Section 2
Revolution and
andWar
Change in France:
Reforms, Revolutions,
What were causes of first French Revolution?
Main Idea
During the 1800s opposing groups in France struggled to determine
what kind of government France would have—a republic, a
constitutional monarchy, or an absolute monarchy.
Content Statement:
Explain how Enlightenment ideals influenced the French
Revolution and Latin American wars for independence.
Section 2
Reforms, Revolutions,
and Vocabulary
War
Ch 9-2
• Absolute monarch: a ruler that has unlimited power and
authority over his or her people
• Constitutional monarchy: a monarchy limited by certain law;
legislative body, checks and balances.
• Dreyfus Affair: a political scandal that divided France in the
1890’s, involving the wrongful conviction of Jewish army officer
Alfred Dreyfus for treason.
• Anti-Semitism: hostility or prejudice towards Jews.
• Zionism: a nationalist movement, begun in the 1890’s, to
establish a Jewish state in Palestine.
1.The Revolution
of 1830 Section 2
Reforms, Revolutions,
and War
At the end of the Napoleonic era, the Congress of Vienna restored Louis
XVIII to the French throne. The French had a constitution and a
legislature, but most power remained with the king. The French people
would not remain content with their government for long.
A King Abdicates
• Charles X inherited
throne with death of
brother, Louis XVIII
• Tried to rule as absolute
monarch
• Citizens revolted,
Revolution of 1830
• Charles abdicated, fled
to England
Metternich
2.Louis Philippe
• Moderate liberals formed
• Klemens von
constitutional monarchy
Metternich had
• Chose Louis Philippe
supported absolute
new king
monarchies,
reactionary ideals at • Aristocrat popular with
Congress of Vienna
middle class
• Feared revolution
• Lived and dressed as
would spread
middle class. Wore long
pants not knee high pants
• “my life’s work is
like nobility
destroyed”
• Called “citizen king”
2.Reforms,
Repressive
Rule
Section 2
Revolutions,
and War
• Louis Philippe became more like king, less like citizen over time
• Increased number of voters, but only extended vote to more
wealthy citizens
• Limited freedom of press, rule became increasingly repressive,
silenced most who opposed him
2. Economic Depression
• During Louis Philippe’s reign, working people grew poorer,
middle class and aristocracy became more prosperous
• Popularity deteriorated rapidly with economic depression of
1846
• Life became difficult for all but wealthiest people
• Discontent would lead to revolution again
Reforms, Revolutions,
and
Birth
ofWar
a Republic
Section 2
The economic troubles and general unhappiness simmered until 1848. Then
revolution exploded again and another republic was born.
3.The Revolution of 1848
3.Second Republic
• Sparked when French
government banned banquet
planned by reformers
• Era known as Second
Republic; First Republic existed
between French Revolution,
reign of Napoleon
• Middle- and working- class
protesters took to streets
• Louis Philippe abdicated
• New government formed, a
republic headed by a
president
• Voters elected Napoleon’s
nephew, Louis Napoleon
• Revolution of 1848 had farreaching effects: ensured all
adult men had right to vote,
fueled new women’s rights
movement, inspired other
European revolutions
Section 2
Reforms,
Revolutions,IIIand
War
4.Napoleon
and
the Second Empire
New Constitution
Reforms
• French constitution allowed
president to serve four years
• Period became known as
Second Empire
• Louis Napoleon wanted to
remain in office longer
• Napoleon III made reforms
such as increasing voting
rights but always kept absolute
power as emperor
• 1851, sent troops to Paris,
arrested members of National
Assembly who opposed him
• Called for national vote on
drafting new constitution
• plebiscite
• 1852, French elected him
Emperor Napoleon III
• Ruled during time of economic
prosperity
• Built many miles of railroads,
helped increase trade and
improved communications in
France
Reforms, Revolutions,
and
War Republic Section 2
5.The
Third
War with Prussia
Deposed
• 1870, Napoleon III drew France
into war with Prussia
• Shameful defeat led French Assembly to
depose Napoleon III
• Napoleon III captured,
surrendered to Prussians
• Proclaimed Third Republic
Siege of Paris
5.Important Reforms
• New republic immediately faced • 1882 Primary education available for
crisis
children between 6 and 13
• Prussians invaded France,
began siege of Paris
• 1884 Trade unions legalized
• 1900 working hours reduced
• 1906 law passed forcing employers give
employees 1 day off a week.
6.The
Dreyfus
Affair
Reforms, Revolutions,
and
War
Section 2
• Reforms did not solve all of France’s problems
• Divisions continued to split French society
• 1894, divisions came to head over controversial Dreyfus Affair,
revealing extent of French anti-Semitism, prejudice toward Jews
Dreyfus
Evidence
• Alfred Dreyfus, captain in
French army, Jewish
• Dreyfus humiliated in public
ceremony, uniform stripes
removed, sword broken
• Falsely accused of betraying
military secrets to Germany
• Crowd chanted for his
execution.
• Anti-Semitic officers knew he
was not guilty, let Dreyfus
take blame
• Evidence suggested another,
non-Jewish, officer may have
been spy, but found not guilty
in court
• Dreyfus not cleared until 1906
7.Defending
Reforms, Revolutions,
and War Dreyfus
Section 2
Zola
• Dreyfus Affair divided the French people.
• 1898, French writer Émile Zola defended Dreyfus
• Published letter accusing French government of anti-Semitism
• Letter set off riots, led French courts to reopen Dreyfus’s case
Effects
• Many political groups united into two—those for Dreyfus and those against
• Theodor Herzl began Zionism movement, called for re-creation of a Jewish
state in original homeland
Zionism
• Herzl believed root of anti-Semitism was that Jews did not have own nation
• 1900s, many Jews had settled in eastern Mediterranean area, Palestine
• Settlements caused other Jews to follow, Zionist movement strengthened