Louis Napoleon Bonaparte - Essay Example

Louis Napoleon (1808 – 1873) Early Life Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Paris in the year 1808, as the third son of Louis Bonaparte. After the defeat of Napoleon-I in the year 1815, the whole Bonaparte family was forced to flee into exile. The child Louis was educated in Switzerland and Germany. After education, with his elder brother Napolean Louis, he settled in Italy, where he doctrined on political systems. In his early youth, he was associated with an activist group called Carbonari which aimed at opposing the Austrian occupation of Northern Italy. Their ideals played a significant role in Napoleon’s later life. Although the Bonaparte’s had left France, several people remained loyal to the Bonapartes, who wanted their return to the French throne. Since there was no capable person after Napolean-I, the choice to be heir to the French throne fell on Louis Napoleon. During the year 1832, Napolean attempted to return to his native land through a coup, but it failed and he was forced to go on exile to America, and spend four years in New York. Again, in the year 1840, he attempted yet another coup which was foiled, and he was arrested and incarcerated in the town of Ham in the area of the River Somme. In 1844, with the death of his uncle, he became the sole heir apparent to the French throne. In May 1846, he escaped from imprisonment in Southfort, UK, by switching clothes with a mason in a fortress. During the same year, during June 1846, his father Louis died, and Napoleon became the main choice to reign over France. Early political Career Napolean stayed in Great Britain till the Revolution in 1848, overthrew Louis Philippe and formed a republic. He returned to France and stood for Assembly Elections. When the Constitutional referendum of the 2nd Republic was carried out on December 10, 1848, Louis Napoleon managed to win 75% of the votes, over his rival candidate Louis Eugene Cavaignal.Although Napolean did not have a political background, he was able to win the support of the working classes, who thought he would end the political turmoil caused by the exit of the monarchists, and institute political reforms in the country. However, the happiness of his victory was clouded by the attitude of the majority of monarchists in Parliament who wanted to bring either the Bourbon or the Orleans monarchists back to power. Napoleon, however, was keen on not adopting a confrontational attitude and he also helped the Catholics restore papal rule in Rome and also allowing greater role for the Church in French educational system. During the 3rd year of his four year rule, he sought re-elections citing 4 years as too short a period for introducing reforms. The National Assembly opposed this move and sought to disempower him by introducing legislation in the form of a 3 year Compulsory Residency pre-requirement for allowing male voting rights. Although Napolean had initially agreed to this proposal, later on, he used this aspect to distance himself from the National Assembly.He then enlisted the support of the Army and his loyalists and launched tirades against the National Assembly.He depicted himself as a champion for the cause of the male voting rights. He used the occasion of the 47th Anniversary of the coronation of Napolean-I to stage a coup d’etat and seize dictatorial powers. “On December 2, 1851 followers of the President Louis Bonaparte (Napoleon’s nephew) broke up the Legislative Assembly and established a dictatorship.” (Karl Marx, 1852). This coup was ratified by the French people but it isolated him from the republicans and also spoiled his image among the chronologists. Most of his followers detested this move and even Victor Hugo, his ardent supporter, exiled himself and later turned into his bitter critic. Autocratic Rule It was during the reign of Louis Napolean that new constitutional laws were passed and male voting rights restored. However, the parliamentary form of government was absent and all powers were centered in the hands of the monarch and his loyalists. In 1852, the 2nd Republic was disbanded and Napolean III was crowned monarch. He married Eugenie de Montijo, a Spanish noblewoman and had a son, Napolean Eugene Louis in 1856. For some years he ruled with strong hand of autocracy and dictatorial methods by muzzling the press and censoring public freedom. But, from 1860 onwards, he began to placate his opponents and granted freedom of expression to the press and, in 1870, even appointed a Liberal Emile Olliver, as his Prime Minister. His favorite motto, “The Empire is peace,” aided to restore quietude, and gradually the nations began to trust in his words: “France wishes for peace; and when France is satisfied the world is quiet.” (Logan Marshall) Economic and Social Development He is credited for having introduced many reformists’ programs and it was during his time that Saint Simonians set up credit institutions who sold stocks to public and invested the proceeds in industrial projects in France. During his reign, France made many important economic progress. There was sufficient money supply which led to all round development of investment projects and capital generation. Railroads and railways were expanded and the Suez Canal was also opened between 1859 and 1869 during the rule of the Second Empire. Consolidation and Extinction The Crimean War (1854-1856) consolidated France’s position as a major power bloc in Europe. In this war, France sided with Great Britain to inflict a crushing defeat on Russia. It changed the power shift in this region and reinforced France’s position in it. The war began when a “A joint invasion force, over 60,000 strong, comprising British, French and Turkish elements landed in Calamita Bay, south of Eupatoria, on the 14th September 1854.” (5 June. 1855 ‘Massacre’ of Finnish Crew by Russians at Hango). However, this consolidation could not be permanently established. Napoleon’s misadventures in Austria, having been induced into the Franco-Prussian War, by the Prussian Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, cost him his kingdom. The result of the Franco-Prussian War was the emergence of Germany, and it was during this war, on 2nd September, 1870, that Napolean was taken prisoner in the Battle of Sedan and his regime overthrown a few days later. Napolean expired in exile in 1873, and with him, died his hopes of restructuring the world map according to his wishes and transforming France into a World Power. Napolean’s Contribution to the Development of France Although Napolean’s misadventures in Austria resulted in the end of his reign, it could be rightly said that he is the chief architect of modern France. During his time there was a great development of the economy in the country, and two of France’s present leading Banking institutions, Societe Generale and Credit Lyonnais were founded during this era. Major developments took place in railroads, ship building, coal mining and steel industry. Although he is often categorized as autocrat, he always sided with the working classes and was keen about their welfare and prosperity. He allowed them the right to strike, much to the chagrin of the ruling bourgeois. While the attempt to set Bonapartism above politics weakened Napoleons position, he nevertheless inspired great personal loyalty until the end of his reign. (Napolean III). Napolean wanted to build a strong, prosperous and vibrant France, very much in the lines of Great Britain and America, where he had stayed for some years. His dreams of a beautiful Paris with broad avenues and beautiful parks, and a peaceful and comfortable living for his people, could not be realized during his lifetime. But afterwards, France emerged as one of the major powers in the European continent. Works Cited Marx, Karl. Works of Marx & Engles 1852. The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Napolean. Die Revolution. New York. 1852. 4 June. 2007 . Marshall, Logan. A History of the nations and Empires involved and a study of the events culminating in the great conflict. Nalanda Digital Library. National Institute of Technology. 4 June. 2007 . 5 June. 1855 ‘Massacre’ of Finnish Crew by Russians at Hango (Finland). The Crimean War Research Society. 7 June. 2005. 4 June. 2007 . Napoleon III. Everything Development Company. 13 Jan. 2003. 4 June. 2007 . Read More