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Le Paris Priodique
October 21, 1815
France under his thumb. Did he not divorce Josephine in order to marry Marie, so he
could have an heir? An heir he hoped would take his place after Napoleons death?
Although, I will admit, he may have divorced Josephine due to her affairs, but that does
not give him a reason to marry Marie Louise. It was said of Napoleon that he would do
whatever was necessary in order to get his men to follow him. How could we have
trusted a man like that? How do we know that he wouldnt have stooped to treachery?
Next, comes the matter of his Napoleonic Code. The code was supposed to set
uniform laws in this country, but instead, the code limited the liberty and freedom of the
people. For example, the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press were
restricted. This code also restored slavery back into the colonies in the Caribbean. It
seems as if he would do whatever was essential in order to dominate the globe, as well
as ensure substantial profits for himself and France. When he seized the power of
France in a coup dtat, in the year 1799, he was putting on a show. Behind his faade
of unpretentiousness, behind his pretending to be the chosen leader of the French
Republic, was his power hungry being; plotting his next move.
His next move was a ghastly thing; he declared himself Emperor on December 2,
1804. However, the French people cannot shy away from the blame of Napoleon being
Emperor; the French voters supported him. Nonetheless, Napoleon was not
unaccustomed to power. Before, he had assumed the powers of dictator, as well as was
in charge of multiple and large armies. France practically handed all its power over to
Napoleon? Therefore, how could his legacy be positive? We hand over the reins to
Napoleon and he wrecks the empire he created. One of the biggest things that
destroyed the empire was the continental system. The blockade was supposed to close
trade between Britain and other countries, as well as creating a self-sufficient Europe.
However, his blockade didnt work; smugglers still got through. Even Napoleons own
family broke the blockade! How can we see Napoleons legacy as good when he has so
many wrongs on his record?
My fellow Frenchmen, I beg of you, please do not see Napoleons legacy as a
positive one. Millions of people have died in his incessant wars. He was obsessed with
the destruction of Britain. He was also obsessed about his wife. He implemented laws
and blockades that were either restricting in rights or inefficacious. He seized power,
assumed the power of a dictator, pretended to be the chosen constitutional leader of
France, and then declared himself emperor. Frenchmen, please do not be hypnotized
by his charisma and military ingenious, see him as he truly is; a power hungry and
troubled general who had the infortune of going into politics. There is a time and a place
for everything, but now is neither the time nor place for Napoleon Bonaparte.