France has been the epicenter of the main political changes of the Contemporary age or –at least- of its first decades. after the big French Revolution of 1789and the revolution of 1830once again a merely local event would trigger a revolutionary wave which spread over much of Europe.
In 1848, France was governed by a constitutional monarchy under King Louis Philippe I of Orléanswho had ascended the throne after the revolution of 1830 and dismissal of Charles Xfor being of a constitutional tendency and having the support of sectors of the upper bourgeoisie.
But after 18 years of government, the situation was increasingly complicated, since a severe economic crisis was going through and social and political protests increased. One of the main conflicts occurred between the groups excluded from political participation that demanded the expansion of the electorate on the one hand, and -on the other- louis philipthe first Minister Guizot and their relatives who refused to modify a electoral system which clearly privileged the most powerful.
in february 1848the tension reached extreme points, and soon the revolution after a demonstration in which various social groups participated: sectors of the bourgeoisie excluded from the vote, students, workers, and they were joined by the Civil Guard who joined the rebellion. For three days, the city of Paris it becomes a virtual battlefield with barricades, looting and clashes between the people and the army.
The monarchy made some unsuccessful attempts to decompress the crisis politically, but the opposition groups of socialists and republicans in the National Assembly (parliament) demanded the establishment of a republic. Finally Louis Philippe I abdicated and fled with his family to England. A provisional government was installed until a new constitution was approved and elections were held.
This new period that opens in France It is historically known as the Second Republic and was characterized by the concretion of important liberal reforms such as the universal male suffrage, the reduction of the working day by 10-11 hours and the definitive abolition of slavery. The elections determined as the first France’s president a louis napoleon (nephew of Napoleon I) who after a few years will seize power and proclaim himself Emperor.
But long before this, when the french revolutionary movement was at its height, the French events revived conflicts in many other cities and regions of Europe, unleashing the revolutionary surge It is known as Revolutions of 1848of which you can learn more in the following article.
More information in:
Revolutions of 1848
artehistoria.com
VAZQUEZ DE FERNANDEZ, Silvia. The world/America/Argentina. Editorial Kapelusz.
Images:
Barricades in Paris, on Wikipedia
Revolutionary poster of 1848, in artehistoria