why did napoleon 3 suddenly change from being autocratic and despotic to being liberal?factors that led napoleon 3 to be a liberal after he had...

Napoleon III changed his policies in an attempt to
preserve the second French Empire when his foreign interventions and public expenditures
made him unpopular.

Napoleon III had participated in the
Crimean War against Russia, had assisted in the unification of Italy during the
Franco-Austrian War, and expanded French influence in China. He attempted to set up a
puppet empire in Mexico under the Hapsburg Maxilian I; but this attempt failed
miserably. These wars were expensive, however, and caused his popularity with the French
people to decline. He had complete control of the government's budget, and had handled
it poorly, resulting in a massive debt. To quiet the liberals who criticized him, he
allowed limited freedom of the press, appointed a liberal Prime Minister, and allowed
free and open debate in Parliament.  He agreed that he would not borrow money when
Parliament was out of session; but covered himself by retaining the right to change
sections of the budget. This and increasing failures in foreign policy (he was captured
by the Prussians in the Franco-Prussian War) led to his removal from office and the
proclamation of the Third Republic.