After the revolution of 1848 France became republic. There were four candidates for the position of the president.

Among the four candidates was a Napoleon—a second Napoleon, Louis- Napoleon Bonaparte.

Who was he? He was the son of Napoleon’s brother, Louis, who had married Hortense, Josephine’s daughter. So, in fact Louis-Napoleon was a descendant of both Napoleon and Josephine.

Louis Napoleon played it both ways: he was a friend of the common people, and yet wanted law and order. So, Louis Napoleon became President of France.

Napoleon III ruled France as a complex dictator. In 1852 Napoleon declared himself Napoleon III, and France an Empire—the second Empire—his uncle, Napoleon had ruled the “first empire.”

Part II Napoleon III and the Second Empire.

A short man, like his uncle, he was not a great organizer, leader, or soldier like the first Napoleon--But this new Napoleon had more sympathy for the poor and respected public opinion than his famous uncle.

Napoleon III wanted modern progress for France—he supported the Industrial Revolution with all its improvements.

Napoleon III ordered that Paris be modernized. Old medieval buildings were blown up.

The great Opera house was built— complete with Phantom!

Streets were widened to prevent barricades being built. The army could now gain easier access to the city.

Drains and water supplies improved…subways began to be built.

The French built the Suez Canal in 1869

Railroads were built…

The Stock Exchange boomed—and the capitalists became fantastically wealthy.

Hospitals were established and free medicine distributed.

France became the city of art and fashion

And in 1864, it became legal for workers to strike. Labor unions were gaining strength.

Yet, Napoleon believed in Free Trade—and signed a free trade agreement with Great Britain. This angered Prussia and other European countries.

French colonies

But by 1860, the French “Empire” was running into trouble…

Napoleon supported a disastrous intervention in Mexico ( ), where the brother of the King of Austria was killed…

And finally, Napoleon III faced Prussia in 1870—he would be defeated and abdicate the throne. The second Empire ends. There will be no more kings in France.