Editing History of France (section)

=== Napoleon's impact on France ===
Napoleon centralized power in Paris, with all the provinces governed by all-powerful prefects whom he selected. They were more powerful than royal intendants of the {{Lang|fr|ancien régime}} and had a long-term impact in unifying the nation, minimizing regional differences, and shifting all decisions to Paris.{{Sfnp|Goubert|1988|loc=Chapter 14}}

Religion had been a major issue during the Revolution, and Napoleon resolved most of the outstanding problems, moving the clergy and large numbers of devout Catholics from hostility to the government to support for him. The Catholic system was reestablished by the [[Concordat of 1801]] (signed with Pope [[Pius VII]]), so that church life returned to normal; the church lands were not restored but the Jesuits were allowed back in and the bitter fights between the government and Church ended. Protestants, Jews and atheists were tolerated.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sutherland |first=D. M. G. |title=The French Revolution and Empire: The Quest for a Civic Order |date=2003 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-0-6312-3362-6 |pages=329–333 |orig-date=2002}}</ref>

The French taxation system had collapsed in the 1780s. In the 1790s the government seized and sold church lands and lands of exiled aristocrats. Napoleon instituted a modern, efficient tax system that guaranteed a steady flow of revenues and made long-term financing possible.{{Sfnp|Lefebvre|1969|pp=171–179}}

Napoleon kept the system of conscription that had been created in the 1790s, so that every young man served in the army, which could be rapidly expanded even as it was based on a core of careerists and talented officers. Before the Revolution the aristocracy formed the officer corps. Now promotion was by merit and achievement—every private carried a marshal's baton, it was said.{{Sfnp|Sutherland|2003|pp=336–372}}

The modern era of French education began in the 1790s. The Revolution in the 1790s abolished the traditional universities.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Barnard |first=Howard Clive |title=Education and the French Revolution |date=1969 |publisher=Cambridge U.P. |isbn=978-0-5210-7256-4}}</ref> Napoleon sought to replace them with new institutions, the [[École Polytechnique]], focused on technology.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bradley |first=Margaret |date=1976 |title=Scientific Education for a New Society The Ecole<!--[sic; no accent]--> Polytechnique 1795–1830 |journal=[[History of Education: Journal of the History of Education Society|History of Education]] |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=11–24 |doi=10.1080/0046760760050103}}</ref> The elementary schools received little attention.

==== Napoleonic Code ====
Of permanent importance was the [[Napoleonic Code]] created by eminent jurists under Napoleon's supervision. Praised for its <!--Gallic(??)--> clarity, it spread rapidly throughout Europe and the world in general, and marked the end of feudalism and the liberation of serfs where it took effect.{{Sfnp|Grab|2003}} The Code recognized the principles of civil liberty, equality before the law, and the secular character of the state. It discarded the old right of primogeniture (where only the eldest son inherited) and required that inheritances be divided equally among all the children. The court system was standardized; all judges were appointed by the national government in Paris.{{Sfnp|Goubert|1988|loc=Chapter 14}}