You Are Napoleon
Bonaparte
How will you take power in
France?
1
The situation in France is bad when you
return from Egypt. People are angry at the
Directory because it is corrupt. Also, France’s
enemies have united against France and are
winning many battles against France. You’re
thinking about taking control sometime and are
waiting for your chance. Abbott Sieyes, hoping to
eventually lead France, suggests that you use
the army for a coup d’etat.
• Do you agree with Sieyes and stage a coup?
• Do you decide to wait and pretend to help the
government?
What happened?
Napoleon decided to have the
government moved to St. Cloud,
away from the Paris mobs.
2
With the two Councils safe in St. Cloud, you
must find a way to make the government
effective so that the whole country doesn’t fall
into chaos and can fight against its enemies
without losing the territory you have gained. A
new, temporary government may be the only way
to keep people from rioting.
• Do you march to St. Cloud and force a new
provisional (temporary) government?
• Do you go to St. Cloud and request the two
councils to establish a provisional government?
What happened?
Napoleon brought with him two
regiments of soldiers, which made the
council angry and refused him. So,
Napoleon marched into the Orangerie
and ordered them to sign a paper
creating a provisional government.
3
The document signed is very important.
What kind of government is going to be set up?
The number of people in control will determine
whether there is a stable government created
or an unstable government created.
• Do you make yourself First Consul and have all
power?
• Do you make yourself one of three Consuls and
look like there is shared power?
• Do you hold elections for all males in the
country?
What happened?
Napoleon made himself First Consul,
but had named two other Consuls, to
make it seem like they worked together.
However, these were only Napoleon’s
advisors. He created a new constitution
and new government, but the
government had no power.
4
There is a problem of having the common
people of France agree with you having
complete power. If you don’t the country may
fall into riots again, because people don’t want
a corrupt government and are afraid of a
single, oppressive leader. You don’t want
people to be suspicious.
• Do you hold a plebiscite (a vote on one
question) asking people choose you as the First
Consul for Ten Years?
• Do you not hold the plebiscite because you fear
people may become suspicious of your future
plans?
What happened?
Napoleon held a plebiscite and he
won overwhelmingly. He was now in
position (had an opportunity) to
make many changes in France.
5
You have complete control of France and
complete support of the people. Peace has
been made with the church and Britain –
France’s strongest enemy. You have control
over the newspapers, government and the
army. Some supporters suggest you become
the Consul for Life. There is a fear that people
don’t want another monarch. Consul for Life
would be exactly that!
• There is a fear that a majority will not support you. Do
you hold a plebiscite and hope that the common
people support you too?
• Do you not hold a plebiscite and simply declare
yourself Consul for Life, because you figure people will
support you anyway?
What happened?
Napoleon chose to hold another plebiscite
and won overwhelming support again. His
family didn’t want him to crown Josephine
empress, and the Pope was against him
becoming emperor. Napoleon crowned himself
Emperor of France and Josephine empress. He
began placing family members on various
thrones of Europe. France was once again a
monarchy with an empire in Europe and
around the world.