What if between 1800 and the early 1900s, France had a birth rate only slightly below the rest of Europe? In 1800 France was the most populous country in Europe, but by the time WWI started they lagged behind Germany, Russia, AH, and Britain was on par with them.
I've seen some suggest that French inheritance laws had a lot to do with it, some say it was the lack of industrialization relative to Britain or Germany, some say it was cultural, and there are other explaination and theories out there. Feel free to debate what would have caused France's demographic collapse.
Besides the causes, what would the effect be if between the early 1800s and early 1900s, France had their population grow from around 30 million, to around 60-70 million? How would this effect the power structure of Europe? Of French politics and culture? Of French colonization efforts around the world?
I've seen some suggest that French inheritance laws had a lot to do with it, some say it was the lack of industrialization relative to Britain or Germany, some say it was cultural, and there are other explaination and theories out there. Feel free to debate what would have caused France's demographic collapse.
Besides the causes, what would the effect be if between the early 1800s and early 1900s, France had their population grow from around 30 million, to around 60-70 million? How would this effect the power structure of Europe? Of French politics and culture? Of French colonization efforts around the world?