EMPIRE BUILDING OF NAPOLEON III

THE SECOND REPUBLIC AND LOUIS NAPOLEON•Louis Napoleon ran for the office of President of France in 1848

•Things that gave him an advantage:

• Had his uncle’s name• He seemed to be a tough ruler• “Positive Program”

•He beat the four other candidates and became the leader of the Second French Republic

•Served four years as president

LOUIS NAPOLEON AND THE PEOPLE

•Louis Napoleon was seen as a ruler for the people of France

•Louis Napoleon wanted to be linked to each French person by direct democracy

•He had visions of national unity and social progress in mind when he was elected

•Napoleon’s ideas were understood by most of the French population in late 1848

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY• Napoleon III elected into a four year term

• Had to share power with a conservative National Assembly

• Wanted to run for a second term, National Assembly denied request

• Napoleon illegally dismissed National Assembly

• Seized power in a coup d'état

BECOMING EMPEROR• Napoleon restored universal male suffrage

• Turned to French people to legalize actions

• 92% voted yes as president for 10 years• 97% voted yes as a hereditary emperor

LOUIS NAPOLEON A.K.A. EMPEROR NAPOLEON III

• Proclaimed Emperor of France in 1853

• 97% of voters voted to make him hereditary emperor (meaning the title will be passed down in his family)

• Focused on

• Economy• Reducing Social and

Political Tensions• Reorganize Europe in a

nationalistic view• Replenish, Reduce,

Reorganize!

ECONOMY (REPLENISH!)

• Louis Napoleon’s greatest success

• Government encouraged new banks, and massive railroad construction sites.

• Also funded the rebuilding of Paris by George von Haussmann

• Moved toward a free trading system

• Metallurgical (dealing with metals and such) industry actually rivaled Britain as this time

• Large products financed by the French helped economy (Suez Canal in Egypt)Reforms=Replenished

Economy

REDUCE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL TENSIONS

Social

• Louis Napoleon hoped the better economy would help the dissatisfied urban workers

• 1860’s ~ Napoleon allowed workers the right to form unions and strike.

• Supported better housing, pawn shops, and credit unions

Political

• Started off with Napoleon in charge of all politics

• RESTRICTED Assembly, and members were elected by universal MALE suffrage every 6 years

• Elections are very serious

• Tried to get everyone to participate (even those against him)

• Officials and Mayors spread the word- very important to roads, tax rebates, and many other local issues

FALL OF LOUIS NAPOLEON

• Napoleon was a nationalist, wanted all of Europe to adopt nationalistic ideals as well as gain influence and territory for France and himself

• Problems stopped this

• Criticism from Catholic and Nationalist supporters

• Issues dealing with Prussia and Italy as well.

• “Public Opinion always wins the last victory”

• Liberalized his empire

• Assembly gained more power

• Opposing candidates were given more freedom

• 1869: Republicans, monarchists, and liberals were able to poll about 45% of the vote

• End of his term, had him granting a new constitution (7.5 million approved, 1.5 million did not) Government now going in a democratic direction

THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR• Took place from 1870 until 1871

• Between Bismarck (Prussia) and Napoleon III (France)

• France was angered by Prussia and Bismarck and wanted to minimize the threat of Germany

RESULTS OF FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR• On September 1, 1870, German forces defeated and

captured Napoleon III

• In January of 1871, France surrendered to Prussia

• Louis Napoleon’s efforts to better France were undone

AFTER FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR• After Louis Napoleon’s defeat, Paris declared a Third

French Republic

• France lost territory to the victorious Germans

• The National Assembly crushed the Paris Commune (20,000 people were killed)

• National unity formed in France out of this

NEW NATIONAL UNITY• Destruction of the Paris Commune led to thoughts of a

less radical Republic

• Determination and skill of early leaders also kept the Republic stable

• New reforms were passed

• Public was pleased

RECAP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOHQL4B4nRE&feature=related (5:06-8:11)

THE END

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UglADgtF8wc&feature=related French National Anthem (1848-1852)

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Why were the mass killings of the Paris Commune good for France (i.e. what came out of it)?

2. How did the Franco-Prussian War end?

3. What was done in the Third Republic (i.e. how was it stabilized and what did the new republic do for France)?

4. How did Napoleon III become emperor?

5. Why did the French people like Napoleon III so much?