27.

“Napoleon had destroyed democracy in France but in the administrative field he had incorporated revolutionary principles in order to make the whole system more rational and efficient.” Analyse the statement with agreements.

                                                                         OR

“The peace negotiations in Geneva followed the division of Vietnam that set in motion a series of events that turned Vietnam into a battle field.” Analyse the statement with agreements.

Although Napoleon destroyed democracy in France, he introduced some progressive reforms in the country to make the administrative system more rational and efficient. This was achieved by introducing and implementing the following measures:

i. He introduced the Civil Code or the Napoleonic Code which established equality before law and secured the right to property. The privileges based on birth were also abolished. This Code was also applied to all those territories which were conquered by Napoleon.

ii. He abolished the feudal system and liberated the peasants from serfdom and manorial dues.

iii. In towns and cities, restrictions imposed on guilds were removed.

iv. Means of transport and communication were improved.

v. Weights and measures were standardised and a common national currency was introduced. This benefited trades, merchants and businessmen.

OR

The peace negotiations regarding Indo–China took place in Geneva in 1954 after the defeat of the French by the Vietnamese. The latter were forced to accept the division of the country which set in motion a series of events which turned Vietnam into a battle field. Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam. While Ho Chi Minh and communists occupied power in North Vietnam, Bao Dai’s regime occupied power in South Vietnam. The division of Vietnam into two blocks led by two different ideologies turned Vietnam into battlefields bringing death and destruction among its people. Later, Bao Dai’s regime was overthrown by Ngo Dinh Diem who was an autocrat. His dictatorial rule was opposed by the National Liberation Front who fought against Ngo Dinh Diem with the help of Ho Chin Minh. This incident was watched with suspicion by the USA, who did not want the spread of communism in the country. Later, the troops of USA entered Vietnam with an aim to contain communism. Vietnam was thus turned into a battlefield.