Why did Napoleon betray the French Revolution?
What choices did he have? From the start of the Revolution, outside forces(i.e. neighboring countries) were determined to stamp out the Revolution and its concepts of democratic rule. France found itself at war from the start, struggling to stave off repeated efforts to overthrow the revolution. By the end of the Terror, the government was floundering. There was still outside threats, while internally many of the most effective leaders had fallen. It was in this situation that Napoleon saw his chance to rise to power. Why establish an imperium, and become emperor? Partially pride of course, but more importantly he decided that adopting a form of government ostensibly more familiar and comfortable to surrounding nations might reduce animosity. He was wrong, of course, but by adopting the titles of nobility, he was trying to convey that France was not the hotbed of revolution that had triggered other countries going to war with France. He betrayed the Revolution by adopting the trappings of monarchy, but in other ways he maintained the revolution's goals. For one, he created a meritocracy. titles and promotions came not by accident of birth, but by performance and service. The humblest line soldier knew he could rise to high rank by how well he fought and served. Civilians could enter the civil service and do the same. And he modified the laws to remove the inequities inherent in the Old Regime's system. Indeed, his modifications were so good that they were adopted by many nations after Napoleon's ultimate defeat. So even his betrayal served in some ways to advance the core values of the Revolution. He sought war largely because it came to him. When neighboring nations refused to accept his administration, Napoleon set out to force their acceptance through war. There was also a significant matter of ego, of course. Battle after battle demonstrated his tactical superiority over his foes, and by defeating his rivals, and putting family and trusted friends in power in those countries, he hoped to bring peace to France. A peace that would not coincidentally leave France as the dominant power of Europe, a position she had enjoyed less than 2 centuries before. Napoleon was a complex man, and efforts to paint him as a monster or a saint are equally misplaced. He was a man both shaped by his times, and one who shaped the events of that time.
What other Revolutions took place in the world similar to French Revolution?
The French Revolution was done to start democracy and root out the absolute monarchy from France. I know there has been many such revolutions. Can you name at least 10 (if there were) such revolutions that took all over the world just in an attempt to put in place democracy? Please mention in brief the name of revolution, the period of it, the place where it happened and how it started in brief. thx
Why was the French Revolution so important?
It's almost impossible to overstate the importance of the French Revolution. Other than the Protestant Reformation and World War One, the French Revolution is the most important period in modern European history.The Revolution birthed the modern nation state. It ended the last vestiges of feudalism in Western and Central Europe. It spread Enlightenment ideas across Europe. It reshaped the border of Europe. It led to the rise of nationalism, which would unify Germany and break apart the Austrian Empire. Almost everything politically we take for granted in the West today (liberal democracy, the rule of law, government based on consent, the nature of civil rights and liberties) would not exist without the French Revolution.