d Catholicism was no longer the universalreligion. In time, the monarchy was overthrown, and France rose as a republic towardthe end of 1793 and was headed by Maximilien Robespierre, a lawyer by profession. He " . . .believed that people were naturally good -- except when they became selfish andcorrupt " 14. His attempt to purify France by eliminating the traitors for the good ofsociety was known as the Reign of Terror 15. Many were executed, and at this point allsocial classes were in an uproar. In an attempt to protect France from crumbling, theNational Convention came to a unanimous decision to overthrow the man that so manyfeared: Robespierre, and a moderate force was created: the Directory 16. At this point, Napoleon's rank as an officer along and his reputation as an accomplishedmilitary leader, made him a perfect candidate for the desperate France in need. Thepresent Directory in power became jealous of the giant steps that Napoleon was taking. He had negotiated many treaties, such as with the Austrian Empire in 1797, without theDirectory's permission 17. Napoleon had in one case even gone against their will and went Ashcraft 4face to face with Italy in hopes of a negotiation which he did get 18. They had not wantedFrance to become entangled with Italian affairs, but Napoleon wanted to aid them withtheir present revolutionary movements. Napoleon had a way with his army as he did withall of those under him. He often gave them speeches of enthusiasm and praise to helpthem build their ambition with a justifiable cause: " ' Up to this time you have fought for nothing better than barren rocks. . . Lacking everything, you have made up for everything you lacked. You have won battles without cannons, crossed rivers without bridges, made forced marches without boots, and bivouacked without brandy and often without bread. Only the soldiers of liberty could have endured ...
