Providing a chronological framework of France and the Third Republic, this text concentrates on the threats to the survival of the Third Republic and the reasons why they were overcome. The Paris Commune, the failure of the monarchists, Boulanger, Panama and the Dreyfus case are all discussed. The text is part of the "Access to History" series, which provides a concise and readable introduction to major topics and periods in European and British history. The texts are aimed mainly at higher level students, and study guides are included in each chapter.