Napoleon Debate- George Little

I found the Napoleon debate to be an incredibly interesting experience. Whether or not Napoleon represented the goals of the French Revolution is an extremely controversial topic. I was on the pro-Napoleon side of the debate and was lucky to work with Aidan, Savannah, Stephen, and Sebi. My groups’ main argument for the debate was putting Napoleon in charge of France was the best option for France at that time and his great leadership helped reinstate France as a global superpower. Napoleon was first given leadership of France in a time of great turmoil, after the directory, a dictatorship of five individuals, was in power. He intended to spread the ideas of the French Revolution through winning battles in Europe and conquering much of Continental Europe. Napoleon brought about several important changes across Europe, including the abolition of feudalism and the spread of religious toleration, reinstating freedom of worship for Catholics. Napoleon also developed a strong middle class in France and his defense of the new economic order appealed successfully to the peasants. He strengthened the central bureaucracy of France and established the privately owned bank of France, along with leading bankers. The other debate team, the con-Napoleon team, continuously brought up women’s rights and how they were worse after Napoleon took power. That’s true, however, the last time I checked, the improvement of women’s rights actually wasn’t a goal of the French Revolution. The con-Napoleon debate team also claimed there was a “huge loss of civil liberties”. Not exactly. Under Napoleon’s leadership, there was an abolition of feudalism throughout Europe, a spread of religious toleration, an improved middle class in France, and a new economic order that appealed successfully to the peasants. Also, there was no more slaughtering people in the streets, rather, people were put in prison. Napoleon represented the goals of French Revolution, reinstated France as a global superpower, and he was the best option for France coming out of a time of turmoil.