Bloc des gauches
Encyclopedia
The Bloc des gauches (blɔk de ɡoʃ, Left Block or Coalition of the Left), aka Bloc républicain (Republican Block) was a coalition of Republican political forces created during the French Third Republic
in 1899 to contest the 1902 legislative elections
. It initially supported Emile Combes
's cabinet (June 1902-January 1905), then Maurice Rouvier
's cabinet (January 1905-March 1906) and finally Maurice Rouvier
's cabinet (March 1906-October 1906). The Republican Coalition dissolved itself after the International Socialist Congress of Amsterdam of 1904 and the subsequent withdrawal of Socialist ministers from the government. Although the Left won the 1906 legislative election
, the Socialists did not repeat their alliances with the Radicals and the Radical-Socialists and other Republican forces.
, Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau assembled a "Republican Defense Cabinet" (gouvernement de défense républicaine) in June 1899 , which was supported by a parliamentary majority composed of Radicals, Radicals-Socialists and Socialists. This majority decided to ally themselves for the 1902 elections, which they won. The Bloc des gauches was thus represented in the Chamber of Deputies by four parliamentary groups: the Democratic Alliance
(Alliance démocratique, AD), the Radical Left and the Radical-Socialists and the Socialists. Under Emile Combes
's leadership, the new government enacted an anti-clerical
policy, passing the 1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and the State, and opposed itself to the nationalist movement.
"Opportunist Republicans
" who opposed the alliance with the Radicals, the Radicals-Socialists and the Socialists, and, for some of them, the defense of the Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus
, founded in November 1903 the Republican Federation
(Fédération républicaine), which represented the Republican bourgeoisie
, closely connected to business circles and opposed to social reform.
Following the International Socialist Congress of Amsterdam in 1904, the Socialists were called by Jules Guesde
's Socialist Party of France
(Parti socialiste de France) to quit the government. The Socialist ministers thereafter withdrew themselves from the Republican Coalition, which dissolution was completed in October 1906 with the coming of Georges Clemenceau
to power.
Changes
Changes
French Third Republic
The French Third Republic was the republican government of France from 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed due to the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, to 1940, when France was overrun by Nazi Germany during World War II, resulting in the German and Italian occupations of France...
in 1899 to contest the 1902 legislative elections
French legislative election, 1902
Legislative elections were held in France on 27 April and 11 May 1902.This was a success for the Left Block which was composed by alliance between Socialists, Radicals, and the left-wing of the old Opportunist Republicans which merged after the Affaire Dreyfus crisis, to save the parlementary form...
. It initially supported Emile Combes
Émile Combes
Émile Combes was a French statesman who led the Bloc des gauches's cabinet from June 1902 – January 1905.-Biography:Émile Combes was born in Roquecourbe, Tarn. He studied for the priesthood, but abandoned the idea before ordination. His anti-clericalism would later lead him into becoming a...
's cabinet (June 1902-January 1905), then Maurice Rouvier
Maurice Rouvier
Maurice Rouvier was a French statesman.He was born in Aix-en-Provence, and spent his early career in business at Marseille. He supported Léon Gambetta's candidature there in 1867, and in 1870 he founded an anti-imperial journal, L'Egalité. Becoming secretary general of the prefecture of...
's cabinet (January 1905-March 1906) and finally Maurice Rouvier
Maurice Rouvier
Maurice Rouvier was a French statesman.He was born in Aix-en-Provence, and spent his early career in business at Marseille. He supported Léon Gambetta's candidature there in 1867, and in 1870 he founded an anti-imperial journal, L'Egalité. Becoming secretary general of the prefecture of...
's cabinet (March 1906-October 1906). The Republican Coalition dissolved itself after the International Socialist Congress of Amsterdam of 1904 and the subsequent withdrawal of Socialist ministers from the government. Although the Left won the 1906 legislative election
French legislative election, 1906
The 1906 general election was held on 6 and 20 May 1906.-Popular Vote:-Parliamentary Groups:- Sources :*...
, the Socialists did not repeat their alliances with the Radicals and the Radical-Socialists and other Republican forces.
Creation of the Republican Coalition
Following the Dreyfus AffairDreyfus Affair
The Dreyfus affair was a political scandal that divided France in the 1890s and the early 1900s. It involved the conviction for treason in November 1894 of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a young French artillery officer of Alsatian Jewish descent...
, Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau assembled a "Republican Defense Cabinet" (gouvernement de défense républicaine) in June 1899 , which was supported by a parliamentary majority composed of Radicals, Radicals-Socialists and Socialists. This majority decided to ally themselves for the 1902 elections, which they won. The Bloc des gauches was thus represented in the Chamber of Deputies by four parliamentary groups: the Democratic Alliance
Democratic Alliance
-Current political parties:* Democratic Alliance * Democratic Alliance * Democratic Alliance * Democratic Alliance * Democratic Alliance * Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong...
(Alliance démocratique, AD), the Radical Left and the Radical-Socialists and the Socialists. Under Emile Combes
Émile Combes
Émile Combes was a French statesman who led the Bloc des gauches's cabinet from June 1902 – January 1905.-Biography:Émile Combes was born in Roquecourbe, Tarn. He studied for the priesthood, but abandoned the idea before ordination. His anti-clericalism would later lead him into becoming a...
's leadership, the new government enacted an anti-clerical
Anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious institutional power and influence, real or alleged, in all aspects of public and political life, and the involvement of religion in the everyday life of the citizen...
policy, passing the 1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and the State, and opposed itself to the nationalist movement.
"Opportunist Republicans
Opportunist Republicans
The Opportunist Republicans , also known as the Moderates , were a faction of French Republicans who believed, after the proclamation of the Third Republic in 1870, that the regime could only be consolidated by successive phases...
" who opposed the alliance with the Radicals, the Radicals-Socialists and the Socialists, and, for some of them, the defense of the Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus
Alfred Dreyfus
Alfred Dreyfus was a French artillery officer of Jewish background whose trial and conviction in 1894 on charges of treason became one of the most tense political dramas in modern French and European history...
, founded in November 1903 the Republican Federation
Republican Federation
The Republican Federation was the largest conservative party during the French Third Republic, gathering together the liberal Orleanists rallied to the Republic. Founded in November 1903, it rivalized with the more secular and centrist Alliance démocratique...
(Fédération républicaine), which represented the Republican bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
, closely connected to business circles and opposed to social reform.
Following the International Socialist Congress of Amsterdam in 1904, the Socialists were called by Jules Guesde
Jules Guesde
Jules Basile Guesde was a French socialist journalist and politician.Guesde was the inspiration for a famous quotation by Karl Marx. Shortly before Marx died in 1883, he wrote a letter to Guesde and Paul Lafargue, both of whom already claimed to represent "Marxist" principles...
's Socialist Party of France
Socialist Party of France (1902)
The Socialist Party of France was founded in 1902, during a congress in Commentry, by the merger of the Marxist French Workers' Party led by Jules Guesde and the Blanquist Central Revolutionary Committee of Édouard Vaillant....
(Parti socialiste de France) to quit the government. The Socialist ministers thereafter withdrew themselves from the Republican Coalition, which dissolution was completed in October 1906 with the coming of Georges Clemenceau
Georges Clemenceau
Georges Benjamin Clemenceau was a French statesman, physician and journalist. He served as the Prime Minister of France from 1906 to 1909, and again from 1917 to 1920. For nearly the final year of World War I he led France, and was one of the major voices behind the Treaty of Versailles at the...
to power.
Cabinet of the Bloc des gauches 7 June 1902 - 24 January 1905
- Émile CombesÉmile CombesÉmile Combes was a French statesman who led the Bloc des gauches's cabinet from June 1902 – January 1905.-Biography:Émile Combes was born in Roquecourbe, Tarn. He studied for the priesthood, but abandoned the idea before ordination. His anti-clericalism would later lead him into becoming a...
- President of the CouncilPresident of the Council of MinistersThe official title President of the Council of Ministers, or Chairman of the Council of Ministers is used to describe the head of government of the states of Italy and Poland, and formerly in the Soviet Union, Portugal, France , Spain , Brazil , and Luxembourg...
and Minister of the InteriorMinister of the Interior (France)The Minister of the Interior in France is one of the most important governmental cabinet positions, responsible for the following:* The general interior security of the country, with respect to criminal acts or natural catastrophes...
and WorshipMinister of Worship (France)The Minister of Worship is a cabinet member in the Government of France responsible for overseeing the French government's relationship with religions... - Théophile DelcasséThéophile DelcasséThéophile Delcassé was a French statesman.-Biography:He was born at Pamiers, in the Ariège département...
