French Third Republic
Notes on the subject by
Thorsteinn Thorhallsson
The third french republic
• The debate! Was it stagnant or
dynamic
– It managed to reconcile the conservative
and revolutionary forces in France.
– It turned peasants into Frenchmen
– It made some economic and social
progress even if it did not have the same
economic growth as Germany.
– Finally it emerged victorius out of WW1
The Program
•
•
•
•
The Commune
Establishment
Crises
Domestic and foreign policy
Consequence of war
• France lost Alsace and Lorraine
• France had to pay huge sums in war
indemnity (five billion francs)
• Siege of Paris sept 1870 to jan 1871
• France-German relations for next 80
years poisioned
The commune
• Napoleon was captured and the national
assembly took over government under
leadership of Adolphe Thiers
• The assembly made peace with Germany
which Paris resented.
• March 26th 1871 Paris Commune separated
itself from France
• Repressed with 20 000 killed in May
Commune
• What is the myth of the commune?
– Each radical movement sees itself in it.
• What was the commune?
– protest against the conservative assembly
– warweariness and poverty
– Parisian republican and revolutionary tradition against
the traditional authorities returning to power once
again
– power in hands of the working class and middle classs
– introduced workshops, free compulsory education for
both sexes
Suppression
• Suppression of Thiers was energetic,
decisive and totally successful.
• Opposing view of effect on history of third
republic:
– The new republic had a long lasting bitterness
between Paris and the Provinces
– Or this clearing of Paris radicals was necessary
for peaceful development of the republic.
The provisional republic 71-77
• 1871-73 Thiers, chief of executive power
– Majority for monarchy but agreement not
reached (because of the flag)
– 1875 Founding of the republic (accepted by one
vote majority in assembly) MacMahon president
– Republicans got clear majority in elections 75
– In the elections 77 the monarchist president
MacMahon failed to crush the republicans.
• The influence of the aristocrats was finished.
• A social revolution said Alfred Cobban
Consolidation 77-85
• Rule of the opportunists
– Jules Ferry and Léon Gambetta were
republicans but not so radical even if they
adhered to the principles of equal rights and
primary education for all.
• Symbolic legislation
– Bastille day - Marseillaise - amnesty to
communards
• Liberal legislation
– 1881 freedom of expression - elections to majors
- competitive examinations for civil service -
Politics in the Third republic
• Stability or instability
– Government was nominated by the
president but the they were weak and
under much parliamentary check by:
– interpellations
– deputies could initiate legislation
– permanent commissions of deputies reviewed all
government legislation
– Governments were frequently changed but the
Chamber was the pillar of stability (professional
deputies)
Church and the state
• The anti-clerical republicans couldn’t accept the
church grip on education. In 1878 40% of
education was in church schools.
• The defeat at Sedan was the defeat of
“Bonarpartism, caesarism, catholicism, jesuitism”
all that was corrupt and and sterile within France.
• 1883 Jules Ferry introduced the law of free
primary education by lay teachers employees of
the state. The Jesuits expelled from France 1880
• The second assault on the church came with the
association laws 1901 and separation of church and
state in 1904.
Boulanger
• Republican minister of war
– Response to rights success in elections 85 43,9
%
– Economic crisis – phylloxera – cheap amer. grain
– Attempted tough policy against Germany in the
Schnaebele affair.
– General “revenge” Enoromously popular – new
Napoleon!
– Chickened out at a crucial moment
– The republic was saved – from right and left
enemies -
Panama-scandal
• Another problem for the republic
• Panama canal project in trouble
• Bribes to politicians to get public
money
• Company bankrupt
• Angry shareholders
• Jewish banker accused of handing out
bribes
Implications of scandal
• Set off a wave of anti Jewish
sentiment – preparation for Dreyfus
affair
• Workers vote socialist – give up onm
corrupt capitalism
• New generation of politicians like
Raymond Poincarré
Dreyfus-affair 1896-1906
• Old and new values
• Church – army – nationalism anti-semitic
against radical republican forces.
• Once again opened up the rift between the
two forces
• Still an advance for republicanism
• The energies should have been used for
solving social and economic problem
"Half a century after the Vichy regime, we know that dark forces,
intolerance, injustice can insinuate themselves up to the highest levels
of the State. But we also know that France, in moments of truth, can
find again the best of herself: great, strong, united and vigilant This is
without a doubt what Emile Zola and Alfred Dreyfus are telling us,
after all these years. It is because they had faith in our common values,
those of our Nation and our Republic, and because they so deeply loved
France, that these exceptional men were able to reconcile her with
herself."
"Let us not ever forget this masterful lesson of love and unity."
Jacques Chirac
President of the French Republic
Economic development
• 1870 war cut important resources
from France – heavy cost of war.
• France comes in fourth in the world
• More emphasis on luxury industries
than heavy industry
• Did well in automobile industry
• Growing protectionism
• Steady growth in living standard
Socialism
• French workers party 1881
– marxist line
• Jean Jaures
– Peaceful socialist
– less doctrinate.
– Use democratic methods to advance the
workers case
– Killed by nationalist on eve of war 1914
• Sorel – syndicalist – general strike
The social question
• 1905 Waldeck-Rousseau appoints socialist
to be a minister for the first time in
European history
• Didnt last long – the line from Amsterdam
to fight capitalism and withdraw from
support with bourgeouise governments.
• Strike wave was forcefully suppressed with
army by radical republican ministers.
• Little progess in social legislation
Colonialism
• Ferry justification an afterthought –
Industrial countries need colonies
• Debated policy in France
• Matter of pride
• Supported by Germans
• Personal initiative
• Catholic mission
• Socialist, nationalists and industrialists not
enthusiastic about the civilizing mission
Foreign policy
• Alliance with Russia after 1890
–
–
–
–
Bismarck set aside in Germany
French investment in Russia
1894 alliance popular in France
Few asked what the consequences this
could have
– German arrogance puts France and
Britain together. End of Isolations
Questions from paper 3
• What were the main problems faced by the
third french republic between 1870 and
1900? M98
• In what ways did the crisis and political
scandals in France both weaken and
strengthen the Third republic between 1880
and 1905? M00