French Second Republic facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
French Republic
République française
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| 1848–1852 | |||||||||
 Great Seal
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Motto: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" |
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Anthem: Le Chant des Girondins
"The Song of Girondists" |
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The French Republic in 1848
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| Capital | Paris | ||||||||
| Common languages | French | ||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism (official) Calvinism Lutheranism Judaism |
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| Government | Unitary semi-presidential republic (1848–1851) Unitary authoritarian presidential republic (1851–1852) |
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| President | |||||||||
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• 1848–1852
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Prince Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte | ||||||||
| Vice President | |||||||||
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• 1849–1852
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Henri Georges Boulay de la Meurthe | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
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• 1848 (first)
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Jacques-Charles Dupont | ||||||||
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• 1851 (last)
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Léon Faucher | ||||||||
| Legislature | National Assembly | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| 23 February 1848 | |||||||||
| 27 April 1848 | |||||||||
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• Constitution adopted
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4 November 1848 | ||||||||
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• Coup of 1851
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2 December 1851 | ||||||||
| 2 December 1852 | |||||||||
| Currency | French Franc | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | FR | ||||||||
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| Today part of |  France |
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The French Second Republic was a government in France that lasted for a short time. It was a republic, meaning the people had a say in who led the country. This government was led by a president named Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte.
It started after the Revolution of 1848. This revolution brought big changes to France. The Second Republic ended in 1852. This happened when its president, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, made himself Emperor. He then started the Second Empire.
Contents
What Was the Second Republic?
The Second Republic was France's second attempt at being a republic. A republic is a country where the head of state is not a king or queen. Instead, the leader is usually a president, chosen by the people. This government aimed to give more power to ordinary citizens. It followed a period called the July Monarchy, where a king ruled France.
How the Second Republic Began
The Second Republic was born out of the Revolution of 1848. This revolution saw people rise up against King Louis-Philippe. They wanted more freedom and equality. The revolution led to the king stepping down. After this, a new government was formed. It was based on the ideas of "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity." These ideas are still important in France today.
Key Changes and New Ideas
During the Second Republic, some big changes happened. One very important change was the abolition of slavery. This meant that slavery was made illegal in all French colonies. This was a huge step forward for human rights.
Another key event was the creation of a new rulebook for the country. This was called the Constitution of 1848. It set up a system with a president and a parliament. The president was elected by the people. This was a new idea for France at the time.
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte's Rise to Power
The first and only president of the Second Republic was Prince Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte. He was the nephew of the famous Napoleon Bonaparte. He was elected president in December 1848. Many people voted for him because they remembered his uncle's glory. They hoped he would bring stability and strength to France.
The End of the Republic
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte did not want to give up power. The constitution said he could only serve one term. So, in December 1851, he staged a coup. A coup is when someone illegally takes control of the government. He used the army to take over. He then changed the constitution. This allowed him to become Emperor Napoleon III. This marked the end of the Second Republic. It also started the Second Empire.
Images for kids
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The meeting room of the National Assembly of the Second Republic, in 1848. This is where laws were discussed and made.
See also
In Spanish: Segunda República francesa para niños
