“The Dreyfus Affair destabilized the Third French Republic.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the impact of the Dreyfus Affair on the Third Republic. Anti-Dreyfusards believed the strength of the state, including the reputation of the army was more important than the rights of the individual (the Dreyfusard/pro-Republican stance). Despite the public furore (families were divided, Zola’s J’Accuse…! article) it could be argued that there was little real threat to the Republic and that the instability was more apparent than real. Déroulède’s attempted coup in 1899 had little or no support even from the army and offered no alternative to the Republic. Whereas support for Dreyfus led to the various moderate and left pro-republican parties uniting and the election of 1902 returned a majority pro-republican chamber with Waldeck-Rousseau as PM indicating popular support for the Republic. Subsequently the governments of Combes and Rouvier reformed the army and separated church and state, with the Republic remaining stable. Candidates may agree, partly agree or disagree with the statement.