Final answer:
Napoleon Bonaparte seized power in a military coup following the French Revolution, and his rule marked a shift from emerging democracy to popular authoritarianism in France. At the height of his power, he declared himself emperor and reinstated slavery in the colonies. His reign ended with his defeat at Waterloo and subsequent exile.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best description of the circumstances in which Napoleon Bonaparte took power is that he seized power in a military coup after the French Revolution (option a). This occurred following the diminishing idealism of the French Revolution, as the revolution took a conservative turn. Napoleon managed to guard some revolutionary gains, but he also made stringent decisions such as reinstating slavery in France's colonies and declaring himself emperor in 1804.
Despite Napoleon's reign and abolishment of nobility’s disproportionate share of power, the tradition of modern democracy that had been emerging in France transformed into popular authoritarianism under his rule. This means that power was concentrated in his hands rather than being shared or filtered through elected representatives of the public.
After a series of failed military campaigns, including a failed invasion of Russia, Napoleon was ultimately forced to abdicate his throne in 1814. After his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, he was banished from France and sent into exile.
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