Evolution towards parliamentarianism .281835.E2.80.931840.29 July Monarchy

1 evolution towards parliamentarianism (1835–1840)

1.1 broglie ministry (march 1835 – february 1836)

1.1.1 trial of april insurgents
1.1.2 fieschi attentat (28 july 1835)
1.1.3 september 1835 laws
1.1.4 final consolidation of regime


1.2 first thiers government (february–september 1836)
1.3 2 molé governments (september 1836 – march 1839)

1.3.1 1836 bonapartist uprising
1.3.2 loi de disjonction
1.3.3 wedding of duke of orléans
1.3.4 legislative elections of 4 november 1837
1.3.5 legislative elections of 2 march 1839


1.4 second soult government (may 1839 – february 1840)
1.5 second thiers cabinet (march – october 1840)

1.5.1 return of napoleon s ashes
1.5.2 colonization of algeria
1.5.3 middle eastern affairs, pretext thiers fall

evolution towards parliamentarianism (1835–1840)

the polemics led marshal mortier s resignation, fuelled monarchists such baron massias , count of roederer, turned around question of parliamentary prerogative. on 1 hand, louis-philippe wanted able follow own policy, in particular in reserved domains such military affairs or diplomacy. head of state, wanted able lead government, if need bypassing president of council. on other hand, number of deputies stated ministers needed leader commanding parliamentary majority, , wanted continue evolution towards parliamentarism had been sketched out in charter of 1830. charter did not include mechanism political accountability of ministers towards chamber (confidence motions or censorship motions). furthermore, function of president of council not set out in charter.

the broglie ministry (march 1835 – february 1836)

in context, deputies decided support victor de broglie head of government, because king s least preferred choice, louis-philippe disliked both anglophilia , independence. after three-week ministerial crisis, during citizen king successively called on count molé, andré dupin, marshal soult, general sébastiani , gérard, forced rely on duc de broglie , accept conditions, close imposed before casimir perier.

as in first soult government, new cabinet rested on triumvirate broglie (foreign affairs) – guizot (public instruction) – thiers (interior). broglie s first act take personal revenge on chamber having ratify (by 289 votes against 137) 4 july 1831 treaty united states, deputies had refused him in 1834. obtained large majority on debate secret funds, worked unofficial motion of confidence (256 voices against 129).

trial of april insurgents

broglie s important task trial of april insurgents, began on 5 may 1835 before chamber of peers. peers convicted 164 detainees on 2,000 prisoners, of whom 43 judged in absentia. defendants present trial introduced great many procedural delays, , attempted means transform trial platform republicanism. on 12 july 1835, of them, including main leaders of parisian insurrection, escaped prison of sainte-pélagie through underground tunnel. court of peers delivered sentence on insurgees of lyon on 13 august 1835, , on other defendants in december 1835 , january 1836. sentences rather mild: few condemnations deportation, many short prison sentences , acquittals.

the fieschi attentat (28 july 1835)

attentat de fieschi, on 28 july 1835. eugène lami, 1845. château de versailles.



the weapon built , used fieschi, museum of french history (2012)

against hopes, trial turned republicans disadvantage, giving them radical image reminded public opinion of excesses of jacobinism , frightened bourgeois. fieschi attentat of july 1835, took place on paris during review of national guard louis-philippe commemorations of july revolution, further scared notables.

on boulevard du temple, near place de la république, volley gun composed of twenty-five gun barrels mounted on wooden frame fired on king upstairs window of house. king injured, while sons, ferdinand-philippe, duc d orléans, louis-charles d orléans, duc de nemours , françois d orléans, prince de joinville, escaped unharmed. however, marshal mortier , ten other persons killed, while tens injured (among 7 died in following days).

the conspirators, adventurer giuseppe fieschi , 2 republicans (pierre morey , théodore pépin) members of society of human rights, arrested in september 1835. judged before court of peers, sentenced death , guillotined on 19 february 1836.

the september 1835 laws

the fieschi attentat shocked bourgeoisie , of france, more conservative people of paris. republicans discredited in country, , public opinion ready strong measures against them.

the first law reinforced powers of president of cour d assises , of public prosecutor against accused of rebellion, possession of prohibited weapons or attempted insurrection. adopted on 13 august 1835, 212 votes 72.

