A History of Modern Europe - From the Renaissance to the Present

Conclusion 741

and the Catholic Church as much as he did his American ex-wife, whom
he had followed by a detective, jailed, and deported. In 1907, he sent
troops to crush a determined strike by small property owners and vineyard
laborers in the south.

In 1911, Radical Premier Joseph Caillaux (1863-1944), unlike
Clemenceau, sought accommodation with Germany. The French Socialist
Party launched a campaign against militarism and particularly against the
extension of the term of military service from two to three years. Anti­
militarism remained popular among workers because of the role of troops
in the repression of strikes. But the Second Moroccan Crisis between Ger­
many and France that same year (see Chapter 22) gave rise to another
wave of nationalism. Besieged by the press for his pacific stand, Caillaux s
government fell the following year. Raymond Poincare (1860-1934), an
outspoken nationalist, became premier in 1912 and then president a year
later. He eagerly anticipated the chance to w in back Alsace and Lorraine,
and he firmed up French support of a Russian role in the Balkans. Poin­
care’s nationalism seemed in tune with the times.

Conclusion

The second half of the nineteenth century brought about significant politi­

cal change to the three European powers that had been the strongest at

mid-century. In Britain, the second Reform Bill of 1867 expanded the

electoral franchise, and another law' in 1884 followed suit. After the col­

lapse of the Second Empire in 1870 and the Paris Commune the following

year, France emerged as a republic. In Russia, Tsar Alexander IPs emanci­

pation of the serfs in 1861 did not change the fundamental institutions of

autocracy. Yet some reforms did follow, even as critics of the tsarist state

grew more vocal, and the Revolution of 1905 challenged the foundations

of autocracy. In the meantime, Britain’s economic strength and great navy

left it in a position to dominate international affairs. Having defeated Aus­

tria and then France, Prussia emerged as the leader of a unified and power­

ful Germany, dominant in Central Europe. At the same time, the Second

Industrial Revolution brought remarkable technological advances, increased

mass production, and ever larger cities now bathed in electric light.