France Prior to WWI ew Flashcards
What did Bismarck give France permission to do after the Franco-Prussian War?
to hold free elections!
what were The two competing forces opposing each other?
- Monarchists (those who supported the C.C., the army, the “ancien regime”)
Republicans (democrats).
who won the election of 1871
Adolph Thiers -> Monarchist!
how did the Parisians react to Monarchists winning in 1871
- The “Parisians”, who had fought against and defended the city against Bismarck, refused to accept the results.
They established a radically republican, independent govt. of their own called the “Paris Commune”.
what was Adolphe Thier’s first priority?
restore french reputation — pay the five billion franc indemnity asap so the occupying german army could retire
what happened after the 1871 election
A “civil war” of sorts broke out between the National Assembly/govt. and the Communards (people who did not like monarchy)
The Communards and the National Guard barricaded the streets!!!
But then… the National Army (Le Grand Armee) popped in and just wrecked them
Difference between the National Guard and the National Army
National Guard -> part of the National Army, but tasked with helping out the people of Paris
National Army -> tasked with protecting the GOVERNMENT!!
why did the 3rd Republic continue using the sketchy framework of a Republican/royalist system of government?
The conservative govt. couldn’t find a king willing to accept the flag and colors of the new Republic.
What happened to Thiers in the 1875 election?
Thiers was driven from office by conservatives who thought the Republic looked too republican
who won the 1875 election?
overtly Republican candidates won the day in both houses.
But not the president!! The president is very conservative/monarchist–>
Marshall McMahon
McMahon’s constitution!!
Legislative assembly was bi-cameral (a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies)
President can dissolve the assembly
Universal adult male suffrage elected the Chamber of Deputies
one Third of the Senate was elected for life, the
remainder to nine-year terms
senate elections were to be from Single-member constituencies rather than from a system of proportional representation
Republic would be left by an elected president with a term of 7 years (and re-election)
Council of ministers was to be led by a premier
LPSRC
Let’s PUT SRC down
What did McMahon do in the 1877 election and what were the results?
He didn’t like that the two houses beneath him were republican, so he made a new election.
Which he proceeded to lose.
And then the French Parliament was finally democratic/republican!
what did the government establish in 1881?
freedom of the press!!! and general expression!!!
- Bureucratic appointments became subject to an examination and not patronage
- democracy was intended to local elections and life-memberships for senate were abolished
why did they establish compulsory state-funded primary education and what were the results?
established in 1882
they believed that voters had to be educated
This education must be managed by the state and separate from the church
this brought liberals and the radical left together in France
How did the republicans effect the Catholics and how did they respond?
- The anti-clericalism of the republicans endangered some Catholics
- Pope Leo XIII officially recognized the French Republic in 1891
instructed French Catholics to do the same which furthered relative peace
George Boulanger
The Minister of War who courted the army with reforms designed to please all levels of the military while he took a hard line against germany
General in French military who turned his military fame toward a political career.
His supporters encouraged him to use his influence of the military to organize a coup d’etat (he was a reactionary and monarchist).
Supporter of the 3 rs!
what are the “3 Rs”
- Revenge (against Prussia for the Franco-Prussian war and loss of land!)
- Revision (the constitution)
- Restoration (of the monarchy)…became known as “Boulangeism”
Why did Boulanger’s coup fail?
his plan was disorganized and ill-timed
He took too long and the government found out
What happened after the French government issued treason charges against Boulanger?
he fled to Belgium
The Republic had survived, continues it’s conservative government
- Boulangism lost support in the following elections.
- Two yrs later, 1891, he returned to the grave of his mistress (Bonnemains), a disgraced public figure, and committed suicide.
conclusions of the Boulanger Affair
Does the new republican govt. had the firm support of the French military?
military is soft in democracy and liberalism
- there are still people in the military who DIDN’T support democracy!!
Why did a joint-stock company begin to build across the Isthmus of Panama?
they wanted to repeat the success of the Suez Canal in 1881
it was a french company, organized by Ferdinand de Lesseps, the builder of the Suez Canal.
Good for French imperialism into South America
how did they fund the construction of the Canal?
the French public were urged to help finance the project by purchasing shares.
problem with the construction of the Panama Canal?
The construction of the canal was hampered by poor planning (no docks), diseases of wet tropics, financial incompetence, etc.
what happened to the Panama Canal Co. in the end?
In 1888 the Panama Canal Co. financial problems were too hard to overcome ☹️
Company dissolved in 1891
It was only 40% complete and behind schedule.
