Final answer:
Under Napoleon III's Second Empire, limited freedoms were a characteristic of the French government, which focused on economic and infrastructure expansion to distract the populace, while also exhibiting elements of popular authoritarianism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under Napoleon III's Second Empire, the authoritarian French government limited freedoms such as press freedom and political debate, but distracted the public by expanding the economy and infrastructure, including investment in industry and the construction of railroads, as well as the significant urban renewal of Paris.
This period represented a transformation from the radical revolutionary changes earlier in France's history to a state of popular authoritarianism, with superficial democratic features that were nonetheless overshadowed by Napoleon III's near-dictatorial control.
Similarly, under the provisional government established after the abdication of King Louis-Philippe in 1848, the national workshops initiative was introduced to provide public works employment for the unemployed, which threatened to bankrupt the country and led to significant social strife and eventual repression by the military.