Napoleon III
Early Life: Foreign Policy:
Son of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte Aims:
Friends with prominent French writers o Expand influence abroad/in
(incl. Chateaubriand) Europe
Attempted a coup in France in 1836 – o Avoid wars
failed o Help small territories
Attempted another coup in 1840 – o Popular sovereignty
captured and put on trial Italy:
Imprisoned in the ‘Fortress of Ham’ – o Won Battle of Magenta
wrote articles/poems and became well- o Helped Pope unite Italy with
read across France Sardinia
May 1946 – escaped and fled to England o Backed down at Battle of
1848 Revolution – ‘golden opportunity’ to Solferino (high death toll)
gain power in France o This upset relations with the Pope
Domestic Policy: and Sardinia
Mexico:
Became known as the ‘Prince-President’ o Napoleon created influence in
Later known as ‘Emperor’ Mexico
Created a new constitution in 1852: o Established a royal family in
o Universal male suffrage Mexico – Maximillian to be King
o Two-tier legislature o USA not happy about this
o All power retained by Prince- o Staged troops at the US/Mexico
President border
United groups to help him maintain o Napoleon felt threatened, forced
control – rewards for showing loyalty to back down
Established a totalitarian regime – tights o Abandoned the royal family, incl.
censorship, banned political parties Maximillian – eventually executed
Improved French economy: o Wasn’t received well in France or
o Created 3 new banks abroad
o Improved railways o Napoleon’s popularity decreased
o Reconstructed ports to improve – threatened future trade
trade Crimea:
o Production grew by 73% o Russia wanted control of Ottoman
o Economy grew by 5% per year Empire
Cobden-Chevalier Treaty 1860 (reduce o Britain and France couldn’t let this
tariffs on trade w/ Britain) happen – would give Russia
Reconstructed Paris – cost 2.5 billion access to Med. Sea (easy access
francs for invasion of Britain/France)
One of the new banks collapsed (‘Credit o Went to war against Russia
Mobilier’) o Victory for France BUT heavy loss
Improved education – creates 800 new of troops
schools o Questioned purpose of war at
Created schools specifically for girls
home
Catholic church remained important
Early Life: Foreign Policy:
Son of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte Aims:
Friends with prominent French writers o Expand influence abroad/in
(incl. Chateaubriand) Europe
Attempted a coup in France in 1836 – o Avoid wars
failed o Help small territories
Attempted another coup in 1840 – o Popular sovereignty
captured and put on trial Italy:
Imprisoned in the ‘Fortress of Ham’ – o Won Battle of Magenta
wrote articles/poems and became well- o Helped Pope unite Italy with
read across France Sardinia
May 1946 – escaped and fled to England o Backed down at Battle of
1848 Revolution – ‘golden opportunity’ to Solferino (high death toll)
gain power in France o This upset relations with the Pope
Domestic Policy: and Sardinia
Mexico:
Became known as the ‘Prince-President’ o Napoleon created influence in
Later known as ‘Emperor’ Mexico
Created a new constitution in 1852: o Established a royal family in
o Universal male suffrage Mexico – Maximillian to be King
o Two-tier legislature o USA not happy about this
o All power retained by Prince- o Staged troops at the US/Mexico
President border
United groups to help him maintain o Napoleon felt threatened, forced
control – rewards for showing loyalty to back down
Established a totalitarian regime – tights o Abandoned the royal family, incl.
censorship, banned political parties Maximillian – eventually executed
Improved French economy: o Wasn’t received well in France or
o Created 3 new banks abroad
o Improved railways o Napoleon’s popularity decreased
o Reconstructed ports to improve – threatened future trade
trade Crimea:
o Production grew by 73% o Russia wanted control of Ottoman
o Economy grew by 5% per year Empire
Cobden-Chevalier Treaty 1860 (reduce o Britain and France couldn’t let this
tariffs on trade w/ Britain) happen – would give Russia
Reconstructed Paris – cost 2.5 billion access to Med. Sea (easy access
francs for invasion of Britain/France)
One of the new banks collapsed (‘Credit o Went to war against Russia
Mobilier’) o Victory for France BUT heavy loss
Improved education – creates 800 new of troops
schools o Questioned purpose of war at
Created schools specifically for girls
home
Catholic church remained important
