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Nineteenth-century France

Politically France went through a series of three monarchies, an empire headed by Napoleon III (Bonaparte’s nephew) and two republics. Napoleon III’s intervention in the reunification of Italy led to Savoy becoming part of France in 1860. During this period the French economy grew strongly based upon coal, iron and steel and heavy engineering. A large overseas empire was created, mostly in Africa, second in size to the British Empire. Increasing conflict with Prussia and Germany led to defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870) and involvement in the First World War (1914–1918).

Twentieth-century France

Despite being on the winning side, the French economy was devastated by the war and the depression of the 1930s. Invasion by Germany in the Second World War (1939–1945) saw France partitioned temporarily with all of southern France becoming part of Vichy, a nominally independent state that was in reality a puppet government controlled by the Germans. After the war, France was one of the original signatories to the Treaty of Rome (1957) which established the European Economic Community (EEC) and led to the European Union (EU). Economic growth was strong and the French economy prospered. Political dissent, particularly over colonial policy, led to a new constitution and the establishment of the fifth republic under Charles de Gaulle in 1958. Since then, withdrawal from overseas possessions has led to substantial immigration into metropolitan France from ex-colonies, creating the most ethnically diverse population in Europe. Large cities like Lyon have suburbs with substantial immigrant populations. Since the 1970s, old heavy industry has almost completely disappeared and been replaced with high tech industry and employment in the service sector.