In 1848-1849. a wave of armed uprisings swept through Europe, called the "spring of peoples." The revolutionary movement demanded the abolition of feudalism and the introduction of democratic principles. At the beginning of 1848, the French people, having joined the general mood, demanded civil rights and freedoms. King Louis-Philippe I of the Bourbon dynasty defended the interests of the financial elite of society, but a tough struggle did not bring results. On February 22, 1848, the monarch abdicated.
Proclamation of the Republic
The Provisional Government was immediately created. The oppositionists who were in it refused to proclaim the Second French Republic, arguing that the important decision should be made by the people. On February 25, a group of citizens came to the Town Hall, threatening a new revolution. Under their pressure, the republican system of government was recognized.
In June 1848, after the suppression of armed uprisings, the formation of authorities began. The provisional government yielded to the democrats in their demand to introduceuniversal right to vote. France became the only country with the right to vote, limited only by the age limit. Another law passed was a decree abolishing slavery in the colonies.
Presidential election
May 4, the elected Constituent Assembly proclaimed the 2nd republic in France (years of existence: 1848-1852). The constitution, which rejected revolutionary methods of struggle, came into force on 4 June. The foundations of the Republic were family, labor and property. The use of democratic freedoms was limited to the boundaries of the rule of law. By proclaiming the right to work, the government paid tribute to the revolutionary-minded masses. The remaining principles of the Constitution satisfied the bourgeoisie more than the common people.
Legislative power was given to an elected National Assembly, executive power to a popularly elected president. The President of the Assembly, Jules Grevy, pointed out the danger of a general popular election. His arguments were not heard. On December 10, three-quarters of the voters voted for the election of Napoleon Bonaparte's nephew Charles-Louis-Napoleon as president. The votes in his favor were cast by the workers, the army, the peasants, the petty bourgeoisie and the monarchists. Power fell into the hands of a political adventurer who made empty promises. Bonaparte's nephew began preparations for the restoration of the monarchy.
Elections to the National Assembly
Conservatism has become the main feature of the political system of the Second French Republic. By mid-May political activitythe French weakened, only two-thirds of the voters came to the polls. As a result, 500 of the 750 members of the Assembly were monarchists and supporters of church authority. The Republicans got only 70 seats.
France of the period of the 2 republics is characterized by the reactionary policy of the government: opposition manifestations were severely suppressed. The President did not interfere with the Assembly. On the contrary, every mistake of the legislators added pluses to it. The Parliament did not have mechanisms to influence the President and turned into a structure without authority and political power.
Roman expedition
In February 1848, in one of the Italian states ruled by the Pope, a bourgeois-democratic revolution took place. In an atmosphere of constant struggle between the political currents of the Second French Republic, Catholicism remained the only unifying force.
To enlist the support of the clergy, the president, contrary to the opinion of the majority of deputies, sent troops to Rome. The Roman Republic, established less than four months ago, was abolished. The head of parliament, Odilon Barrot, recalled that Napoleon was flattered by the idea of being the protector of the church.
Legislative policy
The government of the Second French Republic passed a series of unpopular laws approved by the President. Napoleon later abandoned them, shifting responsibility to Parliament. The Press Law established strict censorship and restrictions on information. The system of public education fell under the control of the clergy, from the secular turned into a spiritual one. The right to vote was limited to three yearsliving in one commune, depriving many workers of the opportunity to vote.
To avoid unrest, in November 1851 the President convened the National Assembly and demanded that the electoral law be repealed. Parliament refused. Napoleon skillfully used the conflict and enlisted the support of the people who believed in his sincerity.
Coup
In 1852, the term of office of Louis-Napoleon expired. He could be re-elected only after a four-year term. Supporters of the president have twice proposed to reconsider the restriction. Parliament opposed.
On the night of December 2, 1851, Charles-Louis-Napoleon, with the support of the army, carried out a coup d'état, taking a number of steps:
- dissolution of the National Assembly;
- restoring universal voting rights;
- martial law.
The streets were filled with proclamations. Bonaparte's signature was supplemented by the signature of his younger brother, Minister of the Interior Charles de Morny. In an address to the people, Louis Napoleon explained his own actions by the impossibility of working under constitutional restrictions and disapproval from a hostile parliament. Attached to the proclamation was a proposal to re-elect him if he disagreed with the coup.
Louis-Napoleon suggested:
- ten-year term;
- subordination of ministers to the head of state;
- State Council to make a legislative initiative;
- Legislative body formed by popular vote instead ofMeetings;
- bicameral parliament instead of the former unicameral one.
MPs did not expect a decisive move that runs counter to the current Constitution; opposition leaders were arrested. Weak protests from legislators went unheeded. The Supreme Court, which met to discuss the situation, did nothing. The decree of the Minister of War, threatening execution without trial, blocked street riots. People who gathered on the streets of Paris on December 4 to protest were shot. Link awaited the survivors. Isolated uprisings in the provinces were harshly suppressed. Pius IX, restored to the papacy by Napoleon, and the clergy supported the coup.
New Constitution
On December 20, the people of France approved the president's actions through a plebiscite (popular poll). The plebiscite was held under police pressure and assumed the approval of the new Constitution. Only a tenth of the respondents dared to vote against it.
January 4, 1852 The Second French Republic got acquainted with the new, in fact, monarchical, Constitution. The president was called a responsible person, but no institutions of control were envisaged. The legislature was left with only the right to discuss laws, shared with the Senate. The development was entrusted to the state council, managed by the president. The executive power was handed over to the president and ministers subject to him. The publication of the Constitution was followed by the promulgation of decrees restricting the freedom of the press.
Proclamation of the Empire
The establishment of the authoritarian regime of the 2nd republic in France was a step towards the restoration of the Empire. However, the president was skeptical. In March 1852, at a session of the Legislative Corps, he spoke of the preservation of the Republic as a way of appeasing society.
November 7, 1852 The Senate proclaimed the Empire. On November 21, a popular vote approved the president's actions, and Napoleon III was solemnly proclaimed emperor. 2 French Republic ended.
