Civil Code of 1804
The Civil Code of 1804 was introduced during the French Revolution by Napoleon, also known as Napoleonic Code. The main objective behind the Code was to implementation of the principle of equality before the law along with the Right to Property and special birth rights. Special privileges which might have existed previously based on birth or class were removed completely and everyone was treated equally.
The Code was exported to regions under French control. In Dutch Republic, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany, Napoleon simplified the divisions of administrations, abolished the feudal system, and also freed the peasants from serfdom and other manorial dues. In towns, the guild restrictions were removed, and transportation and communication came to be improved; with peasants, artisans and new businessmen came to enjoy newfound freedom. Small-scale producers began the realization that uniform laws and currency, promoted the movement and exchange of goods and capital between different regions.
The reaction of the people was mixed in the conquered regions. In certain parts like Holland, and Switzerland, and cities like Brussels, and Milan, the armies of the French were welcomed as harbingers of liberty. But soon it turned into hostility, as the new administrative arrangement did not go hand in hand with political freedom. The advantages were outweighed by increased taxation, censorship, and forced conscription to conquer the rest of Europe.
French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation
French Revolution and Idea of Nation: The French Revolution in Europe was one of the most important movements for nationalism in Europe in 1789. France was declared a full-fledged territorial state in 1789 and came under an absolute monarch. However, the political and constitutional changes that came about with the French Revolution helped in the transfer of sovereignty from the monarch to the body of French citizens that constituted the nation and helped in shaping its destiny.
Table of Content
- The French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation
- Measures to Revolutionized the Movement
- Jacobin Clubs
- Civil Code of 1804
- Idea of Nation
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