the second law reformed procedure before juries of assizes. existing 4 march 1831 law confined determination of guilt or innocence juries, excluding professional magistrates belonging cour d assises, , required 2/3 majority (8 votes 4) guilty verdict. new law changed simple majority (7 against 5), , adopted on 20 august 1835 224 votes 149.

the third law restricted freedom of press, , provoked passionate debates. aimed @ outlawing discussions concerning king, dynasty , constitutional monarchy, alleged these had prepared ground fieschi attentat. despite strong opposition draft, law approved on 29 august 1835 226 votes 153.

the final consolidation of regime

these 3 laws simultaneously promulgated on 9 september 1835, , marked final success of policy of résistance pursued against republicans since casimir perier. july monarchy thereafter sure of ground, discussions concerning legitimacy being outlawed. opposition discuss interpretation of charter , advocate evolution towards parliamentarianism. demands enlargement of electoral base became more frequent, however, in 1840, leading re-appearance of republican opposition through claim universal suffrage.

the broglie ministry, however, fell on question concerning public debt. minister of finance, georges humann, announced on 14 january 1836 intention reduce interest on government bonds in order lighten public debt, unpopular measure among supporters of regime, since bond interest fundamental component of bourgeoisie s wealth. therefore, council of ministers disavowed humann, while duke de broglie explained chamber proposal not supported government. however, tone judged insulting deputies, , 1 of them, banker alexandre goüin, proposed draft law concerning bonds himself. on 5 february 1836, narrow majority of deputies (194 against 192) decided continue examination of draft, disavowing broglie s cabinet. government resigned: first time, cabinet had fallen after having been put in minority before chamber of deputies, sure victory of parliamentarianism.

the first thiers government (february–september 1836)

louis-philippe decided pretend play parliamentary card, secret intention of neutralizing it. took advantage of ministerial crisis rid of doctrinaires (broglie , guizot), invited tiers parti politicians give illusion of opening left, , called on adolphe thiers on 22 february 1836, in attempt convince him distances himself liberal doctrinaires, , use legitimacy in government, until time came call on count molé, whom king had decided long time before make president of council. louis-philippe separated center-right center-left, strategically attempting dissolve tiers parti, dangerous game since lead dissolving of parliamentary majority , create endless ministerial crises. furthermore, duc de broglie himself warned him, when thiers pushed out, shift decisively left , transform himself in particularly dangerous opponent.

in chamber, debate on secret funds, marked notable speech guizot , evasive response justice minister, sauzet, concluded favorable vote government (251 votes 99). on other hand, draft proposal on government bonds postponed deputies on 22 march 1836, sign had been pretext.

thiers motivations accepting position of head of government , taking ministry of foreign affairs enable him negotiate duc d orléans wedding austrian archduchess. since fieschi attentat, ferdinand-philippe s wedding (he had reached 25) had become obsession of king, , thiers wanted effect spectacular reversion of alliances in europe, choiseul had done before him. metternich , archduchess sophie of bavaria, dominated court in vienna, rejected alliance house of orléans, deemed unstable.

another attentat against louis-philippe, alibaud on 25 june 1836, justified fears. these 2 setbacks upset thiers. on 29 july 1836, inauguration of arc de triomphe, intended scene of ceremony of national concord, during july monarchy harness glory of revolution , of empire, took place, quietly , unceremoniously, @ 7 in morning , without king being present.

to re-establish popularity , in order take revenge on austria, thiers considering military intervention in spain, requested queen regent marie christine de bourbon confronted carlist rebellion. louis-philippe, advised talleyrand , soult, opposed intervention, led thiers s resignation. new event, in government had fallen not because of parliament because of disagreement king on foreign policy, demonstrated evolution towards parliamentarianism far being assured.

the 2 molé governments (september 1836 – march 1839)

count molé formed new government on 6 september 1836, including doctrinaires guizot, tanneguy duchâtel , adrien de gasparin. new cabinet did not include 1 of 3 glorious , press highlighted. molé took humane measures in order assure popularity: general adoption of small prison cells avoid mutual teaching of crime , abolition of chain gangs exposed public, , royal pardon 52 political prisoners (legitimists , republicans), in particular charles x former ministers. on 25 october 1836, inauguration of obelisk of luxor (a gift viceroy of egypt, mehemet ali) on place de la concorde scene of public ovation king.

