Question

In early life he may have been a sincere republican; but he hated anarchy and disorder, and, before his campaign in Italy was over, he had begun to plan to make himself ruler of France. He worked systematically to transform the people's earlier ardor for liberty into a passion for military glory and plunder."

- Willis Mason West, in The Story of World Progress, 1922

Historian Willis Mason West is speaking of which 19th century leader?

Answer 1

Willis Mason West describes Napoleon Bonaparte, who transitioned from a republican to the Emperor of the French, centralizing power and shifting revolutionary ideals towards an empire built on military might.

Step-by-step explanation:

Historian Willis Mason West is speaking of Napoleon Bonaparte, the 19th century French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and its associated wars. Initially, he may have been seen as a proponent of republican ideals, but he later sought to centralize power around himself. His efforts transformed the revolutionary zeal for liberty into a passion for military conquest and empire-building, culminating in his coronation as Emperor of the French in 1804. Napoleon's rule was marked by military successes that extended French influence across much of Europe, yet this came with a loss of the revolution's democratic ideals.

Napoleon centralized the administration of the territories he conquered, promoting his relatives to positions of power in puppet states, which were part of the vast empire he created with his military campaigns. Despite his revolutionary roots, Napoleon's reign saw limits to individual liberties and the reinstatement of slavery in French colonies.