Napoleon Domestic Policy 1848 1858 Napoleon as president

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Napoleon Domestic Policy 1848 -1858

Napoleon Domestic Policy 1848 -1858

Napoleon as president Louis Napoleon agreed to legislation that would benefit the majority as

Napoleon as president Louis Napoleon agreed to legislation that would benefit the majority as he had a Catch All ideology… • Conservatives -the conservatives wanted to re-educate France. With Louis Napoleon’s support and acceptance, an Education Act was passed in March 1850 called the Loi Falloux. This act aimed to train children to be obedient and to act accordingly to terms of order and regularity. Also the act wanted children to accept their own free will and the law of labour and duty. • Right wing groups (Orleanists, Bonarpartists, Middle Class, and Legitimists etc. ) -In support of all these groups, Louis Napoleon reduced the influence of the Left-Wing groups (i. e. republicans and socialists) which the majority of France feared. He did this by tightening repressive measures directed at left wing groups during the autumn of 1848. Many supports of socialism under the Democratic Socialist Banner were demobilised so their organisation was disrupted and the socialists weakened. • Clerics and Peasants - Louis Napoleon’s popularity strengthened with these 2 groups in April 1849 by sending the French Army to re-establish the Pope in Rome illustrating Louis Napoleon’s readiness to support the Catholic Church

Coup d’etat • Louis Napoleon had used his Presidential powers to remove potential opponents,

Coup d’etat • Louis Napoleon had used his Presidential powers to remove potential opponents, such as the Commander of the Paris Garrison and had replaced them with reliable allies. • On the morning of 2 December, troops led by Saint-Arnaud occupied strategic points in Paris. Top opposition leaders were arrested individually by 78 police officers. • Louis Napoleon declared a new constitution was being framed and said he intended to restore a ‘system established by the first consul. ’ • Reacting to this coup, parliamentarians took refuge in the mayor's office of the 20 th arrondissement of Paris and 220 of them voted to eject Louis-Napoleon from power. • A Parisian insurrection led by Victor Hugo and Victor Schoelcher erupted despite tight control by the Army. The insurgents were soon defeated. On 3 December, parliamentarian Alphonse Baudin was killed and on 4 December, 200 more people fell victim to the revolution.

Consequences of coup The coup triggered revolts in other places across France. On 5

Consequences of coup The coup triggered revolts in other places across France. On 5 December, rebellions were reported in big cities, small towns and rural areas in the south-west of France. A total of 32 departments were put under a state of alert from 8 December and the rebellious areas were controlled in a few days. Opponents were arrested and some were forced to flee. Victor Hugo fled to Brussels, then Jersey, and finally settled with his family on the Channel Island of Guernsey at Hauteville House, where he would live in exile until 1870 when Louis-Napoleon fled after his defeat in the Franco. Prussian War. By the end of the rebellion, 26, 000 people were arrested, 9, 530 were sent to Algeria and 250 to the prison of Cayenne. The Bonapartists were finally assured of a victory. A new constitution was being drafted. A referendum was organized to ratify the new order and the coup was portrayed as a security operation. Napoleon was not emperor

Emperor and constitution Inherited a constitution he drew up in the early year as

Emperor and constitution Inherited a constitution he drew up in the early year as president. The purpose was to give expression in political terms to the Napoleonic legend: • Control armed forces • Initiate legislations • Decree for executions • Separation of powers reversed- The executive was made supreme • Prefect was set up in every region to report back to napoleon – opposition, threats, state of public opinion - They were expected to be political agents too – joining parish priests in assisting peasants to vote for Bonaparte candidates in elections for the legislative chamber - Held official banquets for nobility - Plied middle classes with job and contracts - Overall helping emperor to gain support

 • National guard suppressed • Demanded oath form all government servants and officials

• National guard suppressed • Demanded oath form all government servants and officials to the head of state in person • Removed freedom of press “He did not have to destroy opponents – he had won over most of them at the outset” Do you agree? Why?

Domestic policies Domestic accomplishments of Napoleon III • Most important public works were in

Domestic policies Domestic accomplishments of Napoleon III • Most important public works were in connection with the promotion of railways. The previous government of Louis Phillipe railways had been inadequate and haphazard and interrupted by a financial collapse which had been one of the causes of the depression in the winter of 1847 -48. • Napoleon intervened to promote more rapid expansion, amalgamating the several undertakings into six great companies, granting land concessions to them for building new lines and facilitating the provision of capital by financiers and bankers. • Measures were so successful that France nearly trebled her railways construction between 1851 and 1859 and increased her total length of track by nearly six fold in 1870. • This was really important for businesses so that they could transport goods. Transformation of Paris • Appointed Baron Haussman to be the prefect of Paris • Over the year Haussman transformed the city into an Imperial showpiece on the scale of London. • Gas lighting was introduced throughout the city and vast new system of sewers was constructed.