Finding Stability in France

As we all are aware, French politics has always been a mess. For the past century, maybe even for its entire history, France has been on a journey to discover the best government, much like Marlin and Dory searched an entire ocean to find Nemo.

Once the despotic Napoleon III was expelled from power during the Franco-Prussian War, the government was again in turmoil, just like Marlin as he watched Nemo being taken.

Oh no!

Then, Republicans declared the Third French Republic in 1871, just as Marlin declared he would stop at nothing to find Nemo.

Meanwhile, the Germans held the French in Paris and starved them into surrender. They were forced change their diets, sometimes to include zoo animals, just like Bruce and his friends. 

The French National Assembly was forced to surrender Alsace and Lorraine to Germany. The French were angry, just like Marlin throughout the entire adventure. 

As a result, they proclaimed the Paris Commune. It was a radical group that intended to govern Paris without the influence of the more conservative country-side. This is similar to the time when Marlin thought he could find Nemo without Dory. (He couldn't)

As can be imagined, this was ill-received, and the Commune was violently put down. It was like the time when the seagulls swarmed Dory and Marlin on the dock. 

Finally, the republic was restored under President Thiers. It was fairly moderate to ensure that it would be "the government which divides us least." Similarly, Dory and Marlin can't succeed in finding Nemo while separated. 

Reunited, yay!

Along comes Leon Gambetta who helped stabilize France by advocating parliamentary supremacy. He was also instrumental in forcing the autocratic president, Marshall MacMahon, to resign. This is similar to when Nigel saved Dory and Marlin from the seagulls. 

Public education was preferred over Catholic school, and teachers were now encouraged to marry. I wonder if Mr. Ray was married.

Meanwhile, the Dreyfus affair was taking place. Catholics are believed to have falsely accused and convicted Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish military captain, of treason. He was imprisoned unfairly, just as Gill and the crew were trapped by the dentist. 

They were so sad.

This case divided France (surprise, surprise), and further represented the waning influence of the church.  Finally, Dreyfus was released. Just like the fish!  

So, just as Marlin found Nemo, France finally established a stable government that (sort of) worked. 

Just keep swimming France!