National Assembly (1871)

the National Assembly is elected on February 8th, 1871. The governments which of it result control France from February 19th, 1871 to December 31st, 1875.

Origins

Under the conditions of the Franco-German armistice signed on January 26th, 1871 in Versailles by Jules Favre in the name of the Government of National defense, it is envisaged the convocation of an National Assembly, only able to ratify a peace treaty between overcome France and its winner the new German Empire.

The electoral campaign is short (hardly 10 days). It is truncated. In 43 departments occupied by the German troops the electoral meetings are impossible. Nearly 500.000 soldiers are prisoners of the Germans or are interned in Belgium and in Switzerland where they took refuge at the end of the engagements, they cannot vote. The various opinions cannot clash on the two main issues of the consultation: the peace and future of the Republic installed by Paris on September 4th, 1870.

The republican leader, Leon Gambetta obtained Gouvernement of National defense a decree on prohibition to present itself for the personalities having collaborated in the policy of the Second Empire and for the family members having reigned on France. That must exclude the Bonapartists and the royalists (Légitimiste S and Orléaniste S) and ensure the perenniality of the very new Republic. But his/her colleague of the government, Jules Simon, makes cancel the decree. The political personnel of the preceding modes can thus recycle itself. Gambetta resigns on February 6th.

Elected officials

There are 768 seats to provide. But of many personalities are elected in several departments (Adolphe Thiers in 26 departments, Leon Gambetta in 10). In fact there are only 675 provided seats. New elections should take place quickly, but the release of the rising of the Commune of Paris will push back them in July. Nearly 400 deputies, especially of the provincial ones, those which will be called the " Ruraux" are partisans of peace to avoid the enemy occupation and to allow the return of the captive soldiers. For the majority they are opinions monarchists and very unfavourable in Paris.Sont elected more than 200 republicans of various tendencies and 30 Bonapartists.

The department of the East which is occupied and threatened of annexation by Germany are not favorable to a mutilating peace. Paris voted " républicain". On 43 deputies alone 6, to which Adolphe Thiers is close to the " Ruraux". There are four revolutionary Socialists who were introduced by the republican Central committee of the Twenty districts and the International association of the workers. The others are republicans like Louis Blanc, Georges Clémenceau, Henri Rochefort… Giuseppe Garibaldi is elected but the Parliament declares it foreign ineligible because. Victor Hugo, itself elected, resigns to protest against this decision.

First decisions

Contradictions in the majority

The bloody Week having " libéré" the assembly of the Parisian mortgage, the deputies put themselves at work. It is necessary to regulate the current problems and to decide political future of France. It is necessary to give again an politico-administrative reinforcement with the country. The notable ones are favorable to the decentralization which would grant a great influence to them but centralizing Thiers wants to be pressed on the prefects. In April 1871, a law provides that the mayors (except in the big cities) will be elected by the municipal councils and either named by the prefects. In August, the general advices see their widened capacities. The rout of 1870 of the imperial army makes necessary a military reorganization. For many notable it is necessary to imitate the Prussian model which made " its preuves". They wish an obligatory service court with an important reserve. Thiers is favorable to a long and uneven service. The law of 1872, maintenance thus drawing lot among the conscripts: " bad numéros" (half of the annual quota) bail out 5 years (with 4 years additional of reserve), the " goods numéros" profit 6 months to one year. Graduates (from graduate, all wire of the middle-class and the aristocracy)) obtain one year a voluntary service, if they precede the call and pay their equipment. The bread-winners, the professors and the ecclesiastics are exempted.

As of June 1871, assembled cancels the Loi of exile which struck the former reigning families. To the elections complementary to July 1871, the 46 departments which vote send to the assembly 100 republicans and 12 monarchists. The " majority; rurale" note that the country is not favorable as much any more for him. but it preserves one crushing numerical superiority at the assembly. However this majority is divided. Certain conservatives think that once the Commune crushed one should not seek quarrel with the urban popular classes on the subject of the Republic, if the latter is organized in a preserving way, it is the idea, inter alia, of Thiers. Much, of voltairien spirit and tendency Gallican E, sees of an evil eye the progression of Catholicism Ultramontain and the support that the Légitimiste S bring to the Syllabus of the pope Pie IX.

The monarchists quarrel on the name of the applicant to the throne. The Legitimist S, established well in the campaigns of the West, in favor of " Henri V" , the Count de Chambord, grandsons in favor which the king Charles X abdicated in 1830, themselves are divided. A part of them support the rule of the law of the sovereign and are nostalgic of the social organization of the Ancien Mode. They are generally ultramontanes. Another part approaches the Orléaniste S partisans of Philippe to Orleans, Count de Paris, going down from the king Lous-Philippe. The latter related to the mediums of businesses accept the civil equality, parliamentarism and are rather liberal catholics; their head of file is the duke Albert de Broglie. Whereas the assembly is favorable to the restoration of the royalty, the Count de Chambord on July 5th, 1871, makes a statement known as " flag blanc" (like national flag) which heutre the orleanists (in favor of the Tricolor) and ruins the espor of a fast re-establishment.

