Economic Policy

Question 1

What is evidence for a strong economic policy in the second empire?

Answer 1

During the second empire, industrial production doubled and foreign trade tripled

Question 2

In what way did the infrastructure of France grow under Napoleon?

Answer 2

• 634 million francs invested in the railway system, by 1871 nearly 18000km track had been added. This also facilitated the grwoth of iron and coal industries and linked France with economic powers like Germany which boosted international commerce
• telegraph network grew from 2000 to 70,000km this was a vital tool for centralised administration

Question 3

Why did Napoleon transform Paris?

Answer 3

There was an economic boom in 1850s however for many living conditions were unacceptable, this led to discontentment. By 1860s unemployment had risen.

Question 4

Who did Napoleon employ to transform Paris?

Answer 4

Baron Haussmann. He was elected prefect of Paris and over the years attempted to transform it into an imperial showpiece like London and Vienna.

Question 5

Positives of the Paris transformation?

Answer 5

• clean water supply increased by 400%
• old narrow steets removed and parks (e.g. Parc Monceau) constructed. 136km new streets built
• sewers constructed and gas lighting introduced
• 40,000 houses and grand boulevards, railway station including Gare Du Nord built
• Created employment. At the time 20% of workers were employed in the transformation.

Question 6

Why can the transformation of Paris also be guarded as an economic failure?

Answer 6

• improvements were often one street deep and there were still slums behind the facade. Thousands of small traders and workers were displaced from Paris and could not afford to move back afterwards due to the increased rent.
• sewers only catered for rainwater, living conditions saw minimal improvement
• rebuilding only his the issue of poverty, 70-80% of Parisians were too poor to own their property.
• appeared grand and impressive in reality it only moved the slums (rather than solving the poverty problem) as people could no longer afford to live in Paris.

Question 7

What were the positives of Napoleons economic policy concering banks?

Answer 7

• Napoleon wanted to expand credit supply by breaking the monopoly of the cautious traditional banks. 1852 new banks such as the Credit Foncier and Credot Mobilier were established.
• Cheap credit was useful in many different areas, particularly for industrial development. e.g. the construction of the Suez Canal and the setting up of railways.

Question 8

What were the negatives of Napoleons economic policy concerning banks?

Answer 8

Credit Mobilier ran into trouble in 1856 until it closed in 1871. Its collapse reflected poorly on the regime and remained a matter of dispute between the emperor and his traditionally more conservative backers.

Question 9

In what way was the second Empire unsuccessful in advancing agriculture?

Answer 9

• France remained the land of the small holder. 1866 51.1% of population were employed in agriculture. This meant that any improvement was local rather than national.
• 1862 there were 9000 mechanical harvesting machiens spread through 3.6 million cultivators of the land.
• Arguably Napoleon did not advance the agricultural industry as there was no substantial change in production or agricultural methods despite the improvement of agricultural production in France being a vital area for government concern. Some improvements were made such as irrigation and drainage allowing the cultivation of 1.5 million new hectors of land, but improvements were not felt on a national level.

Question 10

Why did industry decline in 1860s, how is this evidence for Napoleons economic policy being less successful?

Answer 10

• France failed to industrialise as fast as countries such as Britain, this meant they were heavily reliant on imports and exports for industry. Therefore when the American Civil War broke out and cotton shipping was limited and the industry badly went into decline. e.g. in 1860 365,000 bales of cotton entered France through Le Ahavre compared to 31,000 in 1862.

(Bad harvests in 1853, 1855, 1861, 1867 also did not help this)

Question 11

What was the economy generally like under Napoleon?

Answer 11

• 1850s saw a boom in economy, general increase in wages and lots of foreign investment abroad
• The decline in the textiles industry illustrates that by 1860s economy was maybe not as prosperous as it appeared. Also illustrated by the fact that living conditions saw little improvement
• Napoleon failed to industrialise, as illustrated by the agriculture industry, therefore growth of industry was limited.