Analyzation of Napoleon's decree

"The Plebiscite, Article (ii)" was decreed by Napoleon III during the Second Empire around the 4th of December 1851, Champs Elysee, Paris, France. As it was an official decree of the "emperor", it was meant for all French people to read, but most especially the lower classes, and to inform them of three modified articles regarding their enfranchisement. The first two was to clearly define who could vote and the necessity of proving their eligibility, and the last was to regulate the place, days, and time of voting. It was not only a means to clearly define the voting laws, but also to make it seem that Napoleon was not removing any real power of the public. It was a grand illusion of make-believe that the people had any power and that Napoleon respected their wishes. This was one of his attempts to appease and manipulate the public into thinking as such. Napoleon was forced to declare these laws because the masses of people were educated in philosophical thinkings, and many were socialists who's philosophies and beliefs would have never allowed a dictator (as that is was Napoleon essentially was) to rule. He has just abolished the National Assembly; if he had not allowed some sort of election to some sort of "governing" body, there would have been strong suspicions of his quest for power. To justify his actions, Napoleon said that nothing was effectively being done and that everywhere he turned was another roadblock to helping the people. It was of his opinion that the National Assemblymen were trying to begin a civil war that France did not need; ergo, to prevent such terrible bloodshed and tragedy, he got rid of the instigators. France, still weary of the not forgotten Revolution, welcomed this "saving" and played along with his reasoning. It was a puppet democracy that Louis Napoleon held; it seemed like the people held power, but again, they truly did not. He is precursor to today's authoritarian state politics, in the way people power is mockingly applied, but he aimed to prevent a revolution, unlike many of today's authoritarian leaders who came to power because of their calls FOR revolution.