Final answer:
Napoleon appealed to the political left by offering amnesty to the émigrés, reconciling with the Catholic Church while upholding secular governance, and establishing educational reforms with the lycées. He also introduced the Napoleonic Code promoting legal equality and made progressive moves like expanding French territory and legalizing labor unions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Napoleon Bonaparte was able to appeal to the left side of the political spectrum through various reforms and policies that aligned with revolutionary values. By offering amnesty to citizens who had fled during the Revolution, he promoted a sense of unity and reconciliation. The Concordat of 1801 with the pope allowed Catholicism to become once again the religion of France but with restrictions, satisfying both religious citizens and those favoring separation of church and state.
Additionally, Napoleon established the lycées, which were secondary schools that provided political and military education, thereby emphasizing the importance of merit in society. This upheld the revolutionary ideals of earning positions based on ability rather than birthright. Furthermore, Napoleon's civil reforms included introducing the Napoleonic Code, which established legal equality and undermined the traditional nobility.
Moreover, Napoleon's military success, which included expanding French lands in Italy and the Austrian Netherlands, as well as legalizing labor unions and expanding public education to include females, were seen as progressive moves that also contributed to his popularity among the left wing.