Revolution and Reform in France Ch. 24, Sec. 3

Discontent and Revolution France was experiencing own troubles Congress of Vienna restored Louis XVIII to throne after Napoleon’s 2 nd exile Louis accepted constitution that limited his power & kept many reforms Died in 1824 & his brother Charles X became king Charles believed in absolute monarchy & abolished most liberal reforms

Also taxed people in order to pay nobles French people revolted and Charles gave up his throne Leaders of revolution couldn’t agree on what kind of gov. Those who favored republic didn’t have power Eventually all groups agreed to choose king

Decided on Louis Philippe, a member of Bourbon family whom they believed to be liberal Called himself “citizen king” Actions helped upper middle class most of all # of people allowed vote had more than doubled Landowners still held most power

Workers weren’t allowed to organize & labor unions illegal High tariffs placed on imported goods kept prices of domestic goods high Hurt workers & peasants France finally erupted in 1848 after Louis Philippe issued decree that restricted citizens’ free speech

Led to rioting in streets When National Guard summoned to restore order, joined rioters Philippe had no choice but to give up throne People of Paris established temporary gov. & proclaimed 2 nd French Republic Urban workers who believed in socialism were active in new gov.

Gov. organized “national workshops” that gave people work to end economic depression Allowed all men to vote Elections held to choose National Assembly that would write new constitution Conservatives wanted end to national workshops Violent rioting erupted in Paris Army was called in W/in 3 days rebellion was crushed Socialists executed, imprisoned, or exiled Karl Marx expelled from France

Louis-Napoleon & 2 nd French Empire New constitution written by National Assembly gave France republican form of gov. A president would be elected to serve 1, & only 1, 4 yr term Legislature would be elected by all French males of voting age 1 st election, chose Louis-Napoleon Hoped to build support among military & Catholics

Wanted to run for another term (constitution allowed him to only run for 1) – had to take matters into own hand Marched into Paris & arrested 70 members of National Assembly who opposed his aims Widespread rioting Louis portrayed himself as defender of order People voted almost 12 to 1 in favor Won control of France

New constitution written giving Napoleon 10 yr term as president Had great power but…wanted to restore empire of his uncle Napoleon now Napoleon III Pretended to champion democracy Reality: authoritarian regime Censored & exiled critics

Freedom of speech didn’t exist Impossible to organize political opposition against gov. Did try to develop France by modernizing it Encouraged development of railroads & manufacturing, which helped middle class Set up public works programs, helped lower class Domestic affairs became more unstable

Foreign Conflicts Napoleon III wanted Europe to recognize him as head of France Wanted to improve relations w/ G.B. He involved France in foreign dispute that led to war Russia claimed holy places in Palestine (are that was part of Ottoman Empire) but France disputed claim Disputes over Russia, Ottoman Empire, & France became increasingly heated France, G.B., & Ottoman Empire formed alliance & decalred war on Russia

Fighting took place mostly in Crimea, a peninsula in southern Russia Over course of 2 yrs, both sides in Crimean War suffered massive losses Russia was defeat & France won glory – but little else 2 important developments grew out of Crimean War … Modern field hospitals to care for those wounded in battle came into use Florence Nightingale introduced professional nursing of wounded

Prussia was working to united all German states under its leadership Napoleon III & French people were against union b/c didn’t trust Prussia’s motives Napoleon III tried to draft troops in preparation for war & failed Head of Prussia’s gov., Otto von Bismarck, decided war w/ France would help unite German states Franco-Prussian War was disaster for France from start Napoleon III took control of army himself & quickly captured National Assembly immediately proclaimed fall of 2 nd French Empire & established 3 rd Republic Paris fell to Russia & war was over

The Third Republic National Assembly wasn’t able to agree on new constitution until 1875 Constitution of 1875 officially made France Republic President would be elected by legislature for term of 7 yrs Constitution stood for nearly 70 yrs Late 1800s legislature made up of various factions, or opposing sides Another threat to gov. came from extremists Political extremists called anarchists, opposed all gov. – waged terrorist campaigns

In 1890s a financial scandal rocked nation French company started work on building on Panama Canal, & 1000s of French citizens had invested $ in project When project failed, resulting accusations of bribery threatened French gov. Also, French Ct. Alfred Dreyfus accused & convicted of giving French military secrets to Germany Sentenced to life in prison, even though evidence surfaced that he was innocent After Dreyfus case, French republicans began more reforms

They ended favored position of Catholic Church Church & state separated Had complete religious freedom No one party ever had complete control over gov. In order to get things done, parties would temporarily unite to form coalitions… These were political groups organized to support a common cause