1836 bonapartist uprising

on 30 october 1836, louis-napoléon bonaparte attempted uprising in strasbourg, put down , bonapartist prince , accomplices arrested on same day. king, wanting avoid public trial, , without legal proceedings, ordered louis-napoléon taken lorient put on board frigate l andromède, sailed united states on 21 november. other conspirators brought before cour d assises of strasbourg, acquitted them on 18 january 1837.

loi de disjonction

thereafter, on 24 january 1837, minister of war, general simon bernard (baron), proposed draft law – loi de disjonction – aimed, in case of insurrection, @ separating civilians, judged cour d assises, , non-civilians, judged war council. opposition adamantly rejected proposal, , surprisingly managed have whole chamber reject it, on 7 march 1837, slim majority of 211 votes 209.

however, louis-philippe decided go against public expectation, , logic of parliamentarianism, maintaining molé government in place. government deprived of solid parliamentary majority, , paralyzed. month , half, king tried various ministerial combinations before forming new government included camille de montalivet, close him, excluded guizot, had more , more difficulty working molé, once again confirmed head of government.

this new government provocation chamber: not molé retained, de salvandy, had been in charge of loi de disjonction, , lacave-laplagne, in charge of draft law concerning belgian queen s dowry – both having been rejected deputies – members of new cabinet. press spoke of cabinet of castle or cabinet of lackeys , , expected short-lived.

the wedding of duke of orléans

however, in first speech, on 18 april 1837, molé cut short critics announcement of future wedding of ferdinand philippe, duke of orléans (styled prince royal) duchess helene of mecklenburg-schwerin. taken surprise, deputies voted increase of dowry of both duke of orléans, had been rejected, , queen of belgians.

after promising beginning, in may molé s government managed secure parliament s confidence during debate on secret funds, despite odilon barrot s attacks (250 votes 112). 8 may 1837 ordinance granted general amnesty political prisoners, while crucifixes re-established in courts, , church of saint-germain l auxerrois, closed since 1831, authorized renew religious activities. demonstrate public order had been restored, king passed reviewed national guard on place de la concorde. on 30 may 1837, duke of orléans wedding celebrated @ château de fontainebleau.

a few days later, on 10 june louis-philippe inaugurated château de versailles, restoration of which, begun in 1833, intended establish museum of history of france, dedicated glories of france . king had closely followed , financed project entrusted architect pierre-françois-léonard fontaine. in symbol of national reconciliation, military glories of revolution , of empire, of restoration, sit side side of ancien régime.

the legislative elections of 4 november 1837

molé s government seemed stable, helped return of economic prosperity. therefore, king , molé decided, against duc d orléans advice, moment auspicious dissolving of chamber, done on 3 october 1837. in order influence forthcoming elections, louis-philippe decided on constantine expedition in algeria, military success of general valée , duc de nemours, second son of louis-philippe, took constantine on 13 october.

however, 4 november 1837 elections did not deliver louis-philippe s hopes. of total of 459 deputies, plurality of 220 supporters of regime. 20 legitimists had been elected, , 30 republicans. centre-right (doctrinaires) had approximately 30 deputies, centre-left twice many, , dynastic opposition (odilon barrot) 65. tiers parti had 15 deputies, , 30 more undecided. such chamber carried risk of formation of heterogeneous coalition against government.

as january 1838, government under great pressure, in particular charles gauguier, on deputies civil servants. on 9 january accused government of electoral manipulation in order have loyal civil servants elected. there had been 178 in preceding chamber, there 191. adolphe thiers , allies defied government, concerning spanish affairs. however, of doctrinaires, molé obtained favorable vote address king on 13 january 1838, 216 votes 116.

molé s cabinet appeared taken hostage doctrinaires, @ exact moment when guizot distancing himself president of council. of thiers efforts thereafter focused on pushing doctrinaires away ministerial majority. during vote on secret funds, both guizot, in chamber of deputies, , duc de broglie, in chamber of peers, criticized cabinet, although both voted government.

on 10 may 1838, deputies rejected government s plan railway development, after having agreed, week earlier, proposals on government bonds opposed molé. peers, however, supported molé , rejected initiative. on 20 june 1838, molé succeeded in having assembly pass 1839 budget before parliamentary recess.

on opening of parliamentary session in december 1838, andré dupin elected slim majority (183 votes 178 hippolyte passy, center-left candidate , adamant opponent of castle cabinet ) president of chamber. coalition, including guizot, thiers, prosper duvergier de hauranne , hippolyte passy, had formed during summer, did not prevent vote of favorable address king (221 votes against 208).

