Napoleon wanted this code to be clear, logical, and easily understood by all citizens. He appointed a commission to prepare a code of laws. The French writer Voltaire once complained that a man traveling across France would have to change laws as often as he changed horses.ĭetermined to unify France into a strong modern nation, Napoleon pushed for a single set of written laws that applied to everyone.

Different legal systems controlled different parts of the country. This included writing a new code of laws to apply equally to all French citizens regardless of class.īy Napoleon’s time, a confusion of customary, feudal, royal, revolutionary, church, and Roman laws existed in France. The short period of peace that followed allowed Napoleon to complete his plans for unifying the French nation. In 1802, a vote of the people made him “First Consul for Life.” That same year, he signed peace treaties with several countries. A few months later, he reached agreement with Spain to return Louisiana to France. In 1800, Napoleon led his army over the Alps to defeat the Austrians in Italy.

In return, the government paid the salaries of Catholic priests (France was mostly a Catholic country). The church turned its lands over to the state. To end a violent conflict with the Roman Catholic Church brought on by the revolution, Napoleon negotiated a pact with the pope. Napoleon also established France’s first public education system and financed many public-works projects including the beautification of Paris.

To his credit, Napoleon selected appointees who generally proved to be efficient and honest. Napoleon quickly set to work taking control of the country by appointing cabinet ministers, provincial governors and councils, police commissioners, mayors, and judges-all loyal to him.

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