The Second Republic and the Second Empire

• France experienced complex periods and political instability starting in 1848
• French citizens were divided on the country's future, and economic conditions were challenging
• France actively involved itself in the affairs of other European countries with varied results between 1848 and 1871
• The central question is how France evolved in the European context between 1848 and 1871

The Difficult Entry into the Democratic Age: The Second Republic and the Second Empire

• France faced difficulties in establishing a stable political regime

1848: The Failed Emergence of Democracy

• Grand republican ideals from the Revolution resurfaced

The Reappearance of Grand Republican Ideals from the Revolution

• From February 22 to 24, 1848, France experienced a new revolutionary movement with diverse elements
• The situation was particularly alarming for workers
• Republicans led the revolt, aiming to establish a republic
• On February 24, 1848, King Louis Philippe abdicated and the republic was planned
• The goal was to draft a constitution and enact laws to assist the population

Key Principles of the Second Republic

• Daily Laws/Provisions
• Gain of freedom
• Improvements in living and working conditions achieved through reduced working hours
• The state guaranteed the right to employment by creating jobs
• Employers opposed the reduction in working hours due to increased costs

Equality

• Equality existed among all French inhabitants
• Property owners expressed discontent, and enslaved people struggled to integrate into society
• This was because they lacked property and citizenship

The Vote

• Citizens selected their representatives
• This created interest and stimulated political engagement
• People were obligated to listen and take interest in the lives of French citizens
• The population lacked political education
• Elections were poorly organized
• Some voters were put under social pressure

Failure for Republicans

• The initial legislative elections which were a setback for the Republicans, leading to electoral defeat
• Conservatives seemed to dominate the political scene

Intellectuals Committed to the Republic

• Political Ideals, Actions, Results
• Alphonse de Lamartine was a figure and deputy who advocated for a moderate revolution, rejecting the violence represented by the red flag of radical revolutionaries
• Lamartine served as a monarchist deputy in 1833, then as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1848, and later as a deputy elected by universal male suffrage in 1848 and 1849
• Lamartine proposed a program supporting the revolution while advocating for calm, order, liberty, and equality
• He rejected the bloody red flag of revolutionaries, viewing it as emblematic of violence and a violent revolutionary populace
• Lamartine asserted that the dreaded flag has never been paraded around the Champ-de-Mars and had been dragged through the blood of Parisians, which was unlike the tricolor flag which has traveled the world and symbolizes the glory of the people of France

The Failure of the Second Republic

• Significant Tensions in France
• During this period of economic crisis, the provisional government wanted to support the working class

Worker’s Influence

• Workers realized they could influence the government
• Employers were alarmed

National Workshops

• June 1848: The establishment of national workshops sought to limit unemployment and modernize the country
• Workers exploited the system by working as little as possible
• National workshops were costly to the state, and workers were attached to the system
• In June 1848, a rumor of the closure of national workshops triggered a revolt by the workers on June 23, 1848
• The government responded violently, alienating the working class from the Republic

Presidential Campaign

• The presidential campaign commenced in the summer of 1848
• Political factions ranged from monarchists to radical republicans, with Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte conducting the most effective campaign
• He traveled throughout France, and on December 10, 1848, Bonaparte was elected with 74% of the vote, defeating all rivals
• Bonaparte initially took part in the institutions of the Second Republic
• These institutions were divided into two distinct parts:
  • The executive power was vested in the President of the Republic, who was elected for a non-renewable 4-year term
  • Legislative power was held by the National Assembly, where deputies were elected for 3-year terms with unlimited re-election possibilities
  • Direct suffrage was used for the majority of elections
• Bonaparte sought to amend the constitution to allow his re-election

The Return to Authority: The Second Empire

• A Powerful France
• Developing transportation
• Territorial development and colonial conquests
• Developing trade with the United States
• Reducing taxes and duties
• Developing agriculture for autonomy
• Supporting businesses to invest and expand
• An Authoritarian Regime
• Limiting universal suffrage
• Suppressing certain freedoms
• Exiling political opponents
• Holding the three powers and establishing an authoritarian regime
• Increasing police forces
• Disregarding the constitution (coup)
• Abolishing the Republic and proclaiming himself Emperor
• A project in continuity with the Revolution
• Bonaparte favored liberty and equality, viewing them not as rights but as achievements to be earned
• Freedoms remained in place due to fear of revolt

