2012 French Presidential Election

     The most recent French Presidential Election was historic. April 22 2012 was the date of the first round, with 10 separate candidates representing all political parties from extreme left to extreme right wing individuals. Amongst these is current president Nicolas Sarkozy under the "Union for a Popular Movement" party who is running for a second successive five year term (under the French Constitution, that would be his last five year term). The other nine candidates include Francois Hollande, Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Melenchon, Francois Bayrou, Eva Joly, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, Philippe Poutou, Nathalie Arthaud, and Jacques Cheminade.
     Sarkozy and Francois Hollande won the first round and proceeded to campaign until May 6 2012 when the second round was held. Sarkozy made a point to please the right extremists, focusing a large portion of his campaign on stricter immigration. Hollande's main focus was the state of the economy, which as of now is as bad if not worse than the United States' economic recession of 2008. While neither of the two candidates won the majority of the votes in the first round, Hollande, representing the "Socialist Party" , won over Sarkozy in the second round runoff election with 51.62% to Sarkozy's 48.38%. This made Sarkozy the first one term president since 1981 in France.
     When I traveled to Paris, France over Spring Break, it was immediatly following the first round, and Sarkozy and Hollande were seen everywhere. There were posters, ads, and commercials on the television. One day Sarkozy gave a speech at the Concorde and thousands of people attended. We stayed away from the city that day! It was interesting to hear my Uncle talk about the election and to compare their process with ours. In many respects it is similar but there are distinct differences. It seems to me that with 10 candidates prior to the first round there would be too many options and the votes would be spread across the board.

Fashion

Fashion in the Victorian Era
What defined a huge portion of the Victorian Era that took place in England from 1837 to 1901 was fashion. Women's fashion was particularly interesting, changing to reflect the new ways women were viewed in society. Gowns were a popular choice for women, with low and pointed waists and bell shaped skirts. Corsets and petticoats almost always accompanied a gown. Evening gowns featured low necklines and were worn off the shoulder with sheer shawls and gloves. In the 1860s the skirts began to change shape, becoming flatter in the front and projecting out in the back. By the 1890s fashion became simpler and less extravagant.

A major accessory that was true to the Victorian Era were hats. Typically they were feather and flower-laden creations. They were almost always modest in size, in order to prevent it competing with the dress for attention. Straw and fabric bonnets were the most popular during this time period.

Victorian Era Education

Victorian Era Education
     The Victorian Era worked very hard to improve the status of education in Europe. At the beginning of the time period, education was a rare treasure that only the elite had an opportunity to. The classroom almost always consisted of upper class boys above the age of 10. During the Victorian Era many of these things changed. Laws were passed in favor of expanding the institution of education. More schools were built and under law it was required to obtain an education, no matter who you were.
     This era brought about a lot of change, and for the most part people welcomed the new steps towards building a better country.

Eiffel Tower

Due to my upcoming adventure to Paris, France for spring break, I have extreme interest in one of the worlds most recognizable monuments: the Eiffel Tower. This symbol of France is one of beauty and stength. Its original purpose was to frame the entrance to a Worlds Fair, celebrating the French Revolution. This building, which is the tallest in Paris, attracts millions of tourists and Parisians alike, representing something different to each individual. Construction of the monument began in July 1888, and to the public of the time period, was considered an "eye sore". One of the most exclusive, yet not widley known, facts regarding the Eiffel Tower is the fact that its deisgner, Gustave Eiffel, engraved 72 names of extremely influential people during the time period of construction.

Suffrage

Throughout history, it has been a constant battle for women to be granted the same rights as men. Suffrage is, in the grand scheme of history, very rcent. It is mind boggling how up until the 1860s women were still being limited by laws. Some European countries, France, for example, limited women until the 1940s! Women found other ways to express themselves in history, mainly through fashion. This was their subtle way of speaking out against the boundaries that refrained them from becoming active members in society.