France 1814–1870

Welcome to France 1814–1870!

In this unit, we’re going on a bit of a rollercoaster ride through 19th-century French history. Imagine a country that keeps trying on different "outfits"—monarchy, republic, empire—to see which one fits best. We will explore how France moved from the fall of Napoleon I to the eventual fall of his nephew, Napoleon III. This period is vital because it explains how modern France was born through revolution, industrial change, and political drama. Don't worry if it seems like a lot of names and dates at first; we’ll break it down into four simple "Acts."

Act 1: The Bourbon Restoration (1814–1830)

After Napoleon was defeated, the old royal family (the Bourbons) came back to the throne. This period is known as the Restoration. Imagine trying to return a phone to its factory settings after a massive software update; that’s what the Bourbons were trying to do to France after the Revolution.

Louis XVIII (1814–1824): The Great Balancer

Louis XVIII knew he couldn't just ignore everything that happened during the Revolution. He issued The Charter, a constitution that kept some of the rights people had won (like a parliament and freedom of the press).
Example: Think of Louis XVIII as a peacekeeper at a family dinner where half the family wants pizza and the other half wants a five-course meal. He tried to give everyone a little bit of what they wanted.

• Ultras: Extreme royalists who wanted to go back to the "good old days" before the Revolution. They were led by the King’s brother, the Count of Artois.
• Key Ministers: Men like Richelieu, Decazes, and Villèle had to navigate between these angry Ultras and the Liberals who wanted more freedom.

Charles X (1824–1830): The Reactionary

When Charles X (the former leader of the Ultras) took over, he stopped trying to balance and went full "Old School." He believed in the Divine Right of Kings (the idea that God chose him to rule and he shouldn't have to listen to anyone else).

• Polignac: A very conservative minister who helped Charles X issue the Ordinances of St Cloud. These rules took away the right to vote from many people and censored the press.
• The 1830 Revolution (The July Revolution): The people of Paris had enough. After three days of fighting (the "Three Glorious Days"), Charles X was forced to run away to England.

Quick Review Box:
- Louis XVIII = Moderate, used the Charter.
- Charles X = Ultra conservative, triggered the 1830 Revolution with the Ordinances of St Cloud.

Key Takeaway: The Bourbons failed because they couldn't agree on how much of the Revolution's legacy they should keep. While Louis XVIII was flexible, Charles X was too stiff, and he snapped.

Act 2: The July Monarchy and the 1848 Revolution

After Charles X fled, the crown went to his cousin, Louis Philippe. He was called the Citizen King because he dressed like a businessman and walked the streets with an umbrella instead of a sword.

Nature of the July Monarchy

Louis Philippe’s reign was supposed to be a "middle way" (the juste milieu). He was supported by the Bourgeoisie (the middle class—bankers, lawyers, factory owners).
Analogy: If Charles X was a strict headteacher, Louis Philippe was like a manager of a corporation. He cared about business and stability, but maybe a bit too much.

Opposition and Problems

Even though he was more liberal, Louis Philippe faced many enemies:
1. Legitimists: Wanted the "real" Bourbons back.
2. Republicans: Wanted no king at all.
3. Socialists: Worried about the poor living conditions of workers.
4. Bonapartists: Wanted another Napoleon in charge.

Guizot: The King's main minister. His famous advice to people who wanted the vote was "Enrichissez-vous" (Get rich!). This made him very unpopular with the poor.

The 1848 Revolution

A mix of bad harvests (the "hungry forties"), economic depression, and government corruption led to another uprising. Louis Philippe refused to reform the voting system, so the people of Paris built barricades again. He abdicated, and the Second Republic was born.

Did you know? The 1848 Revolution in France started a "chain reaction" of revolutions across almost all of Europe!

Key Takeaway: Louis Philippe was a king for the middle class, but he ignored the working class and the growing demand for democracy, which led to his downfall in 1848.

Act 3: Napoleon III and Domestic Policy (1848–1870)

After the 1848 Revolution, France held an election for President. The winner? Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, the nephew of the famous Napoleon I. He won largely because of his famous name.

The Rise to Emperor

In 1851, the law wouldn't let him run for President again, so he staged a Coup d'état. In 1852, he declared himself Emperor Napoleon III.
Don't worry if this seems tricky: Just remember he went from elected President to self-appointed Emperor, just like his uncle!

Economic and Social Policies

Napoleon III was actually very good for the French economy. He believed that if people were busy making money, they wouldn't start revolutions.
- Haussmannization: He hired Baron Haussmann to completely rebuild Paris. They tore down narrow, dirty streets and built the wide boulevards and beautiful parks you see today.
- Railways & Banking: He modernized France's transport and money systems.
- The "Liberal Empire": In the 1860s, as he got older and less popular, he gave more power back to Parliament and legalized trade unions. This shift was led by the politician Ollivier.

Mnemonic Aid: Use H.R.B. to remember his domestic focus: Haussmann (Paris), Railways, and Banking.

Key Takeaway: Napoleon III used economic success to keep people happy. He transformed Paris into a modern city and eventually tried to move France toward a more democratic system known as the "Liberal Empire."

Act 4: Foreign and Imperial Policy (1848–1870)

Napoleon III wanted France to be a superpower again. He was very active abroad, but his record was a mix of big wins and total disasters.

The Successes

• Crimean War: France joined Britain to defeat Russia. It boosted French prestige.
• Italy: He helped Cavour (the Italian leader) fight Austria to help unify Italy. France gained the territories of Nice and Savoy in return.

The Failures

• Mexico: He tried to set up a French-backed Emperor (Maximilian) in Mexico. It was a complete disaster and ended with Maximilian being executed.
• Relations with Britain: They were often "frenemies"—working together sometimes (like in Crimea) but staying very suspicious of each other.

The Final Downfall: Prussia and the Franco-Prussian War

The biggest threat was the rising power of Prussia (Germany) led by Bismarck.
- In 1870, France was tricked into a war with Prussia.
- At the Battle of Sedan, Napoleon III was actually captured by the Prussians!
- This led to the fall of the Empire and the start of the Third Republic.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse Napoleon I (the one with the hat from the early 1800s) with Napoleon III (the one with the mustache from this unit). Napoleon III was the nephew!

Key Takeaway: Napoleon III’s foreign policy started well but ended in catastrophe. His capture at the Battle of Sedan in 1870 marked the end of monarchy in France forever.

Final Summary of the Period

Between 1814 and 1870, France tried three different types of Monarchy:
1. The Bourbon Restoration: Rigid and traditional.
2. The July Monarchy: Business-focused and middle-class.
3. The Second Empire: A mix of modern economics and authoritarian rule.
In the end, none of them could survive the combination of social unrest at home and the rise of a powerful Germany abroad.