Napoleon Bonaparte was a powerful force in Europe from 1799 to 1815. He rose from the ranks of the French army to become the emperor of France. By 1812 he had control of most of Europe. Unfortunately, he met his demise when he attempted to invade Russia. His downfall was almost as swift as his rise to power.


Napoleon was a man of honor, despite killing thousands of people in his conquests. He treated the people he conquered with respect and tolerance and in a sense, liberated them from the monarchies. Overall, his presence was positive because it united Europe and he liberated people under oppressive monarchies.

The French Revolution

The French Revolution is defined as the political upheaval of world importance that began in France in 1789. Inspired by the success of the American Revolution, French citizens overthrew the noble, ruling class and establish a democratic government. The French monarchy under Louis XVI was viewed as oppressive and corrupt and the social structure was rigid, meaning it did not allow for social mobility which eventually forced the people to demand change.


The French Revolution helped change Europe because it addressed the problems between the rich and the poor and give the poor more rights. Also, it helped give the French people equal and fair taxes and introuduce democracy to Europe. I would consider the French Revolution a short-term success because it gave people equal rights and set up a democratic goverment. In the long run though, it was a failure because after Napoleon, monarchies were reintroduced to Europe.

The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement of the 18Th century characterized by belief in the power of human reason and questioning authority. Many enlightenment philosophers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau published their ideas on government.


The Enlightenment philosophers influenced change in society because their ideas of democracy and equal rights. For example, Voltaire's belief in freedom of speech and freedom of religion influenced the United States Constitution. Also, their frustration with European monarchies helped inspire the French Revolution.