Third Republic of France

After the fall of Napoleon III and the end of the Franco- Prussian War…  A republican government is elected- The Third Republic  Workers had defended Paris for weeks against German troops– they had been starved into submission  Parisians felt betrayed by the surrender of the rest of France after their sacrifice

The Paris Commune  National elections were won by monarchists, basically with widespread support from the outside of Paris  Traumatized Parisians erupted into battle declaring the Paris Commune. Radical Commune leaders wanted to govern Paris without interference from monarchists and the French countryside.

Formation of 3rd Republic  Thiers, who led the National Assembly, brutally crushed the Paris Commune.  Out of this tragedy, France forms the 3 rd Republic.  Monarchists failed to form a coalition for a king and NA turned moderate gov’t with a socially conservative agenda

Gambetta- Pres  Most famous  Strong republican base established for 10 years after fall of Napoleon III  3 rd Republic known for positive legal changes in late 19 th century

Changes included:  Trade unions legalized  Acquired colonial empire in Africa  Under Jules Ferry president- free compulsory elementary education for both boys and girls  Tax supported schools expanded- encouraged nationalism

Strained relationship between 3 rd Republic and RCC  Pledge of Allegiance and National anthem replace catechism and Ave Maria- marking end of support of Catholic control of education  RCC not a friend to republicanism  Final break between church and state would occur over Dreyfus Affair

Dreyfus Affair  Extreme anti-Semitism  Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish Military captain, was falsely accused of treason and convicted  Republicans fought to overturn the wrongful conviction, while the army, monarchists, and most Catholics supported the manufactured evidence.

Dreyfus Affair con’t  J’accuse by Emile Zola 1898 – discredits the Dreyfus evidence  Dreyfus acquitted and returned from Devil’s Island off the coast of South America  Dreyfus Affair split French society and ill feeling towards the RCC revived