Hundred Days

Bonaparte's brief return

The Hundred Days refers to two distinct historical periods.

Most often it means Napoleon's return from exile on Elba in 1815, ending with his defeat at Waterloo—a dramatic final bid for power lasting about a hundred days.

In American politics, it describes a new president's first hundred days in office, originating with Franklin Roosevelt's burst of New Deal legislation in 1933.

The phrase now sets expectations for any incoming administration: The president outlined ambitious goals for his first hundred days.

Related

Napoleon BonaparteFrench military dictator
NapoleonFrench emperor, military genius
marchRhythmic group walk
ElbaTuscan archipelago's largest island
Grande ArméeNapoleon's principal army

France · St. Helena · return · Battle of Waterloo · exile · coalition forces · Louis · reign · Franklin Roosevelt · Imperial Guard · abdication · charge · rallying · military · throne · defeat · escape · battle

Opposites

outcome/success of political return

Hundred DaysRestoration

1660s monarchical revival

Bourbon Restoration · Waterloo · Congress of Vienna

political energy/intensity

Hundred Daysincrementalism

Change through small steps

normalcy · business as usual · status quo · drift

duration of rule/tenure

Hundred DaysAugustan age

Period of literary refinement

Family

days, hundred, weekday, hundredth, diurnal, centenary, hundredfold

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G