ABSTRACT
The Second French Republic (1848-1852) 1848 Apr. Elections to Constituent Assembly return a moderate republican majority May National Assembly meets but is invaded by mob. National Guard restores order Jun. Widespread demonstrations in Paris suppressed by General Cavaignac Nov. Constitution of Second Republic announced Dec. Louis Napoleon elected President of French Republic by massive majority 1849 1\1ay National Assembly dissolved, one among many measures of repression by government
1850 May Universal suffrage abolished Sep. Freedom of press curtailed
1851 Jut. Louis Napoleon fails to gain two-thirds majority necessary to change the constitution and extend his presidency Dec. Coup d'etat by Louis Napoleon encounters little resistance. Plebiscite ratifies Louis Napoleon as President for ten years
1852 Jan. New constitution grants President quasi-monarchical powers Nov. Plebiscite favours imperial constitution Dec. Louis Napoleon proclaimed Emperor Napoleon III
The Second French Empire (1852-1870) 1854-1856 Crimean War (claiming 93,600 French casualties) 1854 Mar. France allies with Britain and declares war on Russia Sep. French and British forces land in Crimea Nov. French and British forces defeat Russians at Inkerman
1855 Sep. French and British occupy Sebastopol. Paris World Exhibition 1856 Feb. Peace of Paris concludes Crimean War: Napoleon III hosts conference and attempts to introduce question of Italian unification onto agenda
France supports Piedmont in war against Austria French/Piedmontese victories at Magenta and Solferino Peace of Villafranca ends Franco-Austrian War Amnesty and extension of political rights within France
1871 Jan. Franco-Prussian armistice. Paris capitulates Feb. National Assembly elected, convenes in Bordeaux and elects Thiers as head of executive Mar. Prussians enter Paris. National Guard takeover. Communes proclaimed in Lyons, Marseilles then Paris Apr. Civil war between Paris Commune and National Government May Treaty of Frankfurt formally ends Franco-Prussian War: France to suffer military occupation until payment of 5 million francs reparations, and surrender Alsace-Lorraine to new German Empire. Communards in Paris bombarded and beaten on the barricades Aug. Thiers elected first President of Third Republic
1872 Jan. Comte de Chambord makes 'Antwerp Declaration', calling for a legitimist 'Revolutionary Monarchy' in France Nov. Leading Communards executed
1873 Sep. German army evacuates France Oct. Comte de Chambord refuses to recognize the tricolour as national flag, dashing monarchist hopes for restoration
1875 Jan. Republican constitution formally established 1879 Jan. Amnesty for Communards
1880 Nov. Roman Catholic orders expelled
1887 Oct. Boulanger Coup fails
1889 Jan. Second Boulanger attempt also fails Apr. Boulanger flees from France, committing suicide in 1891. Eiffel Tower constructed in Paris by Gustave Eiffel
1891 Aug. Franco-Russian Entente
1892 Aug. Franco-Russian military convention agreed
1893 Mar. Panama Scandal: trial and imprisonment of directors of bankrupt Panama Canal Company prompts rise in anti-Semitism Jun. Franco-Russian commercial treaty Dec. Franco-Russian military convention operative
1911 Jul.-Nov. Second Moroccan Crisis 1913 Aug. Army Bill
