Glencoe World History: Modern Times © 2011 Virginia Edition

Emperor Napoleon

Introduction
Napoleon was a brilliant politician and a military genius. He convinced the French people to accept him not only as consul for life, but as emperor whose title would be inherited by members of his family. In this activity you will read excerpts of Napoleon's own account of the reasons for his crowning as emperor, and the benefits he believed the crowning would have for the French people.

Destination Title: Napoleon’s Account, 1804

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Directions

• Read the information on the Web site about Napoleon's own account of his crowning as emperor.
• Take notes as you read.

Use the information you found to answer the following questions.

1			Which form of government does Napoleon believe endures best, and why?
2			How does Napoleon describe the relationship between religion and his crowning as emperor?
3			In what way does Napoleon reveal his concern for his own legacy?
4			What are the four major accomplishments of his rule that Napoleon discusses at length?
5			The reaction of the French people to the news that Napoleon had been crowned emperor differed depending on the person and that person's place in French society. Imagine you are one of three French people: a priest, a female school teacher, and a former aristocrat (a man or a woman) now living in exile. Using what you have learned in your textbook and on the Web site, write a letter from that person's perspective, expressing your reaction and your hopes and fears about Napoleon. Where possible, mention conditions each person would have experienced since the revolution.