French History: From the Second Empire to the Third Republic

France: From the Second Empire to the Third Republic

The Second Empire (1852–1870)

Louis Napoleon, President of the Republic, followed in the footsteps of his uncle. He staged a coup in 1851, forced his re-election, and was crowned Emperor Napoleon III in December 1852. His government implemented the following actions:

• European Conflict: Participated in conflicts to restore the greatness of France.
• Imperialism: Initiated an imperialist policy in Africa, Asia, and Mexico.
• Stability: Provided political stability during his rule.
• Governance: Maintained a Congress elected by universal male suffrage.

The Third Republic (1870–1914)

The success of the Third Republic was characterized by:

• Parliamentary System: A parliament elected by universal male suffrage that held higher authority than the executive branch.
• Economic Growth: Experienced modest economic expansion.
• Partnerships: Private partnerships supported by government intervention.

Doctrinal Liberalism

Key features included:

• Equality: All individuals were considered equal.
• Natural Rights: Citizens possessed natural rights that the state should not infringe upon.
• Bourgeoisie Support: Supported social groups that owed their enrichment to personal effort.
• Elite Governance: Favored governments formed by elites, a bicameral parliament to moderate laws, and census suffrage (where only property owners could vote and be elected).

The French Restoration (1815–1848)

After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, the victors decided to return to the pre-revolutionary situation, initiating the French Restoration. Features included:

• Ideology: Conservative and counter-revolutionary.
• Congress of Vienna: Rearranged the map of Europe. Great Britain, Russia, Austria, and Prussia applied four principles: Legitimacy, Balance, International Responsibility, and the Right to Intervention.

The American Revolution (13 Colonies)

The American Revolution began with the 13 colonies that the British had established on the Atlantic coast of North America. Settlers opposed restrictive economic measures and taxes, leading to an uprising and war against the metropolis.

• Declaration of Independence: On July 4, 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies approved the Declaration of Independence.
• Victory: In 1783, the war ended with the triumph of the rebel forces under the command of George Washington.