reconstruction of Paris A vast public works program commissioned by Emperor Napoléon III and directed by his prefect of the Seine, Georges-Eugène Haussmann, between 18. He remains the longest-serving French head of state since the French Revolution. He was blocked by the Constitution and Parliament from running for a second term, so he organized a coup d’état in 1851 and then took the throne as Napoleon III on December 2, 1852, the 48th anniversary of Napoleon I’s coronation. He was the first President of France to be elected by a direct popular vote. He was the nephew and heir of Napoleon I. Napoleon III The only President (1848–52) of the French Second Republic and, as Napoleon III, the Emperor (1852–70) of the Second French Empire. A series of swift Prussian and German victories in eastern France, culminating in the Siege of Metz and the Battle of Sedan, saw Napoleon III captured and the army of the Second Empire decisively defeated. The conflict was caused by Prussian ambitions to extend German unification and French fears of the shift in the European balance of power that would result if the Prussians succeeded. Key Terms Franco-Prussian War A conflict between the Second French Empire of Napoleon III and the German states of the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia.

The French Third Republic was proclaimed in Paris, and Napoleon went into exile in England, where he died in 1873.

In July 1870, Napoleon entered the Franco-Prussian War without allies and with inferior military forces the French army was rapidly defeated and Napoleon III was captured at the Battle of Sedan.

In Europe, however, Napoleon failed again and again the Crimean war of 1854-56 produced no gains, in the 1860s Napoleon nearly blundered into war with the United States in 1862, and his takeover of Mexico in 1861-67 was a total disaster.

Napoleon did have some successes he strengthened French control over Algeria, established bases in Africa, began the takeover of Indochina, and opened trade with China.

Despite his promises in 1852 of a peaceful reign, the Emperor could not resist the temptations of glory in foreign affairs.The structure of the French government during the Second Empire was little changed from the First under Napoleon Bonaparte.In 1851, Louis Napoleon was not allowed by the Constitution of 1848 to seek re-election as President of the Second Republic of France instead, he proclaimed himself President for Life following a coup in December and in 1852 declared himself the Emperor of France, Napoleon III.

Napoleon the third