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History of the world economy - Polyak GB

20.2. Features of the socio-economic development of France

The economic policy of Napoleon

After the defeat of the revolution of the late 18th century. In France the Thermidorians called for the power of General Napoleon Bonaparte. After making a coup on November 9-10 (18-19 Brumaire) in 1799, he consolidated the power of the big bourgeoisie, and in 1804 proclaimed himself emperor.

Being a protege of the big bourgeoisie and defending her interests, Napoleon confirmed the bourgeois results of the anti-feudal revolution. This was sent to the adopted civil, criminal and commercial codes. State policy in this period was reduced to supporting industrial entrepreneurship, large merchants and the rural bourgeoisie. Private property was declared inviolable. Industry has developed. Although the domestic industry as a scattered manufactory prevailed, the number of spinning machines and centralized manufactories grew.

In early 1800, Napoleon supported the creation of the French bank and himself subscribed to his actions. Possessing a large thirty millionth capital and special privileges, this bank became the main bulwark of the bourgeoisie, opening the era of the founding of other banks both in the capital and in the provinces.

Inflow of huge funds was carried out from territories conquered by Napoleon, and also due to the expansion of French exports to Europe, sometimes forced. Napoleon's wide aggressive policy was accompanied by an increase in military spending. This greatly intensified tax oppression. Additional indirect taxes were imposed on salt, tobacco, etc. Numerous taxes were also imposed on the territories that were subject to it. Striving to create a colonial empire, Napoleon imposed unprofitable trade agreements on the countries seized and established duty-free importation of his goods.

A two-fold role in the economic life of the country was played by the decree on the continental blockade, signed by Napoleon at the end of 1806 in Berlin. This document pursued the goal of crushing British economic power and eliminating competition from England on the European continent. All states dependent on France were forbidden to trade with England. On the one hand, France really revived its production, based on local raw materials (wool, flax, metal, etc.). But, on the other hand, the industries that worked on imported products (cotton, sugar, etc.) came into decline. Negative impact and self-isolation of France from British inventions and discoveries, which significantly reduced the level of industrial development.

It is known that the Napoleonic dream of pan-European domination was not destined to come true. And in the defeat of the "invincible" army, the main role was played by Russia. It was the Russian people who, at the cost of enormous human losses and material costs, efforts and deprivations, managed to defeat the aggressors and liberate the Western European countries. With the fall of Napoleonic tyranny, the royal dynasty of the Bourbons was restored. For the final approval of capitalism, the revolutionary events of 1830 and 1848 were required. As well as achieving an industrial revolution.

Industrial revolution

Industrial revolution in France began later than in England. It proceeded at a slow pace, which is explained by the peculiarities of the country's historical development, the predominance of small-scale cottage industry, the absence of a significant proletarianization of both the peasantry and the craft population, the faster development of non-industrial and banking-usurious capital, and so on.

And yet the revolutionary events of the late 18th century. Accelerated the country's transition to an industrial revolution. The necessary conditions have matured both for the development of manufactories and for factories. The guild system was destroyed. Increasing recognition was given to the principles of free trade. The collapse of the feudal regime accelerated the differentiation of peasants and facilitated their migration. There was a labor market so important for the factory industry .

Due to the demand for ammunition, weapons, etc. during the period of revolutionary events and Napoleonic wars, the domestic market expanded. Some improvement in the economic situation of the prosperous peasantry also contributed to the growth of demand for domestic manufactured goods. In addition, the Napoleonic campaigns, in turn, provided a wider external market for French goods. Inventive thought was also stimulated by the desire to overcome English competition and accelerate the mechanization of French production.

Industrial revolution in France took place in the first half of the XIX century. The most significant inventions have affected the textile industry, especially cotton and silk. J. Jacquard in 1805 created a machine for the production of silk fabrics with a printed patterned pattern. In the print production, perrotin was applied, which provided the application of multi-colored drawings to the fabric. F.Zhirar in 1810 designed a flax-spinning machine, etc.

Weaving machine with Jacquard device (Jacquard machine)

More extensive development of metallurgy was hampered by a shortage of raw materials - iron ore and coal. In the 30's and 40's, puddling became widespread - and two-thirds of the metal in the country began to be produced using coal.

However, the true rise of the industrial revolution was outlined after the revolutionary events of 1848. About 120,000 machines with 3.5 million spindles began to be used in cotton production, and in the silk industry - 90,000 machines. In the 1950s and 1970s, cotton consumption doubled. Lyon became a major center of silk production . About 2 million kg of raw silk was processed here and up to two thirds of all silk fabrics were produced in the country. Half of them went for export. Lyon acquired the status of the largest industrial center of European scale. The competition of England in the European market was made up by French wool production.

In the 1950s and 1960s, heavy industry also gained significant industrial growth. With the use of the Bessemer method of smelting steel production increased eight-fold. Cast iron production and coal mining have tripled. The total number of steam engines increased more than 3.6 times (from 7.7 thousand in the early 50's to almost 28 thousand in the 60's). The length of railways increased almost 5.7 times, and so on.

However, with the obvious successes of large-scale industry, medium and small enterprises prevailed in the country. In Paris, for example, an average of four workers per company, and even less than two workers in the provinces.

In general, the industrial revolution was completed by the end of the sixties. The total volume of industrial output increased six-fold (from 2 billion francs in the early 10's to 12 billion francs in the late 60s of the 19th century). And although France was much inferior to England, it belonged to the second place in the world in terms of industrial production and general economic potential.

Agriculture

With all the successes and achievements of industrial development, France still remained an agricultural country. Thus, out of 8.7 billion fr. National income more than half - 5 billion fr. Accounted for the share of the agricultural sector. In agriculture, 40% of the population was employed, and in rural areas 56% of the population lived.

In the first half of the XIX century. After revolutionary changes, the elimination of feudal order in the countryside, conditions were created for the development of capitalism in agriculture. Feudal-dependent peasants turned into free landowners. There has been a certain rise in agricultural production. The area under crops increased. Agricultural technology and mechanization of labor have improved somewhat. The number of cattle increased more than 1.5 times, and so on.

However, in the future this branch of the French economy did not have special achievements. Fragmentation of the sites and the intersection, the predominance of scarcity, technical backwardness led to low yields. According to this indicator, the country took 11th place in Europe.

Great was the debt of a large part of the peasant farms to the state, as well as to mortgage banks and usurers. This transformed the peasants into formal landowners. In the early XX century. In the country there were more than 2 million farm laborers.

However, the positions of large landowners and well-to-do peasants strengthened. With improved agricultural production, the production of wheat, sugar beet, silk cocoons, and grapes advanced. There is a tendency to turn livestock farming into a leading agricultural link.