what you have endured! For all this, my thanks ' " 19.The Directory's division into two branches that were constantly in disagreement weakenedtheir status and strengthened Napoleon's. In the mean time, politicians had a scheme, onein which Napoleon was not a part of, to overthrow the Directory with a coup d' etat 20. Once the plot had become a reality and the Directory was at last demolished, all washanded over to a committee of three divisions: First, Second, and Third Consul 21. Napoleon was immediately called on to fill the top position; that of First Consul 22. Thisbasically placed all of the power in the hands of a former military leader which he wouldremain. A part of Napoleon was saying peace and calm after the Revolution while theother was screaming complete control and restraint 23. Because Napoleon had an appetitefor power and had a spoiled disposition, he would not be satisfied until he took his ranks Ashcraft 5to the farthest step possible: emperor. He did so by appealing to peoples senses ; " ' Clever policy consists in making nations believe they are free ' " 24. During the time of Napoleon's transition from Consul to Emperor of France between1800 and 1804, his achievements both on and off of the battlefield were numerous. Firstand formost Napoleon thought it imperative to mend relations with the catholic churchthat had been ruptured during the Revolution 25. Napoleon was a believer in God but notin what religion taught of him. he felt that a society without religion was lacking: "Religion dulled the pains of overwork and poverty with promises of happiness in the nextworld. Without it there'd be no morality, no way for society to exist " 26. Under theterms of agreement set by Napoleon in 1801, both sides would gain from the Concordantwith the Papacy. The conditions of the Concordant were very defined. The Pope accepted that althoughCatholicism was not established as the state religion, it was assumed to be ...
