After the disastrous intervention in Mexico (24) and the rise of Prussia after the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 came the point where Napoleon stopped thinking of the congress in revisionary terms, but more as a means of maintaining the status quo. His foreign policy was becoming extremely ineffective as a means to reach his goals. For example, during the Austro-Prussian War Napoleon acted as a benefactor to Prussia in Prussia?s attempt to expand her power in Northern Germany. Napoleon figured he would receive some sort of compensation for this, such as cessions in Belgium or Luxembourg. Otto von Bismark refused, seeing it as too high a price to pay just for France?s neutral actions (25). This along with the threat of a Hohenzollern prince on the Spanish throne, which would surround France by Prussian influence, and mounting opposition to the French government from within, resulted in war. Napoleon III fought the war for two reasons, one was to humiliate Prussia for the attempt to place a man of Prussian descent on the throne of Spain, and to strengthen his weakened foreign policy to generate public approval in his government..
The Franco-Prussian War (1870) brought an end to the Second Empire of Napoleon III. Many of his foreign policies failed to do what they were supposed to do, which was to aid France and her people. In the early years of his reign Napoleon III?s foreign policies benefited France by establishing a natural ally with Britain, expanding trade and commercialism, restoring French prestige and allowing France to become a major player in the concert of Europe. During this time the approval ratings rose for Napoleon III. However, things began to decline in the second half of his reign during the Liberal Empire. In liberalizing the Empire, Napoleon III had hoped to put a halt to the growing public disapproval of his government, yet at the same time his foreign policies caused neighboring nations to become suspiciously hesitant, and exploitatious of him. This all resulted in the end of Napoleon III?s regime and the establishment of the Third Republic.
In conclusion Napoleon III?s reign as Emperor of France is a significant time period in French history. He was indirectly or directly responsible for many of the positive outcomes for France. He was a major factor in the driving force behind the expansion of the industrial revolution in France. He created many jobs, rebuilt and modernized cities, furthered the development of the police force in France, and established commercial trade abroad. Napoleon really did want what was in the population of France?s best interests, but as his rule wore on he found it more and more difficult to meet these goals. Weakened alliances, foreign humiliation and military weakness were to become his downfall, making the following years difficult for France to recover as an influential power.
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