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A-Level AQA History French Revolution Chapter 17 summary
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Chapter 17: Political changeOn 24th December 1800, N was on his way to a gala performance of Haydn’s Creation, when a wagon bearing a
barrel filled with gunpowder and shrapnel (to be known as the ‘infernal machine’) was set off as his carriage
passed. N was saved by the speed of his carriage (he had ordered the driver to go fast so as not to be late) and
the poor quality of the gunpowder used by the plotters. However, around 52 people were killed or wounded,
including Hortense Beauharnais, N’s stepdaughter, who was in a separate carriage with Josephine and was cut
on the wrist by flying metal. The bomb, which also destroyed several buildings, was a clear sign that N was not
universally accepted and would have to take action if he was to preserve and consolidate his power.
Napoleon’s consolidation of power
The plebiscite of 1800
N’s first step in consolidating power was to appeal directly to the French for ratification of the Constitution of
Year VIII in a plebiscite. In practice, this would actually make no difference to his position; but it provided an
opportunity for an apparent show of concern for democratic processes and a retrospective justification for the
coup of Brumaire (there was no outward pressure for this such as riots. He arose internally). It also supplied N
with the necessary confirmation of his position as First Consul to challenge those politicians who had spoken
out against this arrangement.
The vote in 1800 nearly backfired since few of the electorate chose to turn out and vote. Modern historians
have calculated that the turnout was roughly 25%, representing 1.5 million people. A fairly low level of
participation was not totally out of keeping with early plebiscites; only 33% had turned out the ratify the
constitution in 1793, and 22% in 1795. Nevertheless, the poor response of 1800 suggests there was no
immediate rush of enthusiasm for the regime. The statistics much also have been influenced by the open
system whereby votes were declared in public. However, as in Nov 1799. M was saved by his brother Lucien
whom he had appointed Minister of the Interior in Dec 1799. Lucien adjusted the statistics to suggest 46.26% of
the electorate had participated and that they overwhelmingly support N’s actions. The results are falsified
Vote % Of votes No of votes
Yes 99.94 3, 011, 007
No 0.6 1562
Total 100 3, 012, 579
N rapidly established his position in 1800, behaving almost like a monarch by moving into the Tuileries Palace
and having coins minted with his effigy on them. On these, he appeared either bare-headed or wearing a laurel
wreath, recalling the ancient Roman symbol of supreme authority. Like former kings, he selected the members
of the Council of State over which he presided, awarding them various ministerial positions (like hierarchy).
For example, Cambacérès was his first Minister of Justice, while Fouché became Minister for Police. He enjoyed
ceremonial and entertained at ‘state banquets’.
However, there was no further attempt to raise his status immediately and the establishment of the Consulate
actually involved remarkably little dislocation. The Constitution had provided for some continuity of personnel
between the Directory and the new Tribunate and Legislative Body. Moreover, the structure of government
remained much the same, with most civil servants continuing in their posts and this ensured stability. Such new
innovations as N introduced – in particular, the establishment of ‘prefects’ (préfets) – simply strengthened
central control within the existing framework. N could claim that he had responded to the people’s and the
country’s needs by supplying strong and effective government from a ruler whose decisions (as he never
ceased to remind the French people) were taken ‘in the people’s best interests’
Repression
Consolidation of power involved a certain amount of repression of existing or potential opponents or critics.
Jacobins – those supporting popular democracy, strong in the lower ranks of the army and among the lower
classes in the towns, particularly Paris
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