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| 1870, Jan. 10 |
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| Victor Noir, a Republican journalist, was shot by Prince Pierre Bonaparte, Napoleon III's cousin. Noir's funeral caused a demonstration against the empire and the liberal minister Émile Ollivier now faced the problem of saving the empire by concessions. Sweeping constitutional reforms followed. | 1 |
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| April 20 |
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| The senatus consultum created the basis for a new constitution. The Senate became an upper house, sharing legislative power with the Assembly; no constitutional change was to be made without a plebiscite. A plebescite of May 8 ratified the changes by a vote of 7,358,786 to 1,571,939. | 2 |
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| July 19–1871, May 10 |
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| The Franco-Prussian War. France declared war on Prussia (See 1870–71) (See 1870, July 13). The war was sparked by Bismarck's efforts to unify the South German states. Napoleon III assumed the command of the eight French corps at Metz on July 30. The Prussian armies advanced and defeated the French at Wissembourgh (Aug. 4), Spichern (Aug. 5), and Wörth (Aug. 6), separating the northern and southern flanks of the French army. The French army, under the command of Bazaine, who replaced the ailing Napoleon III, was defeated at Colombey-Borny (Aug. 14) and driven into the forts at Metz. A council of war met on Aug. 17 and decided that the remnants of the army would fall back to Paris and be reinforced by the National Guard. However, the army was then ordered to advance toward Metz in an effort to relieve the troops there. | 3 |
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| Sept. 1 |
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| Napoleon III surrendered at Sedan and sought an armistice. He was captured and taken to Wilhelmshöhe. The empire was overthrown (Sept. 4), and Prussia laid siege to Paris (Sept. 19). The army at Metz surrendered (Oct. 27). | 4 |
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