Posted: January 24th, 2024

Consequences of War of Waterloo: French Perspective

Consequences of War of Waterloo: French Perspective

The War of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, was the final and decisive battle of the Napoleonic Wars, which pitted France against a coalition of Britain, Prussia, Austria, Russia and other European powers. The outcome of the war had profound and lasting effects on France and its role in Europe and the world. In this blog post, we will examine some of the consequences of the War of Waterloo from a French perspective.

Political Consequences

One of the most immediate and obvious consequences of the War of Waterloo was the end of Napoleon Bonaparte’s rule as Emperor of France. Napoleon had returned to power in March 1815, after escaping from his exile on the island of Elba, and had rallied his loyal supporters to challenge the restored Bourbon monarchy of Louis XVIII. However, after his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon was forced to abdicate for the second and final time on June 22, 1815, and was exiled to the remote island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, where he died in 1821.

The Bourbon monarchy was restored again under Louis XVIII, who had fled to Belgium during Napoleon’s Hundred Days. Louis XVIII faced many challenges in governing a divided and discontented nation, which had experienced radical political and social changes during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era. He tried to balance between the demands of the royalists, who wanted to restore the old regime and its privileges, and the liberals, who wanted to preserve some of the reforms and rights that had been gained since 1789. He also had to deal with the pressure from the victorious allies, who imposed harsh terms on France in the Treaty of Paris of 1815.

The Treaty of Paris reduced France to its pre-1789 borders, stripped it of most of its colonies and overseas possessions, and forced it to pay a huge indemnity of 700 million francs to the allies. France also had to accept an occupation by 150,000 allied troops for five years, and to join the Holy Alliance, a conservative coalition that aimed to suppress any revolutionary movements in Europe. These conditions humiliated and impoverished France, and fueled resentment and nationalism among many French people.

The Bourbon monarchy proved to be unstable and unpopular, and faced several attempts at overthrowing it by various factions, such as the Bonapartists, who wanted to restore Napoleon’s dynasty; the republicans, who wanted to establish a democratic system; and the ultra-royalists, who wanted to impose a more reactionary regime. The monarchy survived until 1830, when it was overthrown by the July Revolution, which brought Louis-Philippe I to power as the “Citizen King”. However, Louis-Philippe’s reign was also marked by social unrest and political turmoil, and ended in 1848 with another revolution that established the Second Republic.

Economic Consequences

The War of Waterloo also had significant economic consequences for France. The war disrupted trade and agriculture, destroyed infrastructure and property, and caused inflation and unemployment. The indemnity that France had to pay to the allies drained its resources and increased its debt. The occupation by foreign troops also hindered economic recovery and development. Moreover, France lost its dominant position in Europe and the world as a result of its defeat. It had to compete with other emerging powers, such as Britain, Germany and Russia, for markets and influence.

France tried to rebuild its economy by promoting industrialization and modernization. It invested in railways, roads, bridges, canals and factories. It also encouraged scientific and technological innovation, such as the development of photography by Louis Daguerre in 1839. However, these efforts were not enough to overcome the economic gap that had widened between France and its rivals. France also faced social problems such as poverty, inequality, urbanization and class conflict. The industrial revolution created new opportunities for some segments of society, such as entrepreneurs and bankers, but also exploited and marginalized others, such as workers and peasants.

The economic situation in France contributed to political instability and social unrest. Many people were dissatisfied with the existing system and demanded more rights and representation. Some groups resorted to violence and rebellion, such as the Paris Commune of 1871, which was a radical socialist uprising that briefly controlled Paris after the Franco-Prussian War. The economic challenges also influenced France’s foreign policy, as it sought to expand its empire overseas in search of new resources and markets.

Cultural Consequences

The War of Waterloo also had cultural consequences for France. The war marked the end of an era that had been dominated by Napoleon’s personality and achievements. Napoleon had been a charismatic leader who had inspired admiration and loyalty among many French people. He had also been a patron of arts and sciences who had supported many cultural projects such as the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe
and the Code Napoleon (a civil code that unified and modernized French law). Napoleon’s legacy was controversial and contested, as some people praised him as a hero and a genius, while others condemned him as a tyrant and a warmonger.

The war also affected the French identity and sense of nationalism. The war had shown the limits of France’s power and prestige, and had exposed its vulnerability and isolation. The war had also challenged the universalist and rationalist ideals that had been promoted by the French Revolution and the Enlightenment. The war had revealed the diversity and complexity of Europe and the world, and had stimulated new movements and trends in culture, such as romanticism, realism, nationalism and imperialism.

The war also influenced the French literature and art. Many writers and artists reflected on the war and its aftermath, such as Victor Hugo, who wrote Les Miserables, a novel that depicted the social and political conditions in France in the 19th century; Stendhal, who wrote The Charterhouse of Parma, a novel that portrayed the Napoleonic era and its impact on Italy; and Théodore Géricault, who painted The Raft of the Medusa, a painting that depicted a shipwreck that occurred in 1816 as a result of French colonial mismanagement. The war also inspired new genres and forms of expression, such as historical novels, military paintings, patriotic songs and national anthems.

Conclusion

The War of Waterloo was a pivotal event in European and world history. It ended the Napoleonic Wars and reshaped the political map of Europe. It also had profound and lasting consequences for France, affecting its political, economic and cultural development. The war marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one, full of challenges and opportunities for France and its people.

References

– Bell, D.A. (2015 – Research Paper Writing Help Service). Napoleon: A Concise Biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
– Esdaile, C.J. (2009). Napoleon’s Wars: An International History. London: Penguin Books.
– Forrest, A. (2011). The Legacy of the French Revolutionary Wars: The Nation-in-Arms in French Republican Memory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Order | Check Discount