During the French Revolution, the people of France had witnessed many different forms of government- absolute monarchy, constitutional monarchy and a republic. Thus, as a key phase in any revolution, a dictatorship will arise who says he will meet the people's desperate needs. This was Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon rescued France from the toils of the revolution. He was also a child of the Enlightenment and used many of its ideals during his rule. Ideas such as establishing a national bank, organizing public education and employing natural rights upon the people give Napoleon the title of last enlightened despot.
For hundreds of years before Napoleon's reign, the economy of France was in shambles. The largest populated country in Europe was ironically the biggest count
ry in poverty and debt. This was due to the French government's overspending in the royal court and military improvements. Napoleon would be the first leader to make lasting improvements in finance. He used human reasoning, an essential concept in enlightened thinking, and established the Banque Nationale de Paris. He reestablishes old taxes and pays back old debts. He also settled the problem of inflating food prices. He would put France back at a strong financial hold.
Ideas such as establishing a national bank, organizing public education and employing natural rights upon the people give Napoleon the title of last enlightened despot. However, his numerous taxes and wars would prevent people from seeing these great reforms until his fall in 1815. Although he is better known as one of t
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