The Napoleon Effect

Napoleon Bonaparte is considered one of the greatest conquers even to this day. After single handedly conquering most of Europe it is a shock that the American school system tend to neglect him year after year. He impacted the influenced how Europe ran its economic, social, and political systems.

Economically, Napoleon was able to improve how wealthy France was as a country. He controlled pricing on items, he built all new roads and canals to increase the value of France. He also encouraged people to make new businesses. New businesses meant that people would be making and spending money on new things which is good for the economy. Then, during the French Revolution Napoleon seized many great artworks and large sums of money from Italy for France. Even though this was a blow to Italy it helped France build up their value. Later, in 1803, Napoleon decided to sell the Louisiana Territory to America. Which was good for France since they made a lot of money and also America since they could expand westward. Napoleon the opened the Bank of France which balanced out the budget on projects and was in charge of public work programs. This ensured that not too much money was being used to allow the country to become bankrupt and allowed for more economic freedom.

Napoleon changed how France and Europe functioned socially as well. Alongside his armies he abolished nobel and serfdom titles freeing people of a life of indenturement. Allowing them to be able to rise up in the workplace since he also encouraged new businesses. This made people have a different attitude on how the way the world ran and gave way into new social statuses. He ended church privileges so then the Pope did not have all the power. Thus stopping them from forcing followers to think certain ways and make them obey rules. Under the effect of Napoleon's ruling common people had rights to own property and education was available to anyone. The more educated the people are the higher they will succeed. They will encounter much more dynamic thoughts questioning why things are ran and thoroughly advancing the way we live day by day.

He effected how the political system ran drastically, accommodating to the people and not the wealthy. He was able to diminish the nobility meaning that kings and queens would not power over the people. Napoleon established what we call an "meritocracy" which means people were rewarded on how well they were able to perform a skill rather than a social class they were born into. Napoleon was also able to get the members of the Directory, who ran France, to back down since there were threats of overthrowing them. Allowing Napoleon complete control of France and its people.

Overall, you can see how Napoleon affected the world heavily. He was able to pick France up and get it on the way to economic success. Without him, we may have never known what it is to live without the rule of nobility. Serfdom may have still been alive and it constitutes under the category of slavery. This is why Napoleon is one of the most important people of Europe. Napoleon was cunning enough to be able to change economic systems, switch social systems, and alter political systems.