Fance after 1871 essays

Fance after 1871 essays In the following paragraphs I will be discussing France after it's defeat in the Franco-Prussian war; the constitution, divisions in government, threats to the people's faith in their rulers, and the economy. France began this era at considerable disadvantage because of the war and Bismarck's policy of isolation, which greatly hindered it's attempts to regain it's prosperity and it's influence in European affairs. France after the Franco-Prussian war was in both economic and political crises. In the treaty of Frankfurt she had agreed to pay 5 billion francs in reparations to Germany to allow a German army of occupation to remain there until the debts were paid. She had surrendered the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany, and had agreed to allow a triumphant German army to march through the streets of Paris in return for allowing France to keep the town of Belfort, in Alsace. The people of France were poor, humiliated and disillusioned with the government that had allowed the demise of their country. Furthermore, Bismarck's policy of isolation made it almost impossible for France to form alliances within Europe which would help her to regain some of her former power. The people of France were resentful towards Germany and the government was more inclined to focus on a war of revenge than the rebuilding of the country. These were the terms under which the third French republic began so it is not surprising that it's reign was to be short-lived. Adolphe Thiers, a liberal monarchist, was head of the national assembly. Communes were established all over the country to represent each of the towns in the assembly , and the first real threat to the 3rd French republic came about as a result of this. The Parisians believed that the new bourgeois government was failing to recognise the special position of the people of Paris, who had just undergone a four-month siege. Revolution broke out in march 1871, supported by work...