La 3e République Avant 1914

Chapitre 6: La Mise en Oeuvre du Projet Républicain: La 3e République Avant 1914

• A republic is a political organization where power is exercised by those entrusted with a mandate.
• In France, the term "republic" is associated with democracy since the 19th century.
• Democracy is a political system in which sovereignty emanates from the people.
• The first republic of France was from 1792-1804, and the second was from 1848-1852.
• A nation is a community of people sharing the same language, history, and culture.
• For France, the nation has the will to live together, inheriting ideas from the Enlightenment and the Revolution of 1789.
• Culture is the set of collective representations specific to a society.
• Republicans aim to establish a republican culture, facing crises along the way.
• A crisis is a disruption of balance, a difficult phase to overcome for a social group.
• Parliament is an assembly exercising legislative power.

Problematic

• How did the republican project take shape between 1870 and 1914?

How did republican culture take root in the 1880s and 1890s?

• On September 2, 1870, Napoleon capitulated at Sedan.
• On September 4, 1870, the Republic was proclaimed by Léon Gambetta.
• Léon Gambetta then became the First Minister of the government, continuing the war.
• The prussians laid siege to Paris starting on September 20.
• On January 28, 1871, Léon Gambetta requested an armistice.
• The government changed cities.
• Louise Michel was a republican teacher who participated in the institutional commune of Paris.
• On February 8, 1871, the National Assembly was directed by monarchists.
• On March 1, 1871, German troops paraded.
• The National Assembly decided to relocate to Versailles, creating disagreements:
• Reinstatement of taxes/rent for the French
• Suppression of indemnities
• On March 18, 1871, the first riots broke out in Paris because Adolphe Thiers recovered cannons to protect Paris.
• On May 10, 1871, the Treaty of Frankfurt:
• Condemned France to pay taxes
• Alsace-Lorraine
• The communards revolted against the Versailles government.
• A bloody week from May 21-28, 1871 led to 78 hostages being shot and 20,000 victims.
• To avenge themselves, the communards set fire to buildings including the Tuileries palace.
• The republic began with a bloodbath, creating disastrous memories for the French.
• This served Bonapartist and royalist movements hoping for a restoration of their regime.
• Napoleon III died in England, and Eugène-Napoléon was killed in an attack in southern Africa in 1879.
• There was a political crisis in 1877-1879.
• Marshal Mac Mahon established a 7-year presidential term.
• In 1877, an election to the National Assembly yielded a republican majority.
• By 1879, the Senate became republican.
• Due to Léon Gambetta, institutions became republican, and the republican message spread throughout France.
• Jules Grevy, a republican, was elected in 1879 to replace Mac Mahon.
• The republic took root.
• Despite feminist movements, male suffrage was promoted.
• The government and president of the council were responsible for the Assemblies.
• "Republican Laws" were passed early in the Third Republic, guaranteeing fundamental rights to ensure property rights.

Republican laws included:

• Right to property
• Right to work
• Right to enterprise
• These laws reassured the industrial bourgeoisie.
• The Waldeck Rousseau law in 1884 allowed trade union freedom, creating workers' associations to support workers' righs and demands.
• The law on associations in 1901 authorized the creation of parties, allowing the creation of modern political parties.
• Republicans were on the left and Monarchists on the right.
• Opportunists chose to consolidate the achievements of the Republic.
• Leaders included Léon Gambetta and Jules Ferry
• Radical opportunists included "the tiger", also known as Georges Clémenceau.
• They defended the values of the Republic and favored reforms for the working classes.
• Socialists are represented by the SFIO, the French Section of the Workers' International (1905).
• In 1882, the Church rallied.

How to "manufacture" Republicans and a nation

• School law was passed by Jules Ferry.
• Public school was made free in 1881.
• Secular and compulsory school was introduced for ages 6 to 13 in 1882.
• Education was only in one language and was provided by secular teachers.
• Founding myths were transmitted, instilling common references in all children.
• Universal military service, lasting 3 years, was established in 1889.
• Important elements of France included:
• The Marseillaise became the official anthem in 1879.
• The National Day, July 14, was established in 1879 with a military parade.
• The motto was inscribed in town halls.
• Busts of Marianne were displayed.
• The Pantheon was erected.

Synthesis on Victor Hugo

• Victor Hugo was a man recognized for the French Republic, which voted to give him a place in the Pantheon.
• He was considered a sovereign of thought and defender of humanity in the century.
• Victor Hugo was recognized and admired by the French.
• His burial took place on June 1, 1885, in Paris, marking a colossal national event.
• Through his funeral, the Republic celebrated itself by showcasing numerous monuments.
• Hugo was a supporter of a triumphant republic and shared its values of humanity.

How did the trials of crises affirm the Republic?

How did anti-parliamentarianism develop?

• There was an increase in anti-parliamentarianism from 1873-1896, the time of the Great Depression.
• Parliamentary instability created Boulangism (1885-1889).
• Boulangism was a nationalist and authoritarian movement seeking a referendum.
• This movement threatened the Republic for 4-5 years but subsided.
• Far-left revolutionary socialists wanted to change political systems.
• Anarchists did not want a government, denounced the bourgeois republic, and advocated for a proletarian revolution.
• Anarchist attacks occurred from 1892-1894.

How is secularism a foundation of the Republic?

Why secularize French society?

• The Enlightenment and the French Republic inspired Republicans and opposed obscurantism with reason.
• From a religious point of view, France was organized under the Concordat of 1801, notably through education.

In what ways do republican laws establish secularism?

• Republican laws push back against the influence of the Church.

Laws on secularism include:

• A system excluding churches from political or administrative powers.
• The first law, on July 12, 1880, suppressed the obligation of Sunday rest.
• Moral education was established in 1879 to transmit republican values.
• School was secularized in 1882.

The Dreyfus Affair

• The Dreyfus affair began in 1894 when Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason.
• In 1898, public opinion exploded after the publication of "J'Accuse" by Emile Zola in the newspaper "L'Aurore" on January 13.
• Zola denounced a serious judicial error.
• The campaign against Dreyfus was carried out by anti-Dreyfusards, often antisemitic and anti-republican.
• The hatred to cover up the judicial error was visible in the press, with racist and anti-capitalist arguments.
• The affair broadened due to caricatures and visible statements.
• Manifestations took place and citizens took part in the affair.
• The war council knew Esterhazy was guilty.
• The anti-Dreyfusards demanded the reform of the trial and provoked an attack against President Loubais.
• The radical Republic was more left-leaning and affirmed the establishment of the Republic.
• Thursday was reserved for those who want religious education because some people do not want a school without God.
• Association Law was passed in 1901.

Conclusion

• The republican project took root despite national and international crises.
• Political and social evolution in a context of industrialization led to changes in French society with the rise of workers and improved living conditions.
• If the French population faced profound mutations, it remained mostly rural on the eve of the First World War.