cided that he wanted to become a soldier 6. He wastaught to speak French at a school taught by Catholic priests where he skirmished to beaccepted 7. To follow his dream, he eventually transferred to a military school which hethoroughly enjoyed 8. He graduated as a second lieutenant and climbed his way up toachieve the ranks of an officer. Napoleon and Hitler are often compared to each otherbecause just like Napoleon, Hitler also had to struggle to be accepted into society and thenfound his comfort in a group although a political one 9. They were also both ambitiousand patriotic men. Before France fell into the hands of Napoleon, the nation had been in a complete stateof chaos and instability. France, around 1790, had created a constitutional monarchy butwas undoubtedly moving toward corruption. The revolutions main objectives were clearlystated with three words: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, all of which Napoleonsupported 10. The revolution, as time passed, took a turn for the worst. During the mostradical phase of this era, the National Convention attempted to dechristianize Francearound 1793. They did so by taking actions, one of which was the creation of a newcalendar by the National Convention that numbered the years based on the date that theFrench Republic was declared in 1792 rather than the birth of Christ 11. Since most ofthe French people remained Catholic, these actions did not go over well with the majority. Ashcraft 3For example, as supporters of the king, " Nothing, royalists believed, justified abolishingtheir God-given privileges " 12. Many of the people refused to conform to this irrationalidea. Their disagreement in turn led to the spread of war against the Revolution: " Therevolutionary army was a popular army fueled by patriotism " 13. Because of the turmoilin France, it was not prepared for war and was in desperate need of military control. Steady protests yielded religious freedom an...
