Transcript The Emergence of Louis Napoleon—Napoleon III

Napoleon III and the Quest
for Glory
Chapter 23, pages 875-876
During the Revolution of 1848, LouisPhilippe was deposed. A republic was
established, and there would now be an
election for president.
When the revolutions of 1848 died down in
France, there were four candidates for president.
The Constituent Assembly wanted a strong
executive—and they wanted the president to be
elected by universal male suffrage—all men
eligible to vote.
Among the four candidates was a
Napoleon—a second Napoleon, LouisNapoleon Bonaparte.
Who was he? He was the son of
Napoleon’s brother, Louis, who had
married Hortense, Josephine’s daughter.
So, in fact Louis-Napoleon was a
descendant of both Napoleon and
Josephine.
That’s just a little historical detail, so in a
way Napoleon and Josephine had
children—but only through her daughter
and his brother.
Napoleon’s son died at 19 in 1832, so his
nephew, Louis assumed the position as
head of the family.
He was filled with thoughts of glory, and
hey—why not—wanted to capitalize on his
famous connection.
He was helped by what historians call the
“Napoleonic legend.” It is a fact that
Napoleon’s reputation grew after his death--and after the memories of the millions
who died as a result of his policy faded
away…
Louis Napoleon wrote books that glorified
his uncle and “burnished” or polished his
legend.
Twice this young Napoleon tried to seize
power, in a way that would be similar to
Hitler’s Putsches in the 1920’s—
• In Strasbourg in 1836
• In Boulogne in 1840
He was not successful and had to flee to
England. But he waiting in the wings for
his time…and that time came with the
collapse of the government in 1848.
Louis Napoleon played it both ways: he
was a friend of the common people, and yet
wanted law and order. Some said his
sympathy for the common man was a trait
he inherited from his gentle mother
Hortense, the daughter of Josephine.
And in 1848…after the first upheaval, the
French were asked to vote for a new
President…and whose name was the most
recognized on the Ballot?
Yes, Louis Napoleon, nephew of the
glorious Napoleon.
The votes were counted:
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5,400,000 for Louis Napoleon
1,500,000 for Cavaignac
370,000 for Ledru-Rollin
18,000 for Lamartine
So, Louis Napoleon became President of
France.
Immediately he took steps to fortify his
power.
• He brought in a new constitution in May
1849.
• He divided and conquered by allowing
the various factions to fight amongst
themselves.
• He ousted violatile socialist factions in
1849
Then, in a more aggressive move, he
rescinded universal male suffrage—making
sure that the poorest, or most republican
voters, were disenfranchised (could not
vote).
Again, this was similar to Hitler’s
methods of gaining power…
He also allowed the Catholic Church to
control the education system, provided it
suppressed any socialist elements that
would threaten peace.
When Republicans
threatened to
overthrow the Italian
government, France
sent troops into Italy
to protect the pope—
they remained there
for 20 years.
But Bonaparte still did not have absolute
power. He gave back universal male
suffrage—put his “people” in charge of the
military and police, and declared the
Assembly dissolved.
There was violence on the streets of
Paris—150 people died, but Napoleon
rounded up the opponents and ordered a
vote.
The official vote was 7,439,216 for
Napoleon, 646,737 opposed. So now,
twice, Napoleon had been elected by
popular vote.
A year later, Napoleon declared himself Napoleon III,
and France an empire—the second empire—his uncle,
Napoleon had ruled the “first empire.”
Napoleon III
would rule
France as a
complex
dictator.
Part II
Napoleon III and the Second
Empire.
Elected in 1848—but emperor by 1852,
Napoleon III came to power under popular
acclaim and nostalgia for the return to the
glory days of the first Napoleon.
A short man, like his uncle, he was not a
great organizer, leader, or soldier like the
first Napoleon--
But this new Napoleon had more sympathy
for the poor and respected public opinion
than his famous uncle.
Napoleon III wanted modern progress for
France—he embraced the Industrial
Revolution with all its improvements.
He diminished the power of the legislature,
the elected body of France—this was a
natural step toward consolidating power.
He married a young beautiful Spanish
noblewoman, Eugenie, who became a tragic
queen.
They held a sumptuous court.
Napoleon III
ordered that Paris
be modernized.
Old medieval
buildings were
blown up.
The great Opera house was built—
complete with Phantom!
Streets were widened to prevent
barricades being built. The army could
now gain easier access to the city.
Sewers and water supplies
improved…subways began to be built.
The French built the
Suez Canal…
Railroads were built…
Easy Avenues of Credit developed..
The Stock Exchange boomed—and
people became fantastically wealthy.
Hospitals and asylums were established and
free medicine distributed.
And in 1864, it became legal for workers to
strike. Labor unions were gaining strength.
Yet, Napoleon
believed in Free
Trade—and signed
a free trade
agreement with
Great Britain. This
angered Prussia and
other European
countries.
But by 1860, the French “Empire” was
running into trouble…
Opposition from many sides meant that
Napoleon III allowed for more Legislative
influence…
Despite Napoleon’s promise that there would be
peace…foreign entanglements loomed for France—
they spelled doom for the Second Empire.
The Crimean war was fought in 1854-1856—we
will learn about that in more detail.
Napoleon supported a disastrous intervention in
Mexico (1862-1867), where the brother of the
King of Austria was killed…
And finally, Napoleon III faced Prussia in 1870—he
would be defeated and abdicate the throne. The
second Empire ends. There will be no more kings in
France.