11.3 Flashcards
(26 cards)
Who was Napoleon III?
Nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte; became emperor after the 1848 revolution. Achieved domestic reforms but suffered major foreign policy failures and was captured and exiled after the Franco-Prussian War.
What is the Suez Canal?
A canal linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean; organized by Ferdinand de Lesseps.
What does provisional mean?
Temporary; used to describe the government set up in France after the fall of Napoleon III.
What is a premier?
The prime minister; the real power-holder in the French Third Republic.
What is a coalition?
An alliance of political parties that come together to form a government, often unstable and subject to collapse.
What was the Dreyfus Affair?
The wrongful conviction of Jewish army officer Alfred Dreyfus for spying, based on false evidence due to widespread anti-Semitism in France.
What is libel?
The knowing publication of false and damaging information.
What is Zionism?
A movement to rebuild a Jewish state in Palestine, launched by Theodor Herzl in response to rising anti-Semitism.
Who was Alfred Dreyfus?
A Jewish French army officer falsely accused of spying; central figure in a major political and anti-Semitic scandal.
Who was Émile Zola?
A famous French writer who defended Dreyfus and was charged with libel for exposing the injustice.
Who was Theodor Herzl?
Founder of modern Zionism; advocated for a separate Jewish state due to anti-Semitism in Europe.
Who was Ferdinand de Lesseps?
French diplomat who organized the construction of the Suez Canal.
What major change followed France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War in 1871?
The fall of the Second Empire and establishment of the Third Republic.
What reforms did Napoleon III introduce in France?
• Lifted censorship
• Legalized unions
• Promoted railroads and urban renewal
• Extended education to girls
What was Napoleon III’s foreign policy like?
It was a failure; his attempt to control Mexico failed, and his involvement in Italy and the Crimean War gave few benefits. He was lured into the Franco-Prussian War by Bismarck and lost.
What happened to Napoleon III after the Franco-Prussian War?
He was captured, and a provisional government was established in Paris.
What was the Paris Commune?
A radical group that took over Paris in 1871 to defend the Republic and establish a socialist order; violently crushed by the government.
Describe the structure of the Third Republic.
• Two houses: Senate and Chamber of Deputies
• Chamber elected by universal male suffrage
• President was elected but real power was held by the premier
What was a major issue with the government during the Third Republic?
Coalitions were unstable and often broke down, leading to frequent elections.
What was the Dreyfus Affair and why was it important?
A major political scandal in which Alfred Dreyfus was falsely convicted of spying due to anti-Semitism; divided France and exposed deep political and social tensions.
How was Alfred Dreyfus proven innocent?
New evidence showed he was not guilty, but a new trial was denied at first. The affair highlighted institutional anti-Semitism.
What role did Émile Zola play in the Dreyfus Affair?
He defended Dreyfus and wrote a public letter accusing the government of injustice, for which he was charged with libel.
What led to the rise of Zionism?
The Dreyfus Affair and growing anti-Semitism prompted Theodor Herzl to call for a Jewish state in Palestine.
What reforms did France pass in the early 1900s?
• Ended government support for the Church
• Made schools public
• Ensured freedom for all religions
• Women gained control over their own wages (1896)
• A women’s suffrage union was founded (1906)
