The Danger of Absolute Power

How does absolute power ruin a great leader? Throughout history the world has advanced, connected, and been torn apart by great leaders.  The greatest of leaders have shared many qualities in common, such as effective public speaking, strategic thinking, and the ability to inspire people. However, there is one vital characteristic that only some of them have possessed: the ability to give up power. This quality separates the leaders who have their minds focused on the best interests of their countries’ citizens, and the leaders who are focused primarily on themselves. I would like to focus on how two of history’s great leaders differed in their ability to give up power, Napoleon Bonaparte and George Washington. Not only were they alive in the same time period and admired each other, but they led in extremely similar fashions, with the exception that only one of them knew when to give up power.

When Napoleon Bonaparte led a coup against the French leadership, he had an ambitious mind and brilliant military strategies. He made decisions based on the well being of his citizens, such as supporting Jewish rights (against the ideas of ghettos). Also under his rule, the French economy became very strong. However, as Napoleon conquered more land and became more powerful, he began to abuse his privilege as the single leader of France (He had absolute power).  He made decisions based on his own ambitions and not the good of his country. He entered into wars that France wasn’t strong enough to fight and spent great quantities of money on his own life style. In the end, Napoleon was exiled from France because after he had made mistakes influenced his own ambitions, the citizens of France no longer supported his rule.

George Washington led the American army during the Revolutionary War and was later elected President of the United States.  Like Napoleon, he was a great military leader, and was able to defeat Britain. He was also a military idol and hero in the newly formed colonies and similar to Napoleon, there was no other leader that was strong enough to stop him from pursuing whatever could want. However, Washington knew that unless he was to give up his power (after two terms of Presidency), America could find itself as a monarchy, just like they fought to free themselves from in England. After two terms of serving as President Washington stepped down and gave up his power to the newly elected John Adams.  He knew that it was time to pass the responsibility to someone else. Unlike Napoleon, he didn’t hold on to power for as long as he could, and as a result America gained the foundation for the structure of how their Presidents would lead in the future.