Question

What changes did Napoleon introduce to make the administrative system more efficient in the territories ruled by him?

Answer 1

To make the whole system efficient and rational, Napoleon incorporated revolutionary principles in the administrative field.

Napoleon – Administrative System

Some of the important changes that were implemented by Napoleon are given below:

• The Civil Code of 1804 – usually known as the Napoleonic Code, secured the right to property, established equality before the law, and removed all privileges based on birth.
• To the regions under French control, this Napoleonic Code was exported.
• New businessmen, artisans, peasants, and workers enjoyed a new-found freedom.
• In territories under French control such as Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Dutch Republic, peasants were freed from manorial dues, peasants were freed from serfdom, feudal system was abolished, administrative divisions were simplified.
• Guild restrictions were removed in towns.
• There were improvements in communication and transport systems.
• To facilitate the movement and exchange of goods and capital from one region to another, small-scale producers of goods and businessmen began to realise that common national currency, standardised measures and weights, and uniform laws were of great help.

Reactions of Local Population – Areas Conquered by Napoleon

Although Napoleon brought in sweeping reforms in administration, democracy was destroyed.

• Initially, the French army was welcomed as harbingers of liberty.
• They were welcomed in Switzerland, Holland and in cities like Warsaw, Milan, Mainz, Brussels.
• When political freedom did not go hand in hand with the administrative reforms, the initial enthusiasm transformed into hostility.
• The negative sentiments that were created due to forced conscription into the French armies, which was required for conquering the rest of Europe, censorship, increased taxation outweighed the positive changes brought about by the administrative changes.