The Changer of the 1800s Globe

By: Ian Ballou

Napoleon Bonaparte was military genius who's vision of becoming the ultimate ruler changed more things then just the boundaries of France. Napoleon's impact has effected generations of social, political, and economic happenings throughout Europe. While some of these things can be viewed as negative, Napoleon's overall footprint on 19th century society was a large and a mostly positive one.

Napoleon impacted French society by regaining the order and unification of France which hadn't happened for decades. He believed in everyone having an equal chance at success, himself coming from humble beginnings. By trying to create a more fair system of government he also helped create a better overall economy. The French army would overthrown nobility and serfdom in nations they conquered and by doing so made a more equal middle class while wiping out the high class and the lower class. This lead to more industry and fairer chance then there had been before in these countries. Napoleon also created a bank of France in which he used to help create more public programs that helped the French society as well as the economy. Napoleon's philosophy of doing something new at least every three months made him an eccentric ruler who was sometimes inconsistent in his ideas and actions during his time as ruler. He was also a great war tactician who out smarted his enemies and was cunning enough to take over vast amounts of land with the idea that the world would be his. While these were mostly good things that helped society and economy
 Napoleon had his fair share of negative impacts.

Napoleon's political ideals were sometimes shady and immoral. He would appoint relatives and friends to high positions in the countries he would overthrow. He drew a map of Europe in which Britain was the only country not included in his empire, that shows his overall want to take over any and every country. In his later years he viewed himself and his country as immortal which lead to some of his bad decisions such as invading Russia. He was also a dictator who was at times ruthless in how he handled his country.

Although Napoleon had some negative impacts on his country overall he was a great leader who made France a world power, by helping create better social, economic, and political impacts on his country. He had an overall positive impact on his country and helped make Europe a better place, socially, economically, and politically.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon