1848 Revolt in France

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

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

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