Overview July Monarchy

the kingdom of france in 1839



after july revolution, french tricolour replaced white flag of bourbons once again. attempt link new monarchy heritage of french revolution.

louis phillipe pushed throne alliance between people of paris; republicans, had set barricades in capital; , liberal bourgeoisie. however, @ end of reign, so-called citizen king overthrown similar citizen uprisings , use of barricades during february revolution of 1848. resulted in proclamation of second republic.

after louis-philippe s ousting , subsequent exile britain, liberal orleanist faction (opposed counter-revolutionary legitimists) continued support return of house of orléans throne. july monarchy proved last bourbon-orleans monarchy of france (although monarchy re-established under napoleon bonaparte s nephew, reigned napoleon iii 1852–1870). legitimists withdrew politics castles, leaving way open struggle between orleanists , republicans.

the july monarchy (1830–1848) seen period during haute bourgeoisie dominant, , marked shift counter-revolutionary legitimists orleanists. willing make compromises changes brought 1789 revolution. instance, louis-philippe crowned king of french , instead of king of france : marked acceptance of popular sovereignty.

louis-philippe, had flirted liberalism in youth, rejected of pomp , circumstance of bourbons , surrounded himself merchants , bankers. july monarchy, however, ruled during time of turmoil. large group of legitimists on right demanded restoration of bourbons throne. on left, republicanism and, later socialism, remained powerful force. late in reign louis-philippe became increasingly rigid , dogmatic , president of council, françois guizot, had become unpopular, king refused remove him. situation gradually escalated until revolutions of 1848 resulted in fall of monarchy , establishment of second republic.

however, during first few years of reign, louis-philippe taking action develop legitimate, broad-based reform. government found source of legitimacy within charter of 1830, written reform-minded members of chamber of deputies , committed platform of religious equality among catholics , protestants; empowerment of citizenry through reestablishment of national guard, electoral reform, , reform of peerage system; , lessening of royal authority. louis-phillipe , ministers adhered policies seemed promote central tenets of constitution. however, majority of these policies veiled attempts shore power , influence of government , bourgeoisie, rather legitimate attempts promote equality , empowerment broad constituency of french population. thus, though july monarchy seemed move toward reform, movement largely illusory.

during years of july monarchy, enfranchisement doubled, 94,000 under charles x more 200,000 men 1848. but, number still represented 1 percent of population , small number of men of eligible age. qualifications voting related payment of level of taxes, wealthiest men gained privilege. extended franchise tended favor wealthy merchant bourgeoisie more other group. beyond resulting in election of more bourgeoisie chamber of deputies, electoral expansion meant bourgeoisie politically challenge nobility on legislative matters. thus, while appearing honor pledge increase suffrage, louis-philippe acted empower supporters , increase hold on french parliament. election of wealthiest men tended undermine possibility growth of radical faction in parliament, , served socially conservative ends.

the reformed charter of 1830 limited power of king—stripping him of ability propose , decree legislation, limiting executive authority. however, louis believed in kind of monarchy in king more figurehead elected parliament, , such, involved in legislative affairs. 1 of first acts in creating government appoint conservative casimir perier premier of cabinet. perier, banker, instrumental in shutting down many of republican secret societies , labor unions had formed during years of regime. in addition, oversaw dismemberment of national guard after proved supportive of radical ideologies. conducted these actions, of course, royal approval. once quoted saying source of french misery belief there had been revolution. no monsieur, said minister, there has not been revolution: there change @ head of state.

perier , françois guizot, minister of interior, enforced conservatism of july monarchy. regime acknowledged on radicalism , republicanism threatened it, undermined laissez-faire policies. in 1834 monarchy declared term republican illegal. guizot shut down republican clubs , disbanded republican publications. republicans within cabinet, such banker dupont, excluded perier , conservative clique. distrusting national guard, louis-philippe increased size of army , reformed in order ensure loyalty government.

though 2 factions persisted in cabinet, split between liberal conservatives such guizot (le parti de la résistance, party of resistance) , liberal reformers such journalist adolphe thiers (le parti du mouvement, party of movement), latter never gained prominence. perier succeeded premier count molé, conservative. thiers, reformer, succeeded molé later sacked louis-philippe after attempting pursue aggressive foreign policy. after thiers conservative guizot selected premier.

in particular, guizot administration marked increasingly authoritarian crackdowns on republicanism , dissent, , increasingly pro-business policy. policy included protective tariffs defended status quo , enriched french businessmen. guizot s government granted railway , mining contracts bourgeois supporters of government, , contributed of start-up costs of these enterprises. workers under these policies had no legal right assemble, unionize, or petition government increased pay or decreased hours, july monarchy under perier, molé, , guizot proved detrimental lower classes. guizot s advice disenfranchised tax-based electoral requirements enrichissez-vous (enrich yourselves).