HIS388H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Spa Town, Georges Clemenceau, Ems Dispatch
Document Summary
Foreign policy of 2nd republic show france"s wider impact on world. Napoleon 3rd saves pope from republicans, save ottomans from russia, suez canal, 19th century was stable time in europe, no world war. However in global picture, it was not that stable, mid-19th century was very unstable. Three great crisis in 1860s: taiping rebellion 1850-64, american civil war 1864-65, crisis of german unification. Napoleon had fateful foreign policy: frame of reference was congress of vienna system of 1814, napoleon took more activist role than july monarchy, wanted to make france diplomatic arbitrator of europe and world. Instead he made foreign policy disasters and paved way for german unification. One theme in his foreign policy, he wanted support of the catholic church. Secondly he was bonaparte, he had to be involved in war and win some prestige glory to live up to his name: however, wanted to avoid his uncles mistakes.
