The Effectiveness of Napoleon III's Foreign Policy

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The Effectiveness of Napoleon III's Foreign Policy In general terms, Napoleon's foreign policy was much less successful than his domestic policy was. Generally speaking, the aims of his foreign policy were to present France as the champion of oppressed people throughout Europe, to create new countries, which would be grateful to France, to maintain good relation with Britain and to maintain a balance of power between Austria and Prussia. Napoleon's foreign policy was shown effective in the Crimean War 1854-56. His aims were to increase French prestige, to isolate Austria, to diminish Russian influence and to maintain good relation with Britain. In the Crimean War, France was successful in achieving these aims. According to Norman Rich, " France was the state that seemed to have gained most from the war." This quotation shows us that his foreign policy was able to achieve his aims. French armies had won the most impressive victories in the Final attacks on Sevastopol and France had supplanted Russia as the dominant power in Europe, which helped France to increase her prestige. Besides, he was succeeded in isolating Austria in the war. Austria was interested in the war but she was reluctant to risk opposing Russia unless she received military guarantees from France and Britain. Thus, Austria became neutrality antagonized all the belligerents with the result that until 1879 Austria was without friends among the great powers. However, France was lost the friendship of Austria in isolating her. Moreover, he was succeeded in diminishing Russian influence in Near East, Turkey and Europe. However, at the same time, he lost the friendship of... ... middle of paper ... ...policy led to the establishment of Liberal Empire. Many problems were created as a result o the government's isolation from the country and its weakness. There was increasing critism of the Second Empire such as conflicts between a policy of support for liberal cause abroad and dictatorship at home, failures in foreign policies and free trade with Britain. Opposition thus created. In order to minimize opposition and to get the support of liberals, a compromise was reached. In January 1870, the Liberal Empire was established. From the above we can be seen, Napoleon III's foreign policy was quite effective in the period of Crimean War. However, his foreign was became failure after the year 1860. It was not only affected the political development of France up to 1871, but also affected the development in the future.

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