History
REPORT: NAPOLEON AND MODERN SOCIETY
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Ben Franklin, ~1784
As stated in the previous lesson, "All that Napoleon proposed and provided, the French generally agreed to, as long as the peace and security they so desperately sought came along with it." Many people in society today seem to hold to the same belief: "As long as I am safe and secure, it doesn't matter what the government does." In other words, they are willing to sacrifice certain freedoms for safety and security.
Using resources from the library, the Internet, or other sources, research the attitudes of Napoleon's day and compare them to the attitudes of our modern society. Write a report of 750 words; be sure to use proper spelling and grammar.
What freedoms were the people of Napoleon's day willing to sacrifice?
In our own day, what freedoms are people willing to sacrifice for greater security -- especially in light of the attacks of September 11, 2001?
Which do you believe to be worse -- a domineering government or the attitudes of the people who will allow themselves to be dominated?
The people of France gained more than they sacrificed to Napoleon. They gained equality before the law, better school systems and a strong sense of national pride.
However as the years of warfare that were being led by the British took its toll it was necessary for Napoleon to enforce some rather disliked policies.
The earliest and most used was censorship of the press. This extended to Napoleon's satellites, especially Germany where many of Napoleon's enemies attempted to cause dissent among the people.
Although first used during the French revolution, Napoleon continued the use of conscription, this increased drastically in the later years of his empire when he called up conscripts before they were 18.
In an effort to end the war with Britain Napoleon enforced the Continental system
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Ben Franklin, ~1784
As stated in the previous lesson, "All that Napoleon proposed and provided, the French generally agreed to, as long as the peace and security they so desperately sought came along with it." Many people in society today seem to hold to the same belief: "As long as I am safe and secure, it doesn't matter what the government does." In other words, they are willing to sacrifice certain freedoms for safety and security.
Using resources from the library, the Internet, or other sources, research the attitudes of Napoleon's day and compare them to the attitudes of our modern society. Write a report of 750 words; be sure to use proper spelling and grammar.
What freedoms were the people of Napoleon's day willing to sacrifice?
In our own day, what freedoms are people willing to sacrifice for greater security -- especially in light of the attacks of September 11, 2001?
Which do you believe to be worse -- a domineering government or the attitudes of the people who will allow themselves to be dominated?
The people of France gained more than they sacrificed to Napoleon. They gained equality before the law, better school systems and a strong sense of national pride.
However as the years of warfare that were being led by the British took its toll it was necessary for Napoleon to enforce some rather disliked policies.
The earliest and most used was censorship of the press. This extended to Napoleon's satellites, especially Germany where many of Napoleon's enemies attempted to cause dissent among the people.
Although first used during the French revolution, Napoleon continued the use of conscription, this increased drastically in the later years of his empire when he called up conscripts before they were 18.
In an effort to end the war with Britain Napoleon enforced the Continental system