Napoleon Bonaparte the Tyrant

Napoleon Bonaparte the Tyrant

Unarguably, On December 2, 1804 the biggest contradiction in mankind occurred! For on this day Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself the Emperor of France; and proved to be a " Despot Noun". The meaning of this term is, a ruler with absolute power and authority. Prior to 1804, during the French revolution people fought chaotically to overthrow the Bourbon monarchy and create a republic. In contradiction Napoleon simply repeated the process and validated the statement " history has a strange way of repeating itself". Napoleon Bonaparte was the betrayer of the ideals of the French Revolution because of his subtle Dictatorial powers upon France, as well as the brutality and inequality he forced upon most of continental Europe.

The French Revolution occurred in the 18th century because of high unemployment, the drought of 1788, the winter of 1789, unreasonable taxes, and overall inequality. 1 During this time the population was divided into three segments, the first estate or the Clergy, the second estate also known as the Nobility and the Third estate, which accounted for 98% of the remaining French population. The Bourbon Monarchy had been standing strong since 1589 or the reign of Henry IV. 5 The ideologies of the French Revolution were to rid of the Bourbon monarchy and establish a government for the people by the people Similar to that of the American colonies. Through the course of the revolution Napoleon slowly began to earn his military prestige, most notably the battles of Arcole 1796 and Aboukir 1799. 1 The French revolution came to a haul in 1799 when Napoleon became the first consul of France. Napoleon Bonaparte was the betrayer of the ideals of the French Revolution because he became the new Monarchy and imposed dictatorship amongst France and more importantly almost all of continental Europe. The first from of dictatorship Napoleon imposed amongst France was a subtle voting system in which he gave all a vote although knowing he would win because of the plebiscites. 2 Napoleon used this to do all in his favor without consolidating the people although in the eyes of the French he took into account their votes. In addition Napoleon also formed the continental system. This reform ordered all European countries to ban trade with Britain. The continental system had horrendous effects on Europe's colony because Britain was a trading superpower. In Particular this system was hurting the economy of Spain, which was already unstable because of its military support to France towards battles against Britain such as Trafalgar 1805. 1 Because of this Napoleon invaded his long time ally Spain in brutal fashion. Spanish artist Francisco Goya provides images of the devastating fashion Napoleon and his army conquered Spain as well as the unnecessary brutality Napoleon imposed among the Spanish in his "disasters of War" painting series. Francisco Goya formed this during the time of the Peninsular War, or better known as the French invasion of Spain. In addition to these atrocities Napoleon also after conquering France betrayed his rule of meritocracy and put none then his own brother Joseph Bonaparte in power of Spain. 2

Similarly Napoleon Bonaparte also imposed strict dictatorial power on the Island of Saint Dominique or modern day Haiti. During the 18th and 19th century Saint Dominique was the wealthiest island in Europe. 3 Saint Dominique was accountable for 40 percent of the worlds coffee production and as well as 40 percent of the sugar being traded to Britain and France. 3 Saint Dominique fought many wars to put an end to slavery. In 1794 Saint Dominique successfully put haul to the British and Mullato force trying to invade saint Dominique to exploit them for their resources and reinstitute slavery on the island. 3 Through these military conquests Haiti's military leader Toussaint l'Loverture arose and took power in the island. Napoleon Bonaparte saw him as a threat and in 1802 sent his brother in law along with 20,000 troops to install French rule upon Haiti. 4 However