In 1889 there was a formidable at tempt to overthrow the republic by a union of all parties favoring a mon archy. This was under the leadership of General Boulanger. After promises of success, the movement failed and the republic continued to grow in strength. President Carnot was assassinated in 1894 and was succeeded by Casimir Perier, who in 1895 resigned and was succeeded by Felix Faure. In the latter's administration and that of his successor, Emile Loubet, occurred the famous Dreyfus case, which for a time threat ened the downfall of the republic. The chief political tendency of this period was the increase of the Socialist power. Alexandre Millerand, the leader of the Socialists, at this time first emerged into power. In 1901 the Associations Law brought religious congregations under government supervision. The struggle between the Church and State continued throughout the following years, and ended in the complete separation of the Church and State in France, in 1905.
France had in 1891 formed an alliance with Russia, thus offsetting the impor tance of the Triple Alliance. This alliance was strengthened throughout the follow ing years and cordial relations were established with Italy. These relations were chiefly due to Theophile Delcasse, who also accomplished in 1904 an agree ment with England by which France abandoned certain rights in Newfound land in return for territorial concessions in west Africa. France also recognized the predominance of Great Britain in Egypt in return for the right of France to maintain order in Morocco.
The defeat of Russia in the war with Japan left France .without a strong ally,
and Germany seized the opportunity to bring about the dismissal of Delcasse, whose policies were regarded by the Ger man Government as hostile to it. The Algeciras Conference, which met in 1906, gave France certain customs rights on the Algerian frontier. Germany pro tested in 1908 and 1911 that the French sphere of influence was too extensive. In the latter year the German Emperor sent a warship to Agadir to protect German interests. France, however, was strongly supported by England, and Ger many was obliged to give way and to recognize rights of France in Morocco. In return of this recognition France ceded to Germany 112,000 square miles of the French Congo. In 1912 France secured a practical protectorate over Morocco.
The economic history of France is marked during this period by the rapid growth of industrial unionism and the development of the theory of direct action (See SYNDICALISNI). General strikes occurred in 1909 and in 1910, but these were suppressed by the prompt action of Premier B riand who shattered the railroad strike by threatening mili tary punishment.
Raymond Poincare was elected Presi dent in 1913. Threatening conditions in Europe, especially in Germany, led to demands for an increase in the size of the army, and this was accomplished. During the closing months of 1913, dis turbances in Alsace-Lorraine, particu larly in Zabern, increased the growing hostility between France and Germany. Germany's policy of aggressiveness and militarism foreshadowed the outbreak of the World War. For an account of France's part in this great struggle, see