The Second Empire to III republic

Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte´s road to power

After the June revolution of 1848: unstable society, a need for a strong leader to reinstall stability. In the election of 1848, Napoleon is elected as president of the republic- the choice of Napoleon reflects the bourgeoise´s fear of jacobinism. Napoleon gained the most votes at the election, his name reassuring people. The constitution voted on the 4th of November 1848 had established that you could only be president once for four years. Additionally, “liberty, égalite, fraternity” officially became the state´s motto. Reflected democratic values, but still conservative. In may 1850, a law to reduce the amount of people who could vote was elected. You couldn't´t vote if you didn't´t have a permanent hob somewhere which excluded a lot of people, even Napoleon couldn't vote because of this law. By 1851, Napoleon was worried about staying in power. He would need to change the law to be the president again. Since he couldn't´t be elected legally, Napoleon arranged a coup d´état, dissolved the National Assembly by military power. He restored suffrage universel- He then did a plebiscite (referendum) to approve this action which was approved by a huge majority. Napoleon then organised a new consitution introducing an authoritarian presidential regime where he possessed all executive power. With the new regime, the president was only responsible for the people through plebiscite- direct democracy, not through parliament replacing a weak executive with a strong centralisation of power. Neither on the left not right- a popular consensus government- compromise between both sides.

The second empire´s three fases

After a new plebiscite in November 1852, the empire was restored and Napoleon took the name Napoleon III as emperor. 1852-58: The authoritarian empire: Napoleon took absolute power to control the system. The press was controlled through taxes and censorship and political opposition was non-existent as the circulation of thought was controlled. Most democratic freedoms were denied, but there was universal suffrage. 1858 to 1867: Napoleon gave symbolic powers to the people to prevent discontent. Freedom of the press. Public meetings authorised. Legislative powers given more influence. 1867-1870: the liberal empire- by 1869 the opposition had grown stronger, so Napoleon used the plebiscite to ask the people if they approve the liberal reforms introduced by the emperor. There was a yes majority. It was an attempt to restore the future of the regime. The War with Prussia begins in 1870 and leads to the collapse of the empire. Overall there was weak opposition to the empire and strong support, the catholics supported the new empire as they saw it as the new Constantine, the Army was appreciated because of the Crimean War, Business Sector was happy because of the economic boom. Industrialisation is growing, occurs late in France due to the French revolution. Construction of railways, canals etc. The regime created a newfound order, stability and prosperity.

Haussmanisation (1853-1870)

Louis-Napoleon had a vision to make Paris the capital of Europe. He put George-Eugène Haussmann in charge of the modernisation project- city planning. Before Paris was characterised by crooked, narrow, medieval alleys. The city was overpopulated, leading to slums and unclean places. There was no sewage system as well as a lack of urban or leisure space. There was no street lights, making the streets feel unsafe at night. Additionally, the narrow streets had been used for blockage during the multiple political revolts, making it har to stop revolutionaries from blocking access. So Haussmann and Louis-Napoleon- created wide boulevards (making it hard to block, as well as space for businesses to grow), improved infrastructure such as clean water and modern sewers. Installed gas lanterns. Built parks, hospitals, asylums, prisons and administrative buildings. Reconstruction of Paris. Haussmanian architecture. “L´artiste démolisseur.” Even though this benefited a lot of people, for some it did not. People got pushed out. There was also a financial cost as well as an historical cost.

Expansion of colonial Empire

After the defeat of Napoleon, France had been humiliated. Louis-Napoleon was eager to restore France´s reputation. Under his regime, he laid the foundation of what would be one of the largest colonial empires in the world. In 1866-67 he established himself in Vietnam which was important to compete with the British and establish themselves as a global power. Napoleon also had a dream of an Arab kingdom and continued what had started in 1830 under Louis-Philippe with the colonisation of Algeria. In the 60s he went all in to impose military rule there leading to annexation. In 1853 New-Caledonia was formally annexed and used as a penal colony until 1864. The expansion in antique sub-saharienne had also begun with Senegal which laid the groundwork for the scramble for Africa at the Berlin conference in 1884. Sets the empirical trajectory that leads to French equatorial Africa. Slavery was abolished under Napoleon (even though officially abolished in 1848 with the second republic, came into force later), focus on commercial crops, such as peanuts and ground nuts instead. The colonial rivalry is what would end in WWI. Rebuild national pride. But failed Mexican adventure and lack of Catholic support (the pope) weakened the authority of the emperor (due to his support to Italian nationalists).

