Introduction

The French Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries caused great terror in the city of Paris. There was the spread of disease as well as the time known as the "Reign of Terror". However, in the mid 19th century, Napoleon Buonaparte took power and this began a time of intellectual, philosophical, and political life. Napoleon III employed Georges Haussmann to completely restructure Paris. Haussmann and his team of architects created hotels, train stations, and opera houses while also widening roads. The city was rebuilt on a modern day grid which allowed for easy travel within the city.

It was not a simple task to restructure Paris. There were setbacks because some people were very unhappy with the reconstruction and change in their normal way of life. The "modern Paris" also created inequalities in standards of living. People were beginning to pay more to live in the nicer areas, creating a social divide. However, the benefits greatly outweighed the costs. The city was clean, organized, and modernized, making itself ready for the years to come.

http://www.victorianweb.org/history/hist7.html