Napoleon updated the French Constitution in 1815 through a massive public vote
In a final attempt to secure his power after returning from exile, Napoleon Bonaparte used a massive public referendum in 1815 to convince the French people he had become a liberal reformer.
On June 1, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte promulgated a new, more liberal constitution known as the Charter of 1815. This followed a massive plebiscite, or public vote, intended to prove he had the democratic support of the French people. By introducing freedom of the press and trial by jury, Napoleon hoped to distance himself from his past as an absolute dictator.
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