Evaluate the successes and failures of the domestic policies of Napoleon III.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of Napoleon III’s domestic policies, weighing up the strengths and limitations. He had promised peace, stability and economic growth. France experienced industrial growth and development of the railways. Improvement to financial credit systems (Crédit Mobilier, Crédit Foncier) encouraged investment. He pursued free trade, for example signing the Cobden–Chevalier Treaty, although this was not always popular. The 1850s were prosperous although not for the working class. There was political stability as Napoleon used some censorship to limit opposition, but repression was limited. Education was made compulsory and there was a great improvement in literacy. Napoleon also remodelled Paris with Haussmann’s help, some might argue that this displaced many people in working-class areas and forced rents up. During the Liberal Empire, opposition groups were allowed a voice and in the plebiscite of 1870 some 7.3 million people supported the regime. Some may argue the policies were successful but that their impact was uneven across the population. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates make an appraisal of Napoleon lll's domestic policies, weighing up the strengths and limitations.