Napoleon

One of Louis Napoleon's primary political aims was to restore French glory to where it had been prior to the monarchy's fall. For this reason, many of his policies and goals were centered on this aim including his rise to power through winning public support, instituting a series of economic changes that increased the standard of living for the French people, and increasing foreign investments.

The first task on his agenda was gaining public the publics support through promising essentially everything to every group. He promised an end to poverty and a rise to prosperity, order, land for the peasants, and social peace for the bourgeoisie. Such promises gave him the position in office; however, he was unable to carry out the majority of the promises he had made because many of them conflicted with each other. His only chance of maintaining his power was to apply radical opposition under severe repression. It was only a matter of time before he had proclaimed himself leader of the masses, who accepted his authority with great expectations.

In attempts to rally further support, his next focus was enhancing the lives of his people. With financial prosperity as his goal, the period after 1852 was one of strict economic focus. Soon a private banking system was founded, new markets established with French goods, railroads constructed, and the gold opportunities in California and Australia exploited. These renovations were met with the gratitude of the people as employment increased, investments multiplied, and agriculture expanded. Such newfound happiness left Napoleon exactly in the position of admiration he was seeking.

Napoleon III was also determined to follow a strong foreign policy to extend France's power and glory. His challenge to Russia's claims to influence in the Ottoman Empire led to France's successful participation in the Crimean War. He approved the launching of a naval expedition in 1858 to punish the Vietnamese for their mistreatment of French Catholic missionaries and force