The Mysteries of History (March 21 Edition)

Napoleonic Code

1804 — Napoleonic Code

public domain images from wikimedia commons

After the French Revolution, the time was ripe for sweeping changes in the way government functioned in France. On this date in 1804, a set of laws proposed by General-turned-Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte took effect.

The “Napoleonic Code” was pro-male, increasing men’s authority over their families and diminishing the rights of women as well as children born to unmarried parents. Even worse, colonial slavery was re-introduced.

And not only were these laws put into effect in France, but also all of its territories/colonies, and also heavily influenced the legal systems of other countries throughout Europe as well as South America.

Questions: Was Napoleon married at this time? If so, what did his wife think about his chauvinistic set of laws? How did U.S. President John Adams’ wife Abigail make her views felt when her husband was involved in enacting laws just a few years earlier in America?

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