Napoleon III by Rachel Kim I. Pre-Second Empire A. Louis Napoleon Although his contemporaries underestimated him, Napoleon was a bright politician For three years, Napoleon worked to gain the favor of the French people There was opposition from the National Assembly When 3 million men were not allowed to vote, Louis Napoleon posed as one who favored universal male suffrage On 12/01/1851, Louis Napoleon captured opposition leaders and asked the people for a 10-year presidency and received an overwhelming amount of support On 12/02/1852 – Louis Napoleon became Emperor Napoleon III marking the beginning of the Second Empire B. The Second Empire i. Government and Politics Napoleon was very authoritative; only he was allowed to control the military, police and civil state Only he could declare war and introduce legislation The Legislative Corps posed as a government by universal male suffrage however its members had almost no power ii. Economic policies and Economic growth Policy – use resources from the government and encourage national economy Emphasis on industrial growth Promoted expansion of credit with the forming of the investment banks Construction of roads, railroads, canals etc Iron production tripled during the reign of Napoleon Activated social reforms as well (ie. free medical care for workers) iii. Reconstruction of Paris Under guidance of Baron Haussmann Narrow streets and old city walls torn down Wider streets, big buildings, circular plazas, public water supply, and an underground sewage system iv. Napoleon’s interest in public opinion Very conscience and sensitive of public opinion Freedom of speech was not allowed and newspapers were censored Due to opposition to Napoleon’s policies, the authoritarian emperor somewhat liberalized his empire The Silkworm disease (in vineyards) in 1857 caused severe damage to the economy Legalized trade unions and strikes for working class In Legislative Corps, opposing leaders were allowed more freedom Napoleon’s end came in the Franco-Prussian War (see German Unification) C. The Crimean War The Ottoman Empire declines slowly Due to religious similarities between Russians and the Greek-Orthodox Christians of the Ottoman Empire, Russia becomes a very powerful sphere of influence When Russians demand the right to protect the Christians in Palestine (the right had been originally given to France), war erupts Russians invade Ottoman territory after being rejected On Oct.4, 1853, the Ottomans declare war on Russians leading the British and French to do the same in 1854 Napoleon III believed that the French had been insulted by the Russians at the Congress of Vienna previously and now Result: Russians surrender in 1855 and sign the Treaty of Paris in 1856
I. Pre-Second Empire
A. Louis Napoleon
Although his contemporaries underestimated him, Napoleon was a bright politician
For three years, Napoleon worked to gain the favor of the French people
There was opposition from the National Assembly
When 3 million men were not allowed to vote, Louis Napoleon posed as one who favored universal male suffrage
On 12/01/1851, Louis Napoleon captured opposition leaders and asked the people for a 10-year presidency and received an overwhelming amount of support
On 12/02/1852 – Louis Napoleon became Emperor Napoleon III marking the beginning of the Second Empire
B. The Second Empire
i. Government and Politics
Napoleon was very authoritative; only he was allowed to control the military, police and civil state
Only he could declare war and introduce legislation
The Legislative Corps posed as a government by universal male suffrage however its members had almost no power
ii. Economic policies and Economic growth
Policy – use resources from the government and encourage national economy
Emphasis on industrial growth
Promoted expansion of credit with the forming of the investment banks
Construction of roads, railroads, canals etc
Iron production tripled during the reign of Napoleon
Activated social reforms as well (ie. free medical care for workers)
iii. Reconstruction of Paris
Under guidance of Baron Haussmann
Narrow streets and old city walls torn down
Wider streets, big buildings, circular plazas, public water supply, and an underground sewage system
iv. Napoleon’s interest in public opinion
Very conscience and sensitive of public opinion
Freedom of speech was not allowed and newspapers were censored
Due to opposition to Napoleon’s policies, the authoritarian emperor somewhat liberalized his empire
The Silkworm disease (in vineyards) in 1857 caused severe damage to the economy
Legalized trade unions and strikes for working class
In Legislative Corps, opposing leaders were allowed more freedom
Napoleon’s end came in the Franco-Prussian War (see German Unification)
C. The Crimean War
The Ottoman Empire declines slowly
Due to religious similarities between Russians and the Greek-Orthodox Christians of the Ottoman Empire, Russia becomes a very powerful sphere of influence
When Russians demand the right to protect the Christians in Palestine (the right had been originally given to France), war erupts
Russians invade Ottoman territory after being rejected
On Oct.4, 1853, the Ottomans declare war on Russians leading the British and French to do the same in 1854
Napoleon III believed that the French had been insulted by the Russians at the Congress of Vienna previously and now
Result: Russians surrender in 1855 and sign the Treaty of Paris in 1856