Legacy of the II Empire

Rebuilding of economy and infrastructure. Modernisation of France. Social approach to politics with direct democracy (later used by deGaulle to authorise his coup d´état).

Prussian war (1870-71)

Leads to the fall of the II empire. The origins of the war was dispute over the Spanish throne which was offered to a Prussian prince in 1870 after the end of the Glorius Revolution in Spain. Napoleon got involved and protested this. War was declared on the 19th of July 1870 by the French. Napoleon believed he could lead his troops to victory. He was the last head of state to go to war personally. On august 4th, Germans crossed the border into Alsace. From there they began their march to Paris. Napoleon and 100 000 of his soldiers are captured in Sedan. In Paris, the Second Empire was overthrown and the IIIrd republic proclaimed the 4th September after news of the capturing of the emperor. The quick German victory over the French stunned observers in Europe who had expected French victory (Though no one had helped France, cause they didn't´t want a strong France either, nor Prussian). The Germans won the war because of their military system and innovations. They had expansive railway systems meaning they could transport soldiers quickly. The German victory changed geopolitics in Europe. The German Empire became one of the most powerful empires. Had a psychological effect on future German generals→ whole class of militarists who linked Germany´s health to war and expansion. Italian unification completed as the Papal States were annexed by Italy. All links in the chains of causes that triggers WWI.

III Republic (1870-1940) and the siege of Paris

The transition from Empire to Republic was violent and chaotic. Declaration of Third Republic on the 4th September 1870 after Sedan and the capture of Napoleon III. The Siege of Paris started- the Prussians continued their march towards Paris (lead by Otto von Bismarck). The new government refused to accept peace negotiations. Prussians bombarded Paris and killed civilians. They wanted to break the moral of a major European city. It was a shocking step towards total war. Food shortages were dire and the Paris population was on the point of starvation- would eat anything they could get their hand on. In 1871, the French lost the war- part of the treaty was that the Germans could declare their empire in Versailles- Prussia unified under Emperor Wilhelm I while Paris was in ruins. As a part of the treaty France had to pay an enormous amount to Germany, as well as being forced to cede Alsace and parts of Lorraine to Germany (sore point in French history). Led to French people having to fight for Germany during WWI. This created a feeling of revenge and nationalism, wanting to get Alsace Lorraine back. Even after peace treaty the war was not over and Paris refused to give in.

The Paris Comune (March to May 1871)

The Paris Commune was a radical, revolutionary form of government that came into existence in the wake of the French defeat in the Prussian war. This government was a direct threat to the new National Assembly and the third republic. It was a government that reminded us of the worst parts of the French Revolution. The Commune came into existence as the Paris population refused to surrender after the humiliation peace treaty with the Prussians. Participants included Jacobins (in favour of controlled revolution, Proudhonists (wanted to establish a federation of communes) and Blanquists (propagated violent revolution). Even though the Commune was short lasted, achieved a lot: Such as: separation of church and state. Cancellation of rents owed for the entire period of the siege. Abolition of night work in bakeries. Pensions for the unmarried companions an children of National Guard killed on active service. Also certain feminist measures- Women were present during the commune which was significant in the liberation of women in France. Fight for feminist measures. these women often referred to as “les pétroleuses” (set fire to things in Paris as a form of resistance)

La Semaine Sanglante (21-28 may 1871)

Civil War. Last fase of the commune. The new republican government saw the communards as a threat to societal order. Between 21-28 may 1871, 130 000 soldiers fought agains 10 000 communards. 25 000 Parisians were killed. After the fall of the II empire, the new republican government based in Versailles quickly came into conflict with the working classes. Destruction of Paris by the communards served as proof to the bourgeoisie that their fears of revolution were true. Long term consequences: In the 80s, 90s and 1900s- the republican government used military power to shut down worker strikes and rebellions. the working class lost faith in the republican government. There was an increase in support for socialist, revolutionary ideals. the third republic was a moment of transition, marked by political instability and class conflict. Marx: called it the first authentic revolution of the working class. Conflict between the republic and working class because: they thought a republic would mean social equality, worker´s rights, economic reforms. But, the new government was mostly controlled by bourgeoisie and conservatives who feared radical change and revolution (fears which were confirmed).