- Minister of Foreign AffairsMinister of Foreign Affairs (France)Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs ), is France's foreign affairs ministry, with the headquarters located on the Quai d'Orsay in Paris close to the National Assembly of France. The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the government of France is the cabinet minister responsible for... - Louis AndréLouis AndréLouis André was France's Minister of War from 1900 until 1904. Loyal to the laïque Third Republic, he was anti-Catholic, militantly anticlerical, a Freemason and was implicated in the Affaire Des Fiches, a scandal in which he received reports from Masonic groups on which army officers were...
- Minister of WarMinister of Defence (France)The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs is the French government cabinet member charged with running the military of France.... - Maurice RouvierMaurice RouvierMaurice Rouvier was a French statesman.He was born in Aix-en-Provence, and spent his early career in business at Marseille. He supported Léon Gambetta's candidature there in 1867, and in 1870 he founded an anti-imperial journal, L'Egalité. Becoming secretary general of the prefecture of...
- Minister of FinanceMinister of the Economy, Finance and Industry (France)The Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment , or Minister of Finance for short, is one of the most prominent positions in the cabinet of France after the Prime Minister.... - Ernest Vallé - Minister of JusticeMinister of Justice (France)The Ministry of Justice is controlled by the French Minister of Justice , a top-level cabinet position in the French government. The current Minister of Justice is Michel Mercier...
- Charles Camille Pelletan - Minister of Marine
- Joseph ChaumiéJoseph ChaumiéJoseph Chaumié was a French politician, Senator for Lot-et-Garonne from 1897 until his death.Joseph Chaumié was born in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, into a family of modest means...
- Minister of Public InstructionMinister of National Education (France)The Ministry of National Education, Youth, and Sport , or simply "Minister of National Education," as the title has changed no small number of times in the course of the Fifth Republic) is the French government cabinet member charged with running France's public educational system and with the...
and Fine ArtsMinister of Culture (France)The Minister of Culture is, in the Government of France, the cabinet member in charge of national museums and monuments; promoting and protecting the arts in France and abroad; and managing the national archives and regional "maisons de culture"... - Léon Mougeot - Minister of AgricultureMinister of Agriculture (France)The Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing of France is the governmental body charged with regulation and policy, for agriculture, fisheries, forestry and food.The department is headquartered in Hotel Villeroy, at No...
- Gaston DoumergueGaston DoumerguePierre-Paul-Henri-Gaston Doumergue was a French politician of the Third Republic.Doumergue came from a Protestant family. Beginning as a Radical, he turned more towards the political right in his old age. He served as Prime Minister from 9 December 1913 to 2 June 1914...
- Minister of ColoniesMinister of Overseas FranceThe Minister of Overseas France is a cabinet member in the Government of France responsible for overseeing French overseas departments and territories .The position is currently held by Brice Hortefeux, who is also the Minister of the Interior... - Émile Maruéjouls - Minister of Public WorksMinister of Public Works (France)The Minister of Public Works was a cabinet member in the Government of France. Formerly known as "Ministre des Travaux Publics" , in 1870, it was largely subsumed by the position of Minister of Transportation. Since the 1960s, the positions of Minister of Public Works has reappeared, often...
- Georges Trouillot - Minister of Commerce, Industry, Posts, and TelegraphsMinister of Commerce and Industry (France)The Minister of Commerce and Industry was a cabinet member in the Government of France.The position was sometimes combined with Minister of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones...
Changes
- 15 November 1904 - Maurice Berteaux succeeds André as Minister of WarMinister of Defence (France)The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs is the French government cabinet member charged with running the military of France....
Cabinet of the Bloc des gauches, 24 January 1905 - 13 March 1906
- Maurice RouvierMaurice RouvierMaurice Rouvier was a French statesman.He was born in Aix-en-Provence, and spent his early career in business at Marseille. He supported Léon Gambetta's candidature there in 1867, and in 1870 he founded an anti-imperial journal, L'Egalité. Becoming secretary general of the prefecture of...
- President of the Council and Minister of Finance - Théophile DelcasséThéophile DelcasséThéophile Delcassé was a French statesman.-Biography:He was born at Pamiers, in the Ariège département...