the legislative elections of 2 march 1839

confronted such slight , uncertain majority, molé presented resignation king on 22 january 1839. louis-philippe first attempted refuse it, , then, approaching marshal soult, not persuaded, offered him lead. soult accepted after funeral of king s daughter, duchesse de württemberg, on condition of moving promptly new elections. during electoral campaign, left-wing opposition denounced termed constitutional coup, comparing 1837 , 1839 dissolutions consecutive dissolutions of charles x in 1830. thiers compared molé polignac, 1 of charles x s ministers.

the 2 march 1839 elections disappointment king, lost 2 loyal deputies, while coalition mustered 240 members (against 199 government). molé presented resignation king on 8 march, louis-philippe forced accept.

second soult government (may 1839 – february 1840)

armand barbès, 1 of leaders of republican insurrection of 12 may 1839. lithography jeannin.

after molé s fall, louis-philippe called upon marshal soult, attempted, without success, form government including 3 leaders of coalition had brought down molé: guizot, thiers , odilon barrot. confronted doctrinaires refusal, tried form centre-left cabinet, foundered upon thiers intransigence concerning spanish affairs. these successive setbacks forced king postpone 4 april 1839 opening of parliamentary session. thiers refused associated duc de broglie , guizot. king attempted keep him @ bay offering him embassy, provoked outcries of thiers friends. finally, louis-philippe resigned himself composing, on 31 march 1839, transitional , neutral government.

the parliamentary session opened on 4 april in quasi-insurrectionary atmosphere. large mob had gathered around palais-bourbon, seat of assembly, singing la marseillaise , rioting. left-wing press accused government of provocations. thiers supported odilon barrot president of chamber, attitude during negotiations formation of new cabinet had disappointed of friends. part of center-left decided present hippolyte passy against barrot. latter won 227 votes against 193, supported ministerial deputies , doctrinaires. vote demonstrated coalition had imploded, , right-wing majority formed oppose left-wing initiative.

despite this, negotiations formation of new cabinet still unsuccessful, thiers making friends promise request authorization before accepting governmental function. situation seemed @ impasse, when on 12 may 1839, société des saisons, secret republican society, headed martin bernard, armand barbès , auguste blanqui, organized insurrection in rue saint-denis , rue saint-martin in paris. league of just, founded in 1836, participated in uprising. however, not failure, , conspirators arrested, allowed louis-philippe form new government on same day, presided on marshal soult had assured him of loyal support.

at end of may, vote on secret funds gave large majority new government, had budget passed without problems. parliamentary recess decreed on 6 august 1838, , new session opened on 23 december, during chamber voted rather favorable address government 212 votes 43. soult s cabinet, however, fell on 20 february 1839, 226 deputies having voted against proposed dowry of duc de nemours (only 200 votes for), marry victoire de saxe-cobourg-kohary. proudhon noted in letter thoughtlessness of bourgeoisie, supported monarchy without supporting consequences

the second thiers cabinet (march – october 1840)

adolphe thiers, honoré daumier.

soult s fall compelled king call on main left-wing figure, adolphe thiers. guizot, 1 of remaining right-wing alternatives, had been named ambassador london , left france. thiers aim definitively establish parliamentary government, king reigns not rule , , cabinet drawn parliamentary majority , answerable it. henceforth, opposed louis-philippe s concept of government.

thiers formed government on 1 march 1840. first pretended offer presidency of council duc de broglie, , soult, before accepting , taking foreign affairs @ same time. cabinet composed of young politicians (47 years old on average), thiers himself being 42.

relations king difficult. louis-philippe embarrassed thiers suggesting nominate friend horace sébastiani marshal, expose him same criticisms had suffered on political favoritism , abuse of governmental power. thiers decided postpone sébastiani s advancement.

thiers obtained easy majority during debate on secret funds in march 1840 (246 votes 160). although classified centre-left, thiers second government highly conservative, , dedicated protection of interests of bourgeoisie. although had deputies pass vote on government bond conversion, left-wing proposal, sure rejected peers, happened. on 16 may 1840, thiers harshly rejected universal suffrage , social reforms after speech radical françois arago, had linked ideas of electoral reform , social reform. arago attempting unite left-wing tying universal suffrage claims , socialist claims, had appeared in 1840s, concerning right of work (droit au travail). believed electoral reform establish universal suffrage should precede social reform, considered urgent.

