How The Rise Of Napoleon III Changed The Power Relations In Europe
In 1848, many people were upset with Louis Phillipe and his politics. The people in France had a lot of problems with hunger, but the system could not sustain the needs of the people. This caused Napoleon III’s rise on the 10th December 1848, after the 1848 revolution. He was elected as the president of the French Republic as he had the support of the majority. He portrayed an image of his uncle, Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 1852, he called for a second ballot to restore the hereditary rule of the Bonaparte dynasty, with 7 million voting for him. He was the emperor of France. After being the Emperor of France, his main objective was to redraw the map of Europe in terms of nationality. With that purpose in mind, he understood that the first step is to secure his position in France with the support of the people. Hence, economy and social factors were crucial to France. Besides having good economy and well organized society, foreign relations are important.
Next, he had to work on his foreign relationship with other countries and France’s reputation. After the Napoleonic wars, many countries saw France as an aggressive country, he wanted to change their minds about this. He was clear that to execute his plan, reputation was important. He was clear that he need to ensure the needs of the people especially the middle class and working class. They were his major supporters thus their loyalty was essential. According to Roger D Price, 1997, ‘He intended to depoliticize government through the establishment of a strong and stable executive power capable of promoting social and economic modernization.
It is important to satisfying the legitimate needs of the people as it will stop the era of revolution. Napoleon III implemented some social policies which fulfill the needs of the people. First, Napoleon III’s aim was to improve the working condition and lives of the working class. He started off by having clinics for the workers who are ill and injured. He also implemented a fund for disabled workers and their families. Second, he added a law to Edict of Tolerance where workers had the right to strike and an off day for workers. Workers’ welfare was implemented where there was some basic health care and limitations on the working hours. Furthermore, the higher states and peasants will have equal rights. Third, Napoleon III and the Empress Eugénie was interested in national public system where more education opportunities are given to more girls and women. He turned the city of Paris into a modern city and he planned to have subway and modern sewers. Thus, France will have an image of elegant, clean, healthy and modern society for other countries to look up to. His objective was to ensure that city had everything that is convenient for everyone.
Besides that, economy was important to the second Empire. Due to the mining and metallurgical industries, the growth of the land and seas transport also increased. He started to lower the taxes and opening the France markets by doing trades with neighboring countries such as Britain. Furthermore, France production of coal had increased to be one of the highest amongst the European countries. There is an increased on the foreign investment. Besides this, the demand of railway had been increasing as French people started to travel more around the countries, as most of them will be travelling back and forth the cities and hometown.
When France economy was increasing, it became a stronger nation because they had the ability to expand their business and colonies. It had increased the chances working with other countries and created more business opportunities. Based on his domestic policy, Napoleon III was doing a good job as he satisfied people’s demand and built up a stronger empire. He also ensured that France economy was growing quickly, and the nation was progressing so well. Overall France was depicted as a strong and united nation like a strong formation built from the people’s heart.
In 1854, France, Ottoman empire, Sardinia and Britain formed alliance and fought with Russia in Crimean war for rights of the Christian minorities in the Holy Land in Ottoman empire. Russia was defeated in the Crimean war and a treaty was signed in Vienna. Treaty of Paris was signed in 1856 where black sea was neutral territory and prohibited all the military weapons and fortification. Hence this was a major setback for Russia and Treaty of Paris still humiliated Russia. According to the Norman Rich’s Great Power diplomacy, the war was to eliminate Russia’s threat to other European states and stop the expansion of Russia.
During that period, Russia was the leader of the international order, his primary objectives is to weaken Russia. Moreover, other European states were more scared of Russia as compared to France. Thus, if France goes into war with Russia, France will be supported by other countries. If France win, it will be portraying as a hero to other countries as he had to stop growth of Russia expansion. Napoleon III had other purposes regarding this war.
First, he wanted to build a good relationship with Britain as he thought that Britain was a major setback to his uncle’s success. Second, he wanted to be the leader of the European states and leading them towards nationality so other European state will seek his advice or help from him. Thus, he could change ideology of Europe through nationality. Third, he tried to turn the international title of France aggression which was given after the Napoleonic war as he secured France’s reputation. This affected the image of France; the countries resent France due to the Napoleon war. He was trying to make France into a more approachable and reliable country to other countries. Thus, he will be a step closer to his primary purpose which was to reorganize Europe in terms of nationality.
The success of the Crimean war made France into one of the arbiters of Europe. People of France were very happy and felt that glory of France was back. They felt that Napoleon III did the nation proud. Moreover, Napoleon III achieved his objectives of the war. Napoleon III tried to respect Russia in the treaty thus the major territory that Russia was taken away was the black sea. Furthermore, the success of Crimean war also proved to the European states that France and Britain were the powerful nations as they defeated Russia. Napoleon III wanted to prove to the world that France was new reformed powerful nation and it helped to eliminate Russia’s threat of expansion and fear. One of Napoleon III’s foreign policy was to remake a Europe map based on the principles of nationality. At first, Sardinia prime minster Count Cavour tried to persuade the Austria empire to give Italian provinces to Italy however it did not turn out well. Hence, Count Cavour invited Napoleon III to be his allies however it turned into war.
The reason why Napoleon III agreed to help Sardinia, it was to help with the unification of Italy so France can have another ally. Furthermore, Italy would be very thankful to France when France succeeded. Another objective of this war was to weaken Austria. This helped France to build a better relationship with Italy and Sardinia. Also, when this unification of Italy succeeded, it worked as a stepping stone for Napoleon III’s intention. He can prove to other countries that nationality unification was indeed possible and something that was unstoppable. In a nutshell, 1852- 1856, France was improving step by step and became a strong nation. Napoleon III did a good job on the domestic policy such as social and economy. He improved the lives of his people by implementing welfares and more education opportunities for women.
The economy increased rapidly after he lowered the tax and opening the French market to the world. He believed that the key to building a strong empire was the nation and its people. Next, the other key components in building a bigger empire were the reputation of the country and foreign relations. Napoleon III’s vision had a similar vision as his uncle, Napoleon, both wanted to reorganize Europe. However, for napoleon III, his vision was to redraw in terms of nationality and leading the whole Europe. Hence, he learnt the failure of his uncle, Napoleon and thus he altered his way of approach towards Europe. For instance, a good relationship with Britain was established as Napoleon III viewed it as a major setback to his uncle expansion. After the Napoleonic wars, countries see France as aggressive country, Napoleon III aim was to change France’s reputation. Hence, France would be seen as a dependable leader and other countries will look up to them.
References:
- Rich, N. (1992). Great power diplomacy, 1814-1914. New York: McGraw-Hill, p.chapter 7.
- Bury, J. (1964). 10: The zenith of European power, 1830-70.
- Cambridge: University press, p.Chapter X and XVII. Price, R. (1997). Napoleon III and the Second Empire. London: Routledge.