- Minister of Foreign Affairs - Maurice Berteaux - Minister of War
- Eugène Étienne - Minister of the Interior
- Joseph ChaumiéJoseph ChaumiéJoseph Chaumié was a French politician, Senator for Lot-et-Garonne from 1897 until his death.Joseph Chaumié was born in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, into a family of modest means...
- Minister of Justice - Gaston ThomsonGaston ThomsonGaston Thomson was a French politician born January 29, 1848 in Oran and died May 14, 1932, at Bône .He was a member of the French Chamber of Deputies for the Department of Constantine for fifty years and three months...
- Minister of the Navy - Jean-Baptiste Bienvenu-MartinBienvenu MartinJean-Baptiste Bienvenu Martin was a French Radical leader and cabinet officer. He was born at Saint-Bris-le-Vineux , and was educated in the law. He held an underprefecture, entered the Council of State, and in 1894 became director under the Minister of the Colonies...
- Minister of Public Instruction, Fine Arts, and Worship - Joseph Ruau - Minister of Agriculture
- Étienne Clémentel - Minister of Colonies
- Armand Gauthier de l'Aude - Minister of Public Works
- Fernand Dubief - Minister of Commerce, Industry, Posts, and Telegraphs
Changes
- 17 June 1905 - Pierre Merlou succeeds Rouvier as Minister of Finance.
- 12 November 1905 - Eugène Étienne succeeds Berteaux as Minister of War. Fernand Dubief succeeds Étienne as Minister of the Interior. Georges Trouillot succeeds Dubief as Minister of Commerce, Industry, Posts, and Telegraphs
Cabinet of the Bloc des gauches, 12 March - 25 October 1906
- Ferdinand SarrienFerdinand SarrienJean Marie Ferdinand Sarrien was a French politician of the Third Republic. He was born in Bourbon-Lancy, Saône-et-Loire and died in Paris. He headed a cabinet supported by the Bloc des gauches parliamentary majority....
- President of the Council and Minister of Justice - Léon BourgeoisLéon Bourgeois-Biography:He was born in Paris, and was trained in law. After holding a subordinate office in the department of public works, he became successively prefect of the Tarn and the Haute-Garonne , and then returned to Paris to enter the ministry of the interior...
- Minister of Foreign Affairs - Eugène Étienne - Minister of War
- Georges ClemenceauGeorges ClemenceauGeorges Benjamin Clemenceau was a French statesman, physician and journalist. He served as the Prime Minister of France from 1906 to 1909, and again from 1917 to 1920. For nearly the final year of World War I he led France, and was one of the major voices behind the Treaty of Versailles at the...
- Minister of the Interior - Raymond PoincaréRaymond PoincaréRaymond Poincaré was a French statesman who served as Prime Minister of France on five separate occasions and as President of France from 1913 to 1920. Poincaré was a conservative leader primarily committed to political and social stability...
- Minister of Finance - Gaston DoumergueGaston DoumerguePierre-Paul-Henri-Gaston Doumergue was a French politician of the Third Republic.Doumergue came from a Protestant family. Beginning as a Radical, he turned more towards the political right in his old age. He served as Prime Minister from 9 December 1913 to 2 June 1914...
- Minister of Labour, Commerce, and Industry - Gaston ThomsonGaston ThomsonGaston Thomson was a French politician born January 29, 1848 in Oran and died May 14, 1932, at Bône .He was a member of the French Chamber of Deputies for the Department of Constantine for fifty years and three months...
- Minister of the Navy - Aristide BriandAristide BriandAristide Briand was a French statesman who served eleven terms as Prime Minister of France during the French Third Republic and received the 1926 Nobel Peace Prize.- Early life :...
- Minister of Public Instruction, Fine Arts, and Worship - Joseph Ruau - Minister of Agriculture
- Georges LeyguesGeorges LeyguesGeorges Leygues was a French politician of the Third Republic. During his time as Minister of Marine he worked with the navy's chief of staff Henri Salaun in unsuccessful attempts to gain naval re-armament priority for government funding over army rearmament such as the Maginot Line.He was born...
- Minister of Colonies - Louis BarthouLouis BarthouJean Louis Barthou was a French politician of the Third Republic.-Early years:He was born in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and served as Deputy from that constituency. He was an authority on trade union history and law. Barthou was Prime Minister in 1913, and held ministerial office...
- Minister of Public Works, Posts, and Telegraphs