1848 Revolt in France

1. 1848 Revolt in France www.educationforum.co.uk

2. 1847 • By 1847 France had fallen into economic slump and LP’s regime was deeply unpopular • LP had done nothing for growing working class • LP’s middle class habits and ‘timid’ foreign policy had alienated the monarchists • The fat old King had become a figure of constant public ridicule – ‘La Poire’ • Chief Minister Guizot deeply unpopular because of his implacable refusal to extend the franchise – if you want votes “Get Rich” • Agitation for parliamentary reform and political change was gathering pace

3. Reform Banquets • Opposition groups staged a series of reform banquets where radical speakers would address the diners with demands for political change – by 1847/8 demands were becoming quite radical with many calling for a republic • In Feb 1848 a grand Reform Banquet arranged in Paris to be preceded by a procession in which the masses also could express their demand for reform. • The government was alarmed by this prospect and immediately banned the Banquet. • Organisers decided to cancel but didn’t inform many of the diners who turned up anyway or the Paris Mob who took to the street expecting something to happen

4. Revolt • LP made the fatal error of calling on the National Guard to disperse the crowd – they refused • LP then backed down and agreed to the dismissal of Guizot to appease the crowd • Things seemed to be calming down but following a clash between troops and a small section of the crowd the following day barricades went up all over Paris with considerable fighting between army and crowd • Discouraged by his own unpopularity LP abdicated in favour of his grandson Comte de Paris • Meanwhile Parliament had declared themselves a provisional government and had voted for France to become a Republic. The Orleanist monarchy was over. • In the celebrations which followed the royal Tuileries palace in Paris was overrun and several rioters were drown in the floods of red wine which were released from the royal cellars