FRANCE: 1851-1889

Liberal Empire of Napoleon III to the 3rd Republic

Today’s Outline

Authoritarian empire of Napoleon III (1851-1860)

How is he able to rule this way? Liberal empire of Napoleon III (1860-1870) Why the shift in policies and approaches? Civil war and the Paris Commune Creation of the 3rd Republic Problems facing the new government (3rd

Republic)

Authoritarian empire of Napoleon III (1851-1860) Support from army, French Catholic Church,

property owners, and business people Controlled armed forces, police, and civil

service Only Napoleon III could declare war and

introduce legislation Legislative Corps weak even though seen as

representative government Elected via universal male suffrage No initiating legislation No input on national financial matters “Candidate control”

How is Napoleon III able to rule this way?

Elected through plebiscite Worldwide economic prosperity Attention towards ECONOMICS not politics

Encourage economic growth (industrial) New investment banks New construction Reconstruction of Paris

Success in Crimean War (1853-1856) Use of public opinion information

The Liberal empire of Napoleon III (1860-1870)—WHY? Increased opposition from the public French manufacturers upset with Napoleon III

1860 free trade agreement w/ GB Struggling economy

1857 financial crash Silkworm disease Plant lice in French vineyards

Loses influence in Italian unification process Support of 1861-67 Mexican expedition by

Archduke Maximilian of Austria Passive attitude towards Prussia, Bismarck, and

German unification

The Liberal empire of Napoleon III (1860-1870)--CHANGES Less control of candidates in Legislative

Corps Legislative Corps more involved in $$ issues Relaxed censorship laws Permits labor unions 1870 liberal constitution accepted September 1870—Napoleon III captured—

France will LOSE the Franco-Prussian War Republic declared in Paris Paris under Prussian invasion Paris surrenders January, 1871

Civil War and the Paris Commune National Assembly elected in Feb. 1871

Monarchists dominate Executive power to Adolph Thiers Treaty of Frankfurt (May, 1871)

France owes $, loses Alsace-Lorraine, subject to occupation! Many in Paris feel betrayed by the National

Assembly Elect the Paris Commune (Radical republicans, socialists,

etc.) National Assembly decides to crush Paris

Commune Paris surrounded in early April, 1871 May 8, 1871—army bombards Paris May 21, 1871—army into Paris May 21-28—army restores order (20,000+ dead)

Nation-state triumphs over an alternative form of government!!

Creation of the 3rd Republic Even though the monarchist National

Assembly wants a king…there will be no more kings in France…EVER!

Bourbon heir has NO children—will accept Orleans heir Orleans heir want revolutionary tri-color flag to go (but no

one want the white Bourbon flag back!) Bottom line…can’t decide who is going to be king!

1875 Republican constitution creates 3rd Republic

Bicameral legislature Senate (indirect elections) Chamber of Deputies (universal male suffrage)

President (7-year term—chosen by legislature)

Challenges to the 3rd Republic Monarchists, Catholic clergy, and army

officers Boulanger crisis (1880’s) Dreyfus Affair 3rd Republic survives these challenges

and will be the government of France from 1870-1940!

Assignment

Research the Boulanger Crisis and the Dreyfus affair.

Write a 1-2 page paper that does the following:

Summarizes the Boulanger Crisis Summarizes the Dreyfus affair Discusses how these two events reveal

weaknesses in French society/politics during the late 1800’s

Discusses how these two events serve to strengthen the 3rd Republic