Title of the essay: - 'The policies of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte were both authoritarian and liberal.' Discuss with reference to the period 1848-1870. Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was certainly authoritarian and liberal in his politics. It must be said that Napolèon was extremely authoritarian, anti-parliamentary and above all Bonapartist at the beginning of his reign as president of France in 1848. He maintained censorship of the press, was on good terms with the clergy, supported unofficial politicians in elections for the Legislative Body and deprived Parliament of the right to discuss issues freely. However, the "authoritarian empire" did not last forever. In the 1860s Napoleon III relaxed press censorship, allowed open debates in Parliament, promoted economic growth and urban reconstruction projects, and built more railways to benefit the poor. He expanded credit, authorized a liberal trade treaty with Great Britain in 1860, and allowed the legalization of strikes in 1864. So “everything went slowly at first, giving the impression that it was driven more by the need to conciliate the opposition out of weakness rather than out of weakness." rather than being on principle and without force” (Robert Gildea, Barricades and Borders: Europe 1800-1914, pg 163) After the revolution of 1848 Napolèon returned from exile in Great Britain, “Louis Napolèon had great faith that it was his destiny govern France and continue where his uncle left off” (Robert Gildea, Barricades and Borders: Europe 1800-1914, pg 162) First he obtained a seat in the assembly established to draw up a new constitution; however he did not make a great impression and failed to impress the other members. However, when the presidential elections took place in...... middle of paper...... changes and as President of the Legislative Body his political skills were crucial” (Robert Gildea, Barricades and Borders: Europe 1800 -1914, page 169). However, with de Morny's early death, the Emperor's failing health, and his difficulties with foreign policy, it became more difficult for Napoleon to continue his work of liberalizing his empire. Napoleon began his reign as an authoritarian ruler but during his reign he became more liberal making more and more concessions to liberalize the French empire. Bibliography John Merriman, A History of Modern Europe: Volume Two, from the French Revolution to the present (1996) Robert Gildea, Barricades and Borders: Europe 1800-1914 (2nd end, 1995) William Simpson and Martin Jones, Europe 1763- 1914 (2000)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_III_of_FranceMicrosoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99 “Napoleon III”