Jules Ferry

Jules François Ferry ( born April 5, 1832 in Saint- Dié -des-Vosges, † 17 March 1893, in Paris) was a French Prime Minister and Minister of the Third Republic.

Ferry was a lawyer by profession and was a member of the left republican camp. He distinguished himself as an opponent of the Second Empire and was from 1869 Member of Parliament. During this time he dealt primarily with the French domestic politics.

However, shortly after he made his first cabinet as Prime Minister on 23 September 1880, he turned to mainly the colonial policy. Already at the Berlin Congress of 1878, the European powers France had asked the takeover of Tunisia from the remains of the decaying Ottoman Empire in view. Ferry went immediately after his accession to the realization of this right, was when the competition with France in Italy, and created in 1881 the French protectorate in Tunisia. His domestic policy achievements in 1880 was still one of the introduction of the gratuitous and compulsory primary schooling. In addition, he urged the influence of the Jesuits on the school system back, organized teacher training new and had set up the first government school for girls.

At the turn of 1881/82 Ferry gave the chairmanship of the Cabinet briefly from to Léon Gambetta. In the following years he focused on the conquest of Tonkin. In Africa, meanwhile, expanded Pierre de Brazza Savorgnan largely independent of the Government of the French territory in the Congo. Also in Senegal grew with French troops the colony.

Mid-1880s was Ferry increasingly under political pressure. During the Conservatives rejected the monarchical republic, reduced the expansive colonial policy Ferry's backing from the left, where Georges Clemenceau his main opponent was. The fact that the colonial policy was coordinated with Bismarck, decreased general Ferry's popularity. As 1884 broke a colonial war with China, the backing of the government was completely shattered. On March 30, 1885, Parliament overthrew the Ferry's government.

Writings

  • Discours et opinions, A. Colin & Cie., Paris 1893-98
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