Gambetta and the Making of the Third Republic

Description

This book is a detailed study of part of Léon Gambetta's career and of his role in the seven years crucial to the making of the Third Republic, the longest-lived regime in France since 1789. With one exception, devoted to his so-called dictatorship during the Franco-Prussian War, there has been no study of Gambetta in English since a biography by H. Standard which appeared in 1921. Yet, after making a name for himself in 1868 at the age of thirty, he became one of the most consummate politicians in France and certainly the greatest orator. Regarded by his enemies on the Right as a dangerous Radical and warmonger, he grew increasingly moderate and became the leader of the group eventually known as the Opportunists. His astuteness and ability as an opposition leader enabled him to play an important part in securing support for the Republican constitution of 1875 and in defeating the forces of the monarchist Right in the crisis of the 'Seize Mai' which threatened the Republic in 1877. The book throws light upon the intricacies of French politics. It makes use of Gambetta's own newspaper, the République Française, and of much published and unpublished French material, including many letters exchanged by Gambetta with he Créole mistress, Léonie Léon, to whom he was devoted and whose influence upon him has been so much debated. It also draws largely upon contemporary English sources. Separate chapters are devoted to the army, in which Gambetta, formerly Minister of War in the provinces during the war of 1870-1, was intensely interested, and to foreign affairs which increasingly fascinated him as ministerial office once more appeared to be within his grasp. Contents Foreword Acknowledgements 1 Introductory 1838-71 2 Exile February—June 1871 3 Reentry June-July 1871 4 Back in the Assembly: the first ten weeks July-September 1871 5 Outside Parliament June—September 1871 6 The République Française March-December 1871 7 A French O’Connell: Saint-Quentin and anticlericalism November 1871 8 A Winter of Discontent and the Radical Programme December 1871—April 1872 9 ‘I am a traveller and salesman of democracy’ April—October 1872 10 The Grenoble speech and its aftermath October-December 1872 11 The Constitution and the Radical tide December 1872—May 1873 12 The battle against ‘moral order’ and restoration May-October 1873 13 Towards opportunism November 1873—June 1874 14 A Constituent Assembly after all! March-November 1874 15 ‘The too long vacation’ July-November 1874 16 A Republican Constitution at last December 1874-February 1875 17 Opportunism and the last months of the National Assembly February-December 1875 18 The 1876 elections December 1875-March 1876 19 The soured fruits of victory March-May 1876 20 Two papers, a budget, and other problems April-November 1876 21 Foreign affairs 1871-1877 22 The army 1870-1877 23 The fight for leadership and the Simon ministry October 1876-May 1877 24 The Seize Mai and dissolution 15 May-July 1877 25 The death of Thiers and Republican victory at the polls May-October 1877 26 The end of the crisis September-December 1877 Appendix Bibliography Index