Napoleon III, thanks to the coup carried out on December 2, 1851, imposed himself and established the Second Empire. If the beginning of his reign is authoritarian, the emperor, as the years go by, carries out social, economic and political reforms. Thus, from the 1860s, he encouraged the taking of individual freedoms such as the right to strike (1864) or the freedom of assembly (1868). Deputies can now criticize government policy, the people obtain authorization to create limited companies without prior notice from the administration, the right of arbitrary arrest on the part of the State disappears, etc. The regime is becoming more and more liberal (it intervenes less).
May 8, 1870
Characters
Adolphe Thiers
Emile Ollivier
William II
Napoleon III
Otto Von Bismarck
Procedure
Despite this, the opposition party, called the Third Party, is demanding more freedoms. Napoleon III, who leads the legislative power in addition to the executive, decides to leave the first power to the Legislative Body (legislative assembly) in 1869 in order to remain on the throne. He also has recourse to a plebiscite to establish his authority. Thus the national plebiscite of May 8, 1870 asks the people to approve or not the liberal reforms of the government and the new Constitution of the Empire. The "yes" wins with a large majority, which strengthens the power of the emperor.
Beyond the borders, tensions are rising. On the other side of the Rhine, under the authority of the Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia William II, Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck wishes for the reunification of Germany. Indeed, Germany was then divided into several states, and France prevented their unification. Also Von Bismarck provokes the Emperor of the French.
Napoleon III fell into the trap and declared war on him a little too hastily, on July 19, 1870. Ill-prepared, poorly led, the French soldiers suffered a crushing failure. On September 2, 1870, Napoleon III capitulated at Sedan and was condemned to abdicate. On September 4, 1870, the Republic was proclaimed. But France is in chaos and the Parisians are on the barricades following the siege of the Prussians. This revolt will be called the Commune. The ministers moved the seat of the Republic to Bordeaux and elected Adolphe Thiers, then deputy, head of the executive power in February 1871. The latter signed peace with Prussia through Alsace-Lorraine, and repressed the Commune after what was called Bloody Week (May 1871). On August 31, 1871, he became President of the Republic.
Consequences
While the plebiscite worked in his favor and confirmed Napoleon III as head of state, his unfortunate decision to engage in an ill-prepared conflict cost him the throne. His abdication on September 2, 1870 marked the end of the Empire in France and plunged France into chaos. The revolt of the Commune attempts to overthrow the executive power. Adolphe Thiers, after having appeased the country, will be keen to stabilize it, as President of the Republic. The III th Republic will last 70 years.