on 15 june 1838, thiers obtained postponement of proposal made conservative deputy of versailles, ovide de rémilly who, equipping himself old demand of left, sought outlaw nomination of deputies salaried public offices during elective mandate. thiers had supported proposition, acutely criticized left.

since end of august 1838, social problems related economic crisis started in 1839 causedstrike actions , riots in textile, clothing , construction sectors. on 7 september 1839, cabinet-makers of faubourg saint-antoine started put barricades. thiers responded sending out national guard , invoking laws prohibiting public meetings.

thiers renewed banque de france s privilege until 1867 on such advantageous terms bank had commemorative gold medal cast. several laws established steamship lines, operated companies operating state-subsidised concessions. other laws granted credits or guarantees railway companies in difficulties.

return of napoleon s ashes

the transfer of napoleon s ashes on board of la belle poule on 15 october 1840. painting eugène isabey.

while thiers favored conservative bourgeoisie, made sure satisfy left s thirst glory. on 12 may 1840, minister of interior, charles de rémusat, announced deputies king had decided remains of napoléon transferred invalides. british government s agreement, prince de joinville sailed saint helena on frigate la belle poule retrieve them.

this announcement struck chord public opinion, swept along patriotic fervor. thiers saw in act successful completion of rehabilitation of revolution , of empire, had attempted in histoire de la révolution française , histoire du consulat et de l empire, while louis-philippe, reluctant, aimed @ capturing himself touch of imperial glory, had appropriated legitimist monarchy s glory in château de versailles. prince louis-napoléon decided seize opportunity land in boulogne-sur-mer on 6 august 1840, aim of rallying 42nd infantry regiment (42e régiment de ligne) along accomplices including 1 of napoléon s comrades in saint helena, general de montholon. although montholon in reality double agent used french government spy, in london, on louis-napoléon, montholon deceived thiers letting him think operation take place in metz. however, bonaparte s operation complete failure, , detained men in fort of ham, picardy.

their trial took place before chamber of peers 28 september 1840 6 october 1840, general indifference. public s attention concentrated on trial of marie lafarge, before cour d assises of tulle, defendant being accused of having poisoned husband. defended famous legitimist lawyer pierre-antoine berryer, bonaparte sentenced life detention, 152 votes (against 160 abstentions, out of total of 312 peers). not kill insane people, right! confine them, declared journal des débats, in period of intense discussions concerning parricides, mental disease , reform of penal code.

colonization of algeria


siege of constantine in 1837

the conquest of algeria, initiated in last days of bourbon restoration, confronted abd-el-kader s raids, punishing marshal valée , duc d orléans s expedition portes de fer in autumn 1839, had violated terms of 1837 treaty of tafna between general bugeaud , abd-el-kader. thiers pushed in favor of colonising of interior of country, edges of desert. convinced king, saw in algeria ideal theater son cover house of orléans glory, , persuaded him send general bugeaud first governor general of algeria. bugeaud, lead harsh repression against natives, officially nominated on 29 december 1840, few days after thiers fall.

middle eastern affairs, pretext thiers fall

thiers supported mehemet ali, pasha of egypt, in ambition constitute vast arabian empire egypt syria. tried intercede in order have him sign agreement ottoman empire, unbeknownst 4 other european powers (britain, austria, prussia , russia). however, informed of these negotiations, british minister of foreign affairs, lord palmerston, negotiated treaty between 4 powers sort out eastern question . when revealed, london convention of 15 july 1840 provoked explosion of patriotic fury: france had been ousted zone traditionally exercised influence, while prussia, had no interest in it, associated treaty. although louis-philippe pretended join general protestations, knew take advantage of situation rid of thiers.

the latter pandered tp patriotic feelings decreeing, on 29 july 1840, partial mobilization, , starting, on 13 september 1840, works on fortifications of paris. france remained passive when, on 2 october 1840, british navy shelled beirut. mehemet ali dismissed viceroy sultan.

following long negotiations between king , thiers, compromise found on 7 october 1840: france renounce support mehemet ali s pretensions in syria declare european powers egypt should remain @ costs independent. britain thereafter recognized mehmet ali s hereditary rule on egypt: france had obtained return situation of 1832. despite this, rupture between thiers , louis-philippe definitive. on 29 october 1840, when charles de rémusat presented council of ministers draft of speech of throne, prepared hippolyte passy, louis-philippe found aggressive. after short discussion, thiers , associates collectively presented resignations king, accepted them. on following day, louis-philippe sent marshal soult , guizot return paris possible.