Voting Napoleon Emperor for life violated the promises of the French Revolution in several ways. The French Revolution was a period of intense political and social upheaval that aimed to establish a more democratic, egalitarian society in France. One of the central promises of the French Revolution was the establishment of a republic, which meant that the people would have the power to elect their own leaders.
Napoleon Bonaparte, who rose to power during the French Revolution, was a military general who initially supported the revolution's ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. However, he later became more authoritarian in his rule and sought to consolidate his power. In 1804, he declared himself Emperor of France and established a hereditary monarchy, effectively ending the revolutionary goal of creating a republic.
By making himself emperor, Napoleon violated the promises of the French Revolution in several ways. Firstly, he established a hereditary monarchy, which was in direct contrast to the revolutionary ideal of equality. The idea of a monarchy implied that some people were born to rule, which went against the revolutionary principle that all people should have an equal say in how they are governed.
Secondly, by declaring himself emperor for life, Napoleon effectively made himself a dictator, which went against the revolutionary ideals of democracy and liberty. The people no longer had the power to elect their own leaders or have a say in how they were governed.
Finally, Napoleon's establishment of an empire was also a violation of the revolutionary principle of fraternity. Fraternity was the idea that all French people were part of the same community and that they should work together for the common good. Napoleon's establishment of a monarchy and his consolidation of power went against this idea and created divisions between the ruling class and the rest of the French population.
In conclusion, voting Napoleon Emperor for life violated the promises of the French Revolution in several ways. It was a step away from the revolutionary ideals of democracy, equality, and fraternity and marked a return to authoritarian rule.