OVERVIEWOne of the most important skills of historians is the ability to evaluate and analyze primary and secondary sources for this course and future courses. This assignment focuses on this skill as

Evaluative question

Primary Source Title

The Concordant of 1801

Secondary Source title

“Napoleon bonaparte and the restoration of catholicism in france”

Who was the author? (Not the editor or the translator)

Napoleon Bonaparte of France and Pope Pius VII

Sr. M. Barbara

Who is the audience? Be Specific. This is never ALL people.

French Catholics and Catholic clerics

Scholars/students of the French Revolution, 18th century Catholic Church, or Napoleon as well as history lovers

What type of document is it? (*More than a primary or secondary source. i.e. autobiography, letter, law, etc.)

It is an agreement on how the Roman Catholic Church will operate in France.

Scholarly journal article in The Catholic Historical Review 12(2), 1926

What is the subject or author’s thesis?

There were a series of agreements that restored, as well as limited, the power of the Roman Catholic Church.

1. The leader of France appoints bishops and archbishops.

2. All clerics will take an oath of fidelity to the French Republic.

3. Bishops can have seminaries in their chapters.

4. The French government will provide salaries to clerics.

5. Confiscated churches will be returned to the Catholic Church, but other properties will not be returned.

6. If a future leader of France is not Catholic, the right to appoint bishops and archbishops will be renegotiated with the Pope.

7. Church decrees must be examined and authorized by the French government before they go into effect.

Barbara asserts scholars should understand the relationship between the French government and the Catholic Church. She argues the Church’s popularity declined in the 18th century:

1. 1/3 of the land in France belonged to the Church

2. Church was tax-exempt

3. France was in economic crisis

4. Revolutionary Army

• Invaded Italy and established a republic

• Kidnapped and imprisoned Pope Pius VI

• Feeling in Europe that the papacy was irrelevant

She concludes the re-establishment of the Church led to 100 years of peace in France.

What was the author’s motive for writing the source?

You may have to “read between the lines” to answer this question.

The authors wanted to restore the Roman Catholic’s power and prestige in France, with limits.

Inference: To provide a historical parallel on how the Catholic Church could operate with limited power in a secular democracy.

Does the author have an obvious bias? (*Note that all authors have biases, but not all are obvious.) What is the bias?

Look at the language the documents use: do they use value-laden terms for one group over another? Does an agreement favor one group more? This points to bias.

Obviously, there is a pro-French bias. Napoleon believed the religion was a way of controlling the French people (film), while the Pope was the leader of the faith.

The author is a Catholic nun publishing in a Catholic journal, so there is a pro-Catholic bias. She focuses on how the Catholic Church benefitted from subsuming part of its power to a secular nation.

Where was the document written? How does this influence what is written?

Copies were signed in Rome and Paris. This is significant, because it implies Napoleon and Pope Pius did not meet face-to-face when negotiating or agreeing to the terms.

Inference: Washington, D.C., U.S.A. The Catholic University of America opened in the nation’s capital so it could influence U.S. politics.

When was the document written?

It was signed on July 15, 1801

July 1926

What was the effect of the source on history?

The agreement remained in effect until 1905, when the French government denounced it in favor of the “Separation Law” – separation of Church and State.

This is a 20th century article and it has not had an effect on history.

What was the historical context of the document? What was going on at the time that might have influenced the author’s opinions? How did the source affect your view of the topic or event, if a secondary source?

You may need to do a little outside research to answer this question. This is a good time to use the associated video clip.

During the French Revolution, the government confiscated Church properties and initiated Church reforms. It created a constitutional religion, but eventually banned Christianity (Film). French invaded Rome, setting it up as a republic, and imprisoned Pope Pius VI in Paris for the rest of his life (Film).

This agreement recognizes the power of the papacy (Film), compensates the Church for its losses while retaining some of the reforms; specifically, the French leader’s ability to appoint bishops and archbishops.

According to Politico Magazine [http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/09/when-america-hated-catholics-213177], there was widespread anti-Catholic sentiment in the United States from 1840 and 1924. The Dillingham Commission on Immigration and other scientists asserted race determined behavior, intelligence, and physical attributes. The Irish, Italians, and Mexicans (all Catholics) were seen as lower on the hierarchy of races than Protestant Europeans. Among this backdrop, Barbara explores the relationship between the Catholic Church and the French (“good” Europeans who were Catholic).

Why was the document written? (*You may have to infer this by reading between the lines or doing further research.)

Inference: There was friction between the Catholic Church and the French government following the Revolutionary period. The conflict negatively impacted French Catholics, who made up the majority of the population.

Inference: Barbara discusses how the Catholic Church can retain a dominant position in a secular democracy. She connects the French relationship and the Catholic Church as an example of how the Catholic Church fits in with U.S. political system during a period of anti-Catholic and anti-papal sentiments.

Is the document credible? Why or why not? (*See how to determine reliability or credibility in Module 4’s Research Assignment.)

Refer to the links on source credibility in Module 4.

Based on Cornell’s criteria, this document is credible. The International Napoleonic Society sponsors the Napoleon Series, of which this document is a part. It lists its Editor-in-Chief Robert Burnham and allows you to email him directly. Burnham is a Napoleon scholar and the author of The British Army Against Napoleon. There is no advertising on the webpage. The website is updated monthly, so it is current. And access to the information is free and does not require special software.

Based on Cornell’s criteria, this document is credible. The Catholic University of America Press publishes books and academic journals on topics facing American Catholics. All works are peer-reviewed by other Catholic scholars. The article lists Sr. M Barbara as its author, as well as a short biography. There is no advertising on the webpage. Access to the article requires a subscription that CCCOnline Library has through the JStor database. No special software is required.