The impact of Napoleon Bonaparte on the development of France has been the subject of a vast quantities of historical research. This research reveals Napoleon as an individual with complex motivations and personal struggles. He holds a place of honor in French history, but were his actions ultimately helpful or harmful?
In order to analyze his actions, students will create a timeline of Napoleon’s life that tries to answer the question: “Was Napoleon a Hero or a Villain?” The timeline must include:
The timeline should include 8-10 cells, but adjust accordingly for your needs. Use a color-coding system in the title text boxes to indicate whether you think Napoleon is being heroic (Blue), villainous (Red) or a combination of both (White).
Extended Activity
The storyboards that students just created can be used as the base for a persuasive essay. Students could also research the tomb of Napoleon. Students should use this research to address the question: “Why did the French people build a tomb of this scope to Napoleon?”
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a timeline of Napoleon's life and identify whether or not his actions make him a hero or a villain.
Encourage critical thinking by dividing students into two groups: one defending Napoleon as a hero, the other as a villain. Have each group use timeline evidence and research to build arguments. This interactive format increases engagement and helps students practice persuasive skills.
Direct students to locate and analyze primary sources (letters, proclamations, paintings) related to Napoleon’s rule. This helps them develop historical inquiry skills and gain firsthand perspectives on controversial events.
Ask students to list and illustrate the positive and negative impacts of Napoleon’s policies. Visual organization supports comprehension and allows for easy comparison of his actions.
Invite students to write a brief response to the question: “How might history view Napoleon differently if he had not invaded Russia?” This encourages deeper analysis and connects historical decisions to outcomes.
Key events to include are: Napoleon defending the National Convention (1795), seizing power (1802), centralizing authority (1803), the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), the empire at its largest (1807), mistakes in Spain and Britain (1808), the invasion of Russia (1812), escape from Elba (1815), and the Battle of Waterloo (1815). Highlight domestic policies, impacts on slavery and women, and conflicts with other nations.
To create a color-coded timeline, list major events from Napoleon’s life and use blue for heroic actions, red for villainous ones, and white for mixed or debated actions in the title boxes. Briefly describe each event and its impact, helping students visually assess Napoleon’s complex legacy.
Napoleon’s domestic policies included centralizing government power, introducing the Napoleonic Code, reforming education, and stabilizing the economy. These actions modernized France but also limited freedoms and reinforced certain inequalities, making his impact both positive and controversial.
Historians debate Napoleon’s legacy because his actions brought both progress and destruction. He modernized France but also waged costly wars and curtailed freedoms. His motivations and outcomes are complex, leading to differing opinions on whether he was ultimately a hero or villain.
Students can use their timeline as an outline, selecting key events and color-coded judgments to support their argument. By analyzing each event’s impact, they can craft a persuasive essay on whether Napoleon’s actions were more heroic or villainous, using evidence from their research.