AP+2014+Napoleonic+Code

Aim - Corey  The Napoleonic Code was enacted after four years of planning in 1804. The code became the first definitive laws regarding colonial affairs, property, and individual rights in France after the revolution. Napoleon desperately wanted to restructure the outdated legal system of France and was the driving force behind structuring the new system. Under the Civil Code, Napoleon's “...mix of liberalism and conservatism, although most of the basic revolutionary gains-equality before the law, freedom of religion and the abolition of feudalism” were demonstrated ( "The Civil Code") . The code also included provisions regarding property rights and gave men more authority over their families. Women were denied any individual rights and the rights of “illegitimate children” (“Napoleonic Code Approved in France”) were diminished. The code was extremely influential in several European countries and confirmed Napoleon’s influence as well.

Sources: "Napoleonic Code Approved in France." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. "The Civil Code." The Civil Code Index. The Napoleon Series, 2008. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

Audience- Bradley The Napoleonic Code was a French civil code, established under Napoléon I in 1804. Napoleonic Code influenced many countries in the post Napoleonic era when European countries drafted their own governments. These new laws were meant to influence the people of the countries and get away from feudal laws. After 80 meetings of government officials with Napoleon, they finally created the new form of governmental laws that “codified several branches of law, including commercial and criminal law, and divided civil law into categories of property and family. The Napoleonic Code made the authority of men over their families stronger, deprived women of any individual rights, and reduced the rights of illegitimate children” (“Napoleonic Code approved in France”). Although Napoleonic Code may give more liberties and freedoms, it deprived liberties and freedom from women. When Napoleon controlled France, it was a new era for politics and society. These codes were the first major overhaul of government policies since the feudal system was introduced. Even though these laws and codes may appear to be common today, during the 1800s they changed the world and affected many more countries and societies besides France. Napoleon wanted to to create a better government that more closely aligned to the French Revolutionary because the people believed the feudal laws were confusing and contradictory.

Sources: "Napoleonic Code Approved in France." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. "The Civil Code." The Civil Code Index. The Napoleon Series, 2008. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

Historical - Madison Napoléon I developed the Napoleonic Code, a French civil code, and had it enacted in March 21, 1804. This code was “not the first legal code to be established in a European country with a civil legal system” (“Napoleonic Code”). In fact, the Napoleonic Code was preceded by codes in Prussia, Galicia, and Bavaria. However, because this code was the first to be adopted with a pan-European scope, it had an immense impact on the law of many of the countries that were built during and after the Napoleonic Wars. One of the major aspects about this code was that it stressed the importance of more easily accessible laws. The introduction of this sort of objective began the process of stepping away from the previous system of feudal laws. When drafting his code, Napoléon I drew inspiration “not  from earlier French laws but instead from Justinian's sixth-century codification of Roman law, the //Corpus Juris Civilis// (“Napoleonic Code”). In his code, Napoléon divided law into the categories of persons, property, acquisition of property, and civil procedure. The Napoleonic Code wrote out and broke down the laws in a way that had never been done before, but was much needed. In France at the time, people were confused about the law because of the way it was written in the feudal system. But through the construction of this code, the French now had a single set of laws that was easily accessible and more easily understood.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sources: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Napoleonic Code." Princeton University. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Napoleonic Code Approved in France." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Handlee; font-size: 20px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cultural- Genevieve <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Napoleonic Code was influenced by many cultural factors including the ideals of the French Revolution and the social status of women in 1800. The Napoleonic code included many rights sought by the French during their Revolution, “... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">most of the basic revolutionary gains - equality before the law, freedom of religion and the abolition of feudalism - were consolidated within its laws” (“The Civil Code”). Napoleon took power after many turbulent years of fighting and he wanted to unify the country of France. In order to smooth his transition to power, the Napoleonic code protected many of the freedoms the French Revolutionaries fought to gain. Equality before the law, freedom of religion, the abolition of feudalism, and the practice of giving government positions to the most qualified were all important acknowledgements of the citizens’ rights. However, not all citizens truly received equal treatment. Due to the prevalent sexism in the time period, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“The Napoleonic Code made the authority of men over their families stronger, deprived women of any individual rights, and reduced the rights of illegitimate children” (“Napoleonic Code Approved in France”). At this point is history women were not given equal social standing and were considered to be weak and subservient. Women were expected to fulfill specific social roles and were viewed almost as property by their fathers and husbands. The fact that the Napoleonic code overlooks women represents the general cultural attitude towards women in this era.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sources: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Napoleonic Code Approved in France." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"The Civil Code." The Civil Code Index. The Napoleon Series, 2008. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.