The Five French Republics - From Revolution to Evolution

09/24/24 • 68 min

We will traverse the peaks and valleys of five republics, each reflecting France’s evolving spirit and struggles. From revolutionary fervour to imperial ambition, from the trials of war to the triumphs of modern democracy, each republic has contributed to the rich mosaic of France as we know it today.
Join us as we unravel the dramatic narrative of the Five French Republics, where every chapter is a tale of resilience and reinvention. Prepare to be captivated by a story as rich and complex as France itself.
Timecodes
Introduction
05:15 - Establishment of the First Republic
17:38 - The Directorate and the Consulate
25:05 - The short-lived Second Republic
34:47 - The Third Republic - Out of the Ashes, into the Fire
45:11 - The Belle Époque and the World Wars
51:12 - The Fourth Republic - Colonial Crisis
58:45 - The Fifth Republic - Presidential authority
01:04:19 - Conclusion
Relevant Episodes:

First Republic: The French Revolution, a Worldwide Tremor & Napoléon Part I - From Corsica to Paris
Second & Third Republics: The Franco-Prussian War of 1870, rehearsal for the World Wars, French Indochina, from Imperial Jewel to Hell on Earth, The Dreyfus Affair. France's Shame, The First World War. The French Experience
Fourth & Fifth Republics: The Fall of France of 1940, German Victory or French Defeat?, Charles de Gaulle, Tales of Grandeur

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.
Artwork: La République triomphante préside à la grande fête nationale du 14 juillet 1880, 1880 (Archives nationales, Paris).

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First Republic: The French Revolution, a Worldwide Tremor & Napoléon Part I - From Corsica to Paris
Second & Third Republics: The Franco-Prussian War of 1870, rehearsal for the World Wars, French Indochina, from Imperial Jewel to Hell on Earth, The Dreyfus Affair. France's Shame, The First World War. The French Experience
Fourth & Fifth Republics: The Fall of France of 1940, German Victory or French Defeat?, Charles de Gaulle, Tales of Grandeur

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Reach out, support the show and give me feedback!

Previous Episode

La Fayette's USA Tour of 1824 - The Hero Returns. With Elizabeth Reese.

To commemorate the 200th anniversary of La Fayette's grand tour of the USA in 1824, we have a special episode featuring guest Elizabeth Reese. Elizabeth is a public historian whose work focuses on the American Revolution and the Early Republic.
She recently published a book on the famed Marquis' visit to America: "Marquis de Lafayette Returns - A Tour of America's National Capital Region".
Join us as we discuss the circumstances, unfolding, and consequences of this great endeavour.
Timecodes
Introduction
04:23 - Brief overview of La Fayette and why President Monroe Invited Him
15:26 - The Scale of the Tour
21:35 - La Fayette Visits DC
28:33 - Important Events during the Tour
37:17 - The Legacy of the Tour
46:23 - Conclusion
Relevant Links:

Elizabeth's Website: https://www.elizabethmreese.com/
Her book "Marquis de Lafayette Returns - A Tour of America's National Capital Region": https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/9781467155878/
Elizabeth's BlueSky profile: https://bsky.app/profile/elizamreese.bsky.social
Elizabeth's Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/elizamreese/
Elizabeth's X profile: https://x.com/elizamreese
Lafayette 200's Website (by American Friends of Lafayette): https://lafayette200.org/

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.
Artwork: La Fayette in 1825, portrait by Matthew Harris Jouett

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Next Episode

Marie-Antoinette & Louis XVII - The Cursed Family. With Charles MacKay

Charles MacKay, PhD, former university history professor at Morehead State University and West Virginia University joins us to discuss Queen Marie-Antoinette and her family, especially her son, the ill-fated Louis XVII.
These members of the French royal family suffered terribly during the French Revolution, eventually losing their lives to the guillotine or to mistreatment. Join us for a riveting discussion on this Cursed Family.
Timecodes
Introduction
03:56 - The Austrian Bride
07:55 - Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France
19:29 - The Affair of the Diamond Necklace
34:18 - The Royal Couple's Family Life
39:39 - The French Revolution
45:52 - The Flight to Varennes and the Queen's Trial
56:02 - Louis XVII, an 8-year-old in solitary confinement
01:02:52 - The Legacies of Marie-Antoinette & Louis XVII
01:10:23 - Conclusion
Links:
Charles’s BlueSky profile: https://bsky.app/profile/bubblesvampire.bsky.social
Charles’s X profile: https://x.com/BubblesVampire
Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.
Artwork: Marie-Antoinette et ses enfants, by Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, 1787.

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La Fayette, We Are Here! - The Five French Republics - From Revolution to Evolution

Transcript

Our tale begins with the chaos and promise of the French Revolution, when the people of France rose up, toppling the Ancien Régime and sending its representatives to the guillotine. This bold experiment in democracy would soon be overshadowed by the meteoric rise of Napoléon Bonaparte, who ushered in the era of the First French Empire. But Napoléon’s fall was merely the prelude to a new chapter in France’s ongoing quest for stability and modernity.

As the Empire crumbled,