CHAPTER 15 - The Second Empire and its Collapse

Abstract

This chapter discusses the second empire and its collaps. The accidental revolution of 1848, brought about by the weakness of the constitutional monarchy of Louis-Philippe, was the responsibility for which can be placed on the people and politicians in Paris. Once Guizot's unpopular government had fallen and the barricades had gone up in the streets of Paris, it was inevitable that a provisional government should emerge. It was clearly the wish of the deputies that the ateliers should go and that the government should pay no more soldes d’inactivité. The news of this was the spark that led to the insurrection of the June Days. The election was held in December, and the result was that Louis Napoleon won easily. One of Napoleon's reasons for dismissing his first government was that there was dissension on foreign policy. In April 1870, there was a plebiscite on the suggested revision of the constitution, by which France was to be given an upper Chamber with genuine power, and, as a result of the voting, a new government was installed.