What Were Napoleon III’s Most Important Legacies to France’s Future, Positive and Negative, Essay Example

Napoleon III made many positive and negative contributions to France during and after his reign. He was the object of the popular cult where he was held in memory as a warrior, upholder of the French revolution values and ruler. For those that have supported and have reviewed his principles realize that he did contribute a lot to France both socially and politically. However, many more historians and scholars feel that he had a more negative impact on the nation. According to Black, napoleon’s era broke international relations systems that existed then[1]. This also applied to his rule that was characterized by his meritocratic rule following his seize of power through determination. It is this determination that is seen as the cause of his failed and successful policies and strategies. This is because his determination was driven by selfish refusal to embrace outside views and his forceful nature.

The main reason this forceful nature was applied in all aspects of his rule including diplomacy and foreign relations was due in part to the origins of his power. Napoleon’s rise to power from the position as a general was the drive behind his believes and embraces of forceful means. On the other hand, this same power and forceful nature also helped the French gain considerable success over the centuries. Through their ability to use military force the French have been able to dispose of dictatorial powers and have joined other nations in world wars and the war in terror. For example, the victories in Mondovi 1796 and Bassano in the same year. Black believes is the sole reason France has been able to effectively engage in various military actions[2]. According to Woolf, he also positively contributed to the development of rational and modernized reforms that were seen to be a means to help less developed societies[3]. In addition, in those early days he was able to turn chaos into order, through his ability to organize and motivate the army and keep informed of activities within his empire[4].

Bibliography

Black, Jeremy. Napoleon’s Impact on International Relations. History Today, 1998, p.48.

Manas, Jerry. Napoleon on Project Management. Vancouver: AEW Services, 2007.

Woolf, Stuart. Napoleon and Europe Revisited. Modern and Contemporary France, 8.4 (2000).

[1] Jeremy Black, Napoleon’s Impact on International Relations (History Today, 1998), 48.

[2] Jeremy Black, Napoleon’s Impact on International Relations (History Today, 1998), 49

[3] Stuart Woolf, Napoleon and Europe Revisited (Modern and Contemporary France, 8.4 (2000)), 14.

[4] Jerry Manas, Napoleon on Project Management (Vancouver, AEW Services, 2007), 17.