Political Factors

Haussmann's Architectural Paris: Political Factors

During this time period, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, better known as Napoleon III was the president and dictator of France.  He was elected president in 1848.  He ran on the platform of strong government, social consolidation, and national greatness. However, presidential terms in France only last 4 years.  After 4 years, he still had the approval of the nation, but the government would not grant him an extension on his term.  He overthrew the government on December 2, 1851.  He then got 7 1/2 million votes (less than 10% of the registered voters) on December 20 to rule in a 10-year dictatorship as the Emperor of France and the political situation went from a republic to a dictatorship.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Franz_Xaver_Winterhalter_Napoleon_III.jpg

He knew in 1848 there had just been a revolution, and he did not want that to happen again.  He then, on June 22, 1853 he commissioned Haussmann to make plans to change Paris to be a city that will not rebel.  The plans were going smoothly until Parisians started becoming unhappy with the destruction of their culture.  This made the regime's approval rating plummet, so Napoleon III fired Haussmann on Jan 5, 1870.

http://www.herodote.net/Images/NapoleonIIIHaussmannYvon.jpg

Napoleon fought in many wars, as seen below in his participation in the Crimean War.  This war was supporting England.  He also was involved with the Italian Question and the Franco-Purrisan war during his reigning era.  There were many other political battles he fought for France that are not mentioned here.  These wars were mostly victories he had much experience both of his own and learning from his uncle, Napoleon I which he can attribute most of his name recognition and success.

http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-facts/france-history/images/napoleon/napoleonIII/napoleon-iii-horseback.jpg

The end of his reign ended with a bloodless revolution on September 4, 1870.  His popularity had been decreasing, despite his changes in the country and how it was run.  By the end of the decade, people were dissatisfied and he stayed in power another 8 years after his 4 year presidential term and 10 year dictatorship. 

Works Cited:

http://www.fact-index.com/n/na/napoleon_iii_of_france.html

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist255-s01/mapping-paris/Haussmann.html

http://www.google.com/search?q=Napoleon+iii&hl=en&client=safari&prmd=ib&tbs=tl:1&tbo=u&ei=hUmrTPOeNYL98AbYrMCECA&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=18&ved=0CF8Q5wIwEQ

http://gallery.sjsu.edu/paris/politics/NapoleonIII00.htm

http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=mmt

http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-history/second-french-empire.htm