Question 2

Why was the Second Republic in France replaced by a Second Empire?

Paragraph One

• Origins of 2^nd Republic – begin with causes of February Revolution
• Divisions in provisional government i.e. middle class republicans versus socialists (Lamartine and Louis Blanc)
• National Assembly’s attack on Blanc’s national workshops scheme caused insurrection and its suppression in the ‘June Days’
• This caused fear throughout France but not among the workers of Paris, Marseilles and Lyons

Paragraph Two

• National Assembly decided to set up a Republic with an elected president (4 year term) by universal suffrage
• Examine the candidates
• Louis Napoleon’s background, character, ideas and previous attempts at a coup, prison and exile. He was almost unknown when he arrived in France (1848)

Paragraph Three

• Reasons for his success in presidential elections:
  • Saw that most people wanted stability after the disorder of the ‘June Days’
  • Middle class and peasants feared Socialism
  • Provincial France wanted revenge on Paris – latter had made the February Revolution
  • Glamour attached to name and associations of Louis Nap.
  • Conservative monarchists supported him due to divisions between Orleanists and Bourbons in their ranks
  • Workers preferred him to Lamartine and Cavaignac, their June oppressors

Paragraph Four

• Louis Nap used this good will to get support or tolerance of the Empire
• His ambitions and desire to emulate his uncle

Paragraph Five

• Courted conservative support by Rome expedition and the education law (Loi Falloux) – almost achieved his ambition through constitutional means
• Role of clergy in getting public opinion behind him

Paragraph Six

• Coup of 2^nd December – controlled use of force
• 1852 plebiscite confirmed him as emperor
• Reasons for lack of opposition and his skilled management

Paragraph Seven

• Conclusion
• Republic short-lived – President survived through political skill and sympathy with the hopes and dreams of ordinary people
• The problem with the constitution – Napoleon never solved the problem of the relationship between the executive and the legislature – constitution too rigid – force needed to make changes