Also the royalists want to save time. In May 1873, Thiers given up by part of its anxious supports of its increasingly republican position and electoral progress of the republicans, must resign. To replace it the royalists elect like " chief of the capacity exécutif" the marshal Mac-Mahon, who must occupy the place while waiting for the restoration of the royalty. An agreement seems found in 1873, the Count of Paris agrees to be erased in front of the Count de Chambord, who not having a child, recognizes the Count of Paris like his heir. But on October 23rd, 1873, the Count de Chambord maintains his requirement of the white flag. The monarchical restoration cannot be made as long as the applicant, legitimist will be in life. While waiting for the assembly in November the septennate for term of the office of Mac-Mahon votes.

The government of the " Order moral"

Progress of the republicans worries the conservatives. The rural world changes political position imperceptibly. Fear of one return to the Old Mode and its privileges if lma royalty is retable anxious the peasants. On the other hand, removed from the socially revolutionary ideas since the crushing of the Common of Paris, the Republic, such as Gambetta personifies it which calls the " clerk-traveller of République" , reassures. With the municipal elections of 1874, the republican push is clear.

To face the Conservatives, under the direction of Albert de Broglie force a policy d'" Order moral" (the expression comes from the presidential message of new president Mac-Mahon, on May 26th, 1873). It is initially a question of giving again visibility and influence with the Catholic religion. From May 27th to 28th, about fifty deputies take part in the pilgrimage of Notre-Dame to Chartres. Others make of it in the same way with Salette, Lourdes or Paray-le-Monial. June 20th, of the deputies dedicate themselves to Notre-Dame. July 24th, 1873 a law decides the constrution of the Basilique of the Sacred Heart, in Montmartre. July 12th, 1875, the assembly votes the freedom of Higher education, asked with insistence by the catholics. Many catholic institutes will be born.

The conservatives want to also muzzle the republican opposition. The word of Republic disappears from the instruments, the celebration of July 14th is prohibited. The government moves or replaces prefects and magistrates for their subsistuer of the faithful ones. The press is narrowly monitored, in the big cities it appears under the mode of the " state of siège". January 20th, 1874, a law makes it possible to the prefects to replace the republican mayors by moral supporters of law and order. However De Broglie, does not neparvient to make accept its project of the Great Council (assembled the notable ones), it must resign on May 16th, 1874. Its successors Ernest Courtot de Cissey and Louis Buffet pursue his goals unequally.

Constitutional laws of 1875

Under the pressure of Thiers, anxious to stabilize the preserving mode, a commission of Thirty deputies is created on November 28th, 1872, to write a constitution. But uncertainties on the monarchical restoration, make trail work of this commission. The impossibility of an fast-food industry (see higher: contradictions of the majority) allows the bringing together of the Orléanistes and the moderate republicans. The latter accept the creation of a high assembly the Senate, until refused there provided that the republic is finally recognized. January 30th, 1875, the Walloon Amendement constitutionalizes the fact that France is a republic. February 24th a constitutional law organizes the Senate, on February 25th it is the turn of the organization of the public authorities, and on July 16th, 1875 the relationship between the public authorities is given. These four laws form what one improperly calls the Constitution of IIIe République.

The conservatives think of being able to control the mode set up. The President of the Republic, elected for seven years by the two brought together assemblies, has the executive power. It names the ministers, names with employment, has the army, negotiates and ratifies the treaties, and shares with the two rooms the initiative of the laws. The president can dissolve the Room of deputies after favorable opinion of the Senate. He is not responsible, except case of high treason. The executive power is strong.

The legislative power is held jointly by two assemblies. The House of Commons is elected, with the poll of district, the male vote for all for four years. The Sénat is composed of 300 senators. Among them 75 are irremovable; they are elected by the National Assembly elected in 1871 (with monarchist majority) then will be co-opted. The 225 other senators are elected in each department by a formed college of the deputies, general advisers and of district and by the communal delegates at a rate of a delegate per municipality, whatever the size of the commune (enormous premium for the small communes where the influence of notable is strong). The rural ones are sure to control the Senate. The Senate can be transformed into High-Court of Justice to judge the president or the ministers, on charge of the House of Commons. The two assemblies vote, with equality, the laws and the budget, has the right to take initiatives of the laws and the ministers are jointly responsible in front of them. Joined together to train the National Assembly, deputies and senators can vote a revision of the Constitution (the conservatives can thus hope, at the proper time, to restore the royalty).

Having thus taken her precautions, the assembly elected in 1871, dissolves on December 31st, 1875.

Sources

Bernard Christmas, Dictionary of the Commune, Flammarion, collection Fields, 1978
Jean-Pierre Azéma and Michel Winock, Birth and dead. The Third Republic , Collection Plural, 1978
Antoine Olivesi and André Nouschi, France of 1848 to 1914 , Nathan University, collection FAC History, 1997.

Random links: