted a meritocratic society where all men and woman advanced themselves by their own talents and efforts instead of social or economic status. This can be seen by the career of General Augureau who had a successful military career, becoming a division commander under Napoleon in Italy and being promoted to Marshal of France and a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.
What percentage of titles were given to those who had the, under the Ancien Regime?
22.5%
What came with a title?
Usually came with estates and pensions, became hereditary if the recipient had a sufficiently large income to pay for the title. The imperial nobility was 1/7 the size of that under the Ancien Regime.
How did Napoleon change the system of schools?
A law of March 1802 established:
1. There was a state primary school in each commune run by the local municipality
2. 45 selective secondary boarding schools (lycées) offering 6400 places for boys aged 10-16.
3. There were municipal secondary schools (collèges) and vocational schools (instituts).
Napoleon saw lycées as a source of the Empires future military and civil personnel. Boys were taught according to whether they would become part of military or civil servants. All were offered a secular and scientific education. These appealed to property owners and the military elite. Although scholarships for the poor were available, few were taken up.
How did Napoleon change higher education?
The imperial university was introduced in 1808 to ensure all education met certain standards across the country.it was responsible for teacher training appointments, creation of new schools, setting the curriculum, inspecting schools and reporting annually to Napoleon.
About 1/3 of teachers by 1812 were priests or ex priests, which went against Napoleons ideal of a secular education for all, but there was a shortage of staff.
The aim of this policy was to ensure loyalty to the regime and patriotism to France, and to provide an educated elite to run the Empire.
What was Napoleon attitude to women?
He did not promise females secondary education, primary was sufficient. Revolutionary ideas (liberty and equality) didn't apply to women. Although the Civil Code of 1804 allowed women to manage their own property when married. Divorce law was unfair-if a wife committed adultary, the husband could divorce her and send her to prison. If the husband did the same, the wife could only divorce him if he brought his mistress into the marital home.
How were newspapers changed?
January 1800: Parisian papers reduced from 73 to 13.
1810: only one newspaper allowed per department.
All newspapers were subject to police supervision and could only cover official news and military bulletins-not allowed to discuss controversial subjects.
Government issued own paper ‘Le Moniteur’
How were other publications changed?
In 1808, other publishing firms were reduced from 200 to 60.
The police could raid publishers’ premises and seize books.
People could be fined 3000 francs for holding illegal books
1810: censorship board erected to approve or reject books for publication.
All plays, posters and lectures which appeared in Paris were given an official report.
All theatres needed a licence to operate.
How did Napoleon use propaganda to portray himself as the man who brought order from chaos (too much Liberty).
He appointed artists, sculptures, writers and architects to honour his achievements.
An eagle was used as a symbol which harked back to the Roman Empire.
What did Napoleon do to the church?
Napoleon wanted to bring the people together through his treatment of the church. He could also control the population as the priests were loyal to the regime.
1799: churches open every day of the week
1800: Sunday declared a day of rest
1800: Pope puis VII appointed
1801: the Concordat was signed (agreement with the pope).
What did the concordat agree?
On 15th July 1801, the concordat was signed.
Pope was recognised as the head of church.
Catholicism was recognised as the religion of the majority.
Catholics could worship freely.
Pope acknowledged napoleons regime and promised not to take back church land.
The first consul would nominate Bishops and clergy and paid by as civil servants. They would have to take an oath of loyalty.
Benefits:
Won over potential disloyal royalists.
Reassured those who had church land that it wouldn’t be taken.
Appointing bishops and clergy allowed Napoleon to surround himself with loyal clerics to spread state propaganda and supervise behaviour.
