The French First Republic (fr. It was founded when General Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed himself Emperor of France with Pope Pius VII's blessing, and it fought a series of expansionist wars against the … The document virtually replaced the previous Napoleonic Constitutions. The same day, he had posters issued that proclaimed to the French people (Appel au peuple) his desire to restore the "system created by the First Consul" — his uncle and inspiration Napoleon Bonaparte. The French Constitution established a semi-presidential system of government, with two competing … Journalists such as Jean-Paul Marat pointed to the prisons bursting with vagrants and criminals as well as refractory clergy … Under Article 4 of the constitution, he could initiate, sign or veto any legislation or senate decree ("senatus-consulte"). The Constitution of the Year VIII was adopted on December 24, 1799 (during the Year VIII of the French Revolutionary Calendar), and established the form of government known as the Consulate. Under the Legislative Assembly, which was in power before the proclamation of the First... National Convention. He also held the post of Chancellor of State from … Napoleon became the First Consul for ten years, appointing two consuls who had consultative voices only. The French Constitution of 1852 was enacted on 14 January 1852 by Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (Napoleon III). He was crowned Emperor on 2 December 1804. Page 3 of the Constitution of the Year VIII, Archives Nationales.Napoleon established a political system that historian Martyn Lyons called “dictatorship by plebiscite.” Worried by the democratic forces unleashed by the Revolution, but unwilling to ignore them entirely, Napoleon resorted to regular electoral consultations with the French people on his road to imperial power. He drafted the Constitution of the Year VIII and secured his own election as First Consul, taking up residence at the Tuileries. In 1804, the Constitution of the Year XII established the First French Empire with Napoleon Bonaparte — previously First Consul for Life, with wide-ranging powers — as Napoleon I, Emperor of the French. It was the first constitution since the Revolution that did not include a Declaration of Rights. A new constitution reduced the assembly’s power, and a plebiscite to approve the change was accompanied by officially inspired petitions for the empire’s restoration. The function of the Empire, as Emperor Napoleon III often repeated, was to guide the people internally towards justice and externally towards perpetual peace. While this near-unanimity is certainly doubtful, Napoleon was genuinely popular among many voters and after a period of strife, many in France were reassured by his accomplishments in the War of  the Second Coalition and his talk of stability of government, order, justice, and moderation. He was commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and had the powers of clemency and amnesty, as well as the ability to enact and sign treaties. In practice, so much power was concentrated in the president's hands that when the Second Empire was proclaimed, the only substantive changes were the replacement of the word "president" with the word "emperor," and the provision that the emperor's post was hereditary. Following the restoration of the Monarchy Napoleon became the First Consul for ten years, appointing two consuls with consultative voices only. The Constitution of the Year X (1802) made Napoleon First Consul for Life. Napoleon and his allies overthrew the Directory by a coup d’état on November 9, 1799 (the Coup of 18 Brumaire), closing down the Council of Five Hundred. It was very liberal in spirit and gave the French people rights which were previously unknown to them, such as the right to elect the mayor in communes with populations fewer than 5,000. First French Empire (1804−1815) — of Napoleon in France See also the preceding Category:French First Republic and the succeeding Category:Bourbon Restoration The main article for this category is First French Empire . The term notables, commonly used under the monarchy, referred to prominent and more affluent men — landholders, merchants, scholars, professionals, clergymen, and officials. French First Republic End of the monarchy in France. He drew together an alliance with director Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, his brother Lucien, speaker of the Council of Five Hundred Roger Ducos, director Joseph Fouché, and Talleyrand, and they overthrew the Directory by a coup d’état on November 9, 1799 (the Coup of 18 Brumaire), closing down the Council of Five Hundred (the lower house of the legislature). After a short period of provisional government initially led by Gen. Charles de Gaulle (₩), the Fourth Republic was set up by a new constitution and established as a parliamentary form of government controlled by a series of coalitions. On February 7, 1800, a public referendum confirmed the new constitution. In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte was confronted by Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès – one of the five Directors who constituted the executive branch of the French government—who sought his support for a coup d'état to overthrow the French Constitution of 1795. 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