How Did Napoléon Bonaparte Rise To Power

Eighteenth century Western society was an important time period for the furthering of revolution and reform, both in thought and in action. Napoléon Bonaparte’s rise to power was a direct result of this. Many different major historical events as well as the rebirth of reason at this time were the key factors in launching his social status from the middle class of Corsica to the imperial throne of France, creating perhaps the most powerful European state and government of the 1800s. Most notable among these were the French and American Revolutions, which set the common mind to change the world in their favour, the Enlightenment, which spurred revolution and the embetterment of society, as well as Napoléon’s own actions and history, in that they led the way …show more content…
Most immediately, it was caused by the elaborate spending of Louis XV in the Seven Years’ War, and by the many terrible decisions of his successor, Louis XVI. These two monarchs both followed the reign of Louis XIV, known as both the Great or simply the Sun King, and they were terribly incapable of following his example. The people of France saw the rising economic and social inequality as well the injustice inflicted by the ruling class, and rose up against it. Issues such as the heavy taxation upon them, a lack of food, and the monarchy’s failures to successfully reform were all driving factors towards the revolutionary government. It is directly because of this new rule of the middle class that a man like Napoléon was able to come out of a relatively low life and push through the ranks, to eventually put himself into a ruling position as he did. Revolutionary ideas were already common in this time period following the American Revolution, which France was heavily involved in, and both it and its father, the Enlightenment, were what drove the French to revolt, and put the middle class man on the top of the societal