Napoleon III & French Nationalism

Unit Four/Ch. 22AP European History - UHS

The 1848 Revolution in France Inability of Louis Philippe to make necessary reforms lots

of unemployed & unhappy people in Paris

Competition between socialist Republicans like Louis Blanc, and more moderate republicans who were weary of socialism

National Workshops vs. Constituent Assembly (more conservative)

Attempted closure of the workshops instigated “June Days” (10,000 killed or wounded) militant class warfare

Constituent Assembly drafts new constitution best defense against radicals is to create strong executive power in the hands of the president to be elected by universal male suffrage = 2nd Republic

Setting the Stage (Pre 1850 vs. Post 1850) Repressive conservatism

period of war & change

Exuberant Romanticism Hardheaded realism

Economic hardship Prosperity

New organizing principle Nationalism

The Realpolitik

Louis Napoleon Napoleon III Elected president in Dec.

1848

Politically ambitious & manipulative

Coup d’etat Dismissed National Assembly in 1851

Later elected hereditary emperor Napoleon III

Domestic & Economic Policies Most successful aspect of

Napoleon III’s rule

Used gov’t resources to stimulate nat’l economy & industrial growth

Social welfare reforms

Vast reconstruction of Paris Baron Haussman

Stimulated business and employment

Internal Challenges & Liberalization Internal opposition to

regime increased in 1860s

Liberalization of the regime

Frequent warfare & poor foreign policy

The Crimean War The Eastern Question: Who

would benefit from the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire?

RUS, AUS, FR, GB interested in opportunity

OE & RUS declare war Oct. 1853

Concerns over upsetting “balance of power”

AUS remained neutral, GB & FR sided with Turks

Crimean war long, inefficient, costly

New trends in warfare journalists, nurses

Dramatic changes to balance of power in Europe