Napoleon Research Paper

The transition of the urban development of Paris France towards the second empire- Napoleon lll

1760-1820

During the industrial revolution in Western Europe, the shift from agrarian to industrialised and urban society was led by Britain. Britain, a powerful empire was consistent in making new scientific discoveries that led to the boom of their economy, specifically the textile industry. The invention of machineries such as the ‘flying shuttle’ that enabled more than 1 weaver to do the work of 2 increased the production of clothing that accommodated the demands of the increasing population of Britain. The textile industry had embraced the technology that lead to the construction of further factories that produced more clothes therefore
The very first urban planning of Ile de France occurred during the second empire, in the reigns of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte or Napoleon lll in 1851. Extensive transformation was already in the mind of Napoleon due to the loss of development in Paris after the Industrial revolution, in contrast with other European areas.

In 1853, Baron George Haussmann, which was Napoleon’s Prefect of Seine, was elected by Napoleon himself to be held responsible for the reconstruction of Paris. “without a precedent in the world, except for the rebuilding of major towns practically destroyed by some disaster,” (Jordan, P, pg. 92) , the imprinting of an intended modern era within a medieval city
He was constantly verbally attacked with fictitious accusations on the media. Evidently through the caricature created by H.Mailly, with the word “voleur” on branding Haussmann’s forehead, meaning thief hinting on expropriated estates. The feeling of hatred from some was inevitable as, “He had laid violent hands on the city. He drew lines on the first accurate map of Paris, which he had ordered made, obliterating buildings, neighbourhoods, streets, and gardens, not to mention historical sites like the massacre in the rue Transnonain…” (371, Epilogue