Evaluate the reasons that led to the political stability of the Third Republic by 1877.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the factors that led to political stability by 1877. Causes of instability include the defeat in war, the provisional nature of Thiers’s government, the threat caused by the Commune and the danger of a restoration. Thiers was popular with moderates, the Commune was crushed and the German occupation ended. A royalist majority in the National Assembly was divided (Orleanists, Bonapartists and Bourbons) preventing a restoration by the “republic of dukes”. The refusal of Chambord to accept the Tricolour ended the possibility of a restoration by 1873, making the republic more secure. In 1875 the Wallon Amendment established the republic but there was still a threat from the right and MacMahon called for elections in 1877. Thiers led the republican campaign (“no enemies on the left”) and a firmly republican chamber was elected. Two key reasons for political stability were the weakness of the right and the unity of moderate and left republicans. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions should be clearly stated and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates make an appraisal of the factors that led to political stability by 1877.