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The Consulate in France (1799-1804)
Summary
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The French Revolution ended with Napoleon's Consulate; the bourgeoisie and the peasants were satisfied. Napoleon seemed to offer stability, and the voters approved his constitution in a plebiscite. Napoleon signed treaties that brought peace to Europe, and maneuvered to build coalitions and crush dissent at home. He concluded a concordat with the pope in 1801, which basically ratified the status quo but allowed Napoleon to replace clergy throughout France. Napoleon continued to strengthen his hold on power, and initiated codification of French law (the Napoleonic Code). Like the concordat with the church, the Napoleonic Code mostly endorsed changes that had been effected by the revolution, while incrementally enhancing the state's power. By 1804, Napoleon was ready to crown himself emperor, making himself Napoleon I.
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