Industrialization and Acceleration of Economic and Social Transformations in France

• It examines the economic evolution of 19th-century France
• It considers the impact of this evolution on the population

A World of Economic Transformation

• Industrial centers rapidly developed from the mid-19th century, especially in rural areas due to space and proximity to raw materials
• These sites were large, with thousands of employees per factory and significant activity
• Workers faced difficult and unsafe conditions, and factories required a large labor force
• The railway system experienced significant growth between 1850 and 1870, with lines radiating from Paris and connecting cities
• It primarily facilitated commercial exchanges, accelerated travel, and promoting economic development
• France experienced a significant rural exodus with young people seeking opportunities in cities throughout the 19th century

The Pereire Empire

• It's characterized by moving toward modernity and security.
• When Napoleon III came to power, citizens were seeking employment opportunities offered by the Emperor
• The Crédit Immobilier was founded in 1852 by Émile Jacob and Isaac Pereire, welcoming financial deposits to be invested by professionals in major construction and works
• Depositors could retrieve their returns with an annual interest rate of 5 to 10%, characterized by a percentage of expenses that would increase after a period of time
• For example, an investment of 10,000 francs would yield 11,500 francs in a year, which could be withdrawn anytime, allowing for less costly expenses
• Professionals would allocate expenses to secure projects, such as the winter resort of Arcachon, as well to speculations in Parisian districts
• Their proximity to the Emperor allowed them to pursue the most generous investments to multiply money without risk
• Anyone seeking to securely multiply their money had the opportunity to use their credit to modernize the country, aiming for a prosperous life and future for France.

A World of Working-Class Ferment

• In the mid-19th century, the living and working conditions of workers were complex
• Working Conditions
  • Long working hours
  • Uncomfortable factory conditions
  • Poor safety
  • Noise and vibrations
  • Child labor in mines
  • Very low wages
• Demands
  • Better wages
  • Rest
  • Safety
  • The right to strike
  • Limited working hours
  • Unemployment and health insurance
• Workers had limited means to be heard, and strikes were often violently suppressed
• Workers eventually gained the right to strike
• On May 5, 1864, Napoleon III, to calm the working class, accepted a pseudo-right to strike despite offering no advantages and warning that all strikes would be harshly suppressed.
• Food was a problem in rural areas, with people struggling to eat adequately and food being of poor quality and insufficient quantity
• People were tired, and France struggled to feed its population properly
• Agricultural work was difficult due to primitive tools and labor-intensive tasks
• Women and children contributed to the work, which was unproductive
• With the growth of industry, women worked at home for large factories, earning little money but increasing their workload

Rural Exodus

• At the end of the 19th century, rural exodus was a lasting phenomenon affecting rural areas
• Decreased work due to machines caused young people to leave due to bleak future prospects
• Arriving in large cities was difficult for rural migrants due to limited job opportunities and inadequate infrastructure.

France and the Construction of New States Through War and Diplomacy

• Why and How France Intervened in the Construction of New European States

France and Italy: Complex Relations

• In 1859, the Italians wanted to unify to create a united Italy under King Victor Emmanuel II
• The Italians had an enemy in Austria, which controlled the northern territory
• The Italians sought allies, and France responded favorably, but the Italians explained they would offer nothing in return
• Napoleon III supported the Italians, and the French army drove Austria out of northern Italy
• Napoleon III did not seem to demand compensation
• Before French intervention, the Italians had already ceded Savoy, which Napoleon III had requested
• France also wanted to reclaim Nice, but the Italians refused
• They organized influenced consultations in Savoy and Nice
• He was considered was a genius and recovered territories without war, appearing to master diplomacy

The War of 1870: The End of the Second Empire and German Unification