Louis XVI and Napoleon DBQ Louis XVI’s rule was defiantly not similar to the Rule of Napoleons rule when you get down to the basics.
Louis XVI and Napoleon Bonaparte were two of the most significant rulers in French history for many different reasons. Being so young the inexperienced Louis XVI led France into the beginning of a bloody French Revolution. Napoleon on the other hand launched France to the top in Europe shortly after. Louis XVI and Napoleon differed in three main categories including: qualifications, domestic policy, and foreign policy.Napoleon Bonaparte was much more qualified to become the leader of France than Louis XVI was. After the death of his father, Louis XVI was given control of France at the young age of fifteen.
This was surprising considering as a child Louis XVI showed no signs of leadership, often described as awkward and naive. “If you abandon me in this great enterprise I shall work alone for the welfare of my peoples…I shall consider myself as their only true representative. None of your plans and proceedings may become law without my express approval (Doc. 3).
The previous quote is an example of Louis XVI being naive. Napoleon on the other hand went through intense academic studies and was appointed a French lieutenant at the age of sixteen. Over the course of the next 18 year, Napoleon worked his way up in rank in military and became beloved by all of France (Doc. 4).
Louis XVI and Napoleon Bonaparte also had very different domestic policies. Louis XVI’s old regime took away about 98 percent of the French populations’ rights (Doc. 7). The lower class during the rule of Louis XVI’s reign had absolutely no rights; they were on the bottom of the food chain.
All of the money and power belonged to the aristocracy, or the first and second estates (Doc. 9). After the French Revolution ended the old regime, Napoleon Bonaparte established the Napoleonic Code. Napoleon’s new laws kept many of the ideals the French Revolution had been fought for including equality and the opportunity for economic prosperity (Doc.
8). Although, there was a down side to the Napoleonic code because women and children were no included and lost the rights they had gained during the French Revolution. All in allNapoleons domestic policy gave rights to many men in France, while Louis XVI’s old regime did not allow for economic and social growth. Foreign policy was also something Louis XVI and Napoleon differed in. Louis XVI spent most of his money on the area of defense. He fought many hopeless wars including some against the brutal British Navy.
Louis XVI also sent a lot of money to America during their war’s with Britain. In retrospect Louis XVI was more worried about protecting himself than he was about protecting the people of France.Louis XVI involvement with war turned out to be an ultimate failure and was also not popular with the people of France (Doc. 5).
Napoleon was a very aggressive leader who wished to expand the borders of France (Doc. 1). Napoleon led many campaigns across Europe and his many stories of success gave him a good reputation with the people back in France (Doc. 6).
Napoleons rapid military campaigns contrasted with Louis XVI’s defensive military action. Napoleon Bonaparte and Louis XVI’s rule were defiantly not similar.Napoleon was a head strong leader that led his country with confidence. Louis XVI was a king that was naively given the thrown and the country reaped the consequences. Napoleon focused on expanding France’s borders and his new code gave many Frenchmen rights they had strived for during the French Revolution.
Louis’s carelessness with his budget set France back several years and his old regime severely hurt French society. All in all these two rulers obviously had different goals and methods in which to reach those goals.
