Question

did you know? napoleon suffered from frohlichs disease, which caused his sex organs to shrink! both napoleons appointment as first consul of france and his coronation were put to the french people in a referendum (vote). the french people had had enough of the political quarrels in france and now looked for strong leadership in napoleon. many observers abroad found it odd that france had agreed to have an emperor so soon after removing a king. many people in european monarchies (such as austria and britain) had not supported the revolution and therefore did not like napoleon. they were more critical of the new emperor of france. source 1. frenchmen, without a doubt, you will see in what i did that i am a soldier who supports liberty and am a citizen who is devoted to the republic. - from a translation of the official version of the coup, issued throughout france. source 2. another version of the coup by an english artist. the caption reads: the corsican crocodile abolishes the council of frogs. source 3. napoleons coronation by the french painter david. david was a keen supporter of the revolution. source 4. he stammered so much... it was clear his place was before soldiers rather than before an assembly. from the memoirs of bourrienne, napoleons secretary. the two later fell out. tasks 1) why did some people think it strange that the french people accepted napoleon as their new emperor? 2) compare sources 1 and 3. how do napoleons words in the official version of the coup contradict the scene pictured in source 3? 3) look at source 2. does it support or criticise the coup? explain your answer. 4) identify the people marked a, b and c in source 3. why might we not trust this painting completely? 5) what impression of napoleon does each of these sources give you? bonus 1 you are napoleon. you have taken control and crowned yourself emperor. what steps are you now going to take to make sure you keep your position in france? bonus 2 ask your teacher for a blank fact - file. use your knowledge of napoleons life to fill it in.

Explanation:

1. France had just removed a king and many saw the acceptance of an emperor as a contradiction. European monarchies that supported the revolution disliked this turn - around.
2. In source 1, Napoleon claims to support liberty and the republic, but in source 3, the coronation scene shows a more imperial and monarchical image, contradicting his words.
3. Source 2 is a satirical cartoon. It criticizes the coup as it shows Napoleon (the Corsican Crocodile) in a negative light, abolishing the Council of Frogs.
4. Without seeing the actual markings clearly, generally, paintings can be biased as they are created with the artist's perspective and may be commissioned to present a certain image.
5. Source 1 shows Napoleon as a self - presented champion of liberty. Source 2 shows him as a power - hungry figure. Source 3 shows his imperial grandeur. Source 4 shows a stuttering, perhaps less confident side.

For bonus 1, steps could include consolidating power through military and political means, winning public support, and using propaganda. For bonus 2, fill the factfile with details about his birth, military campaigns, rise to power, key policies, and downfall.

Answer:

1. France had recently overthrown a king and European monarchies that supported the revolution disliked the idea of an emperor.
2. His words in source 1 about supporting liberty and the republic contradict the imperial scene in source 3.
3. It criticizes the coup as it is a satirical cartoon showing Napoleon in a negative light.
4. Paintings can be biased as they reflect the artist's view or the commissioner's wishes.
5. Source 1: Champion of liberty. Source 2: Power - hungry. Source 3: Imperial grandeur. Source 4: Less confident.

Bonus 1: Consolidate power, win public support, use propaganda.
Bonus 2: Fill with details about birth, campaigns, rise, policies, downfall.