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Introduction to the July Revolution in France

On July 28, 1830 (June 9, 1830 in the lunar calendar), the French July Revolution broke out. The following 52 History Network editor will bring you a detailed introduction, let’s take a look!

On July 25, 1830, Charles X (reigned from 1824 to 1830) promulgated an edict: revise the publishing law, restrict the freedom of the press; dissolve the newly elected parliament; revise the electoral system. The edict broke the spirit of the Charter of 1814, and the working masses and the free bourgeoisie were outraged.

That afternoon, editors and reporters from the main opposition newspapers rallied in the editorial office of the National newspaper to draft a protest letter. They refused to admit the dissolution of Parliament and declared that the government had lost its legitimacy, but did not deny the kingship.

On the 27th, thousands of workers and craftsmen took to the streets and clashed with the military and police.

At dawn on the 28th, the uprising began. Workers, craftsmen, students and the National Guard built barricades, seized weapons depots, and captured the town hall. The mass protest turned into a real armed revolution. The moderates of the big bourgeoisie, led by the banker Jacques Laffitte, pushed for negotiations with the king, but Charles X and Prime Minister Polignac refused to negotiate.

On July 29, the insurgents took control of Paris, occupied the Louvre and the Tuileries, and the uprisings launched by the provinces were also victorious. The insurgent masses and their leaders demanded the proclamation of a republic. A municipal council headed by Jacques Lafitte and the Marquis de Lafayette, commander-in-chief of the National Guard, was established at the Paris City Hall. At this time, Charles X had to withdraw the edict and ordered the Duke of Montmard to organize a government, but it was impossible to restore the situation.

On the 30th, Jacques Lafitte convened a meeting of 60 members and decided to appoint Louis Philippe, Duke of Orleans, as regent.

On the 31st, Louis Philippe, accompanied by Lafayette, appeared on the balcony of the Royal Palace with the tricolor flag in his hand and accepted the title of Regent.

On August 2, Charles X abdicated the throne to his grandson, the Duke of Bordeaux (also the “Count of Chambord”). Louis-Philippe refused to admit.

On August 7, the House of Representatives summoned Louis Philippe to the throne and established the Orleans Dynasty (also known as the “July Dynasty”) ruled by the financial bourgeoisie.

In 1830, Paris established a new constitutional monarchy, and the revolution was completed without much resistance, reflecting the widespread dissatisfaction with the feudal forces in the country. The succession of Louis Philippe, Duke of Orleans to the throne, gave the financial bourgeoisie who elected him an opportunity to gain power, and France thus violated the orthodox principle of succession by feudal monarchs set down by the Congress of Vienna, but Russia, Austria, and Prussia led the way.

The Holy Alliance of Europe, whose mission is to stop the revolutions of various countries, has been unable to interfere with the revival of European revolutions.

However, the “July Dynasty” faced great resistance from the start: clergy and orthodox royalists saw Louis-Philippe and his supporters as traitors, republicans believed they had been deceived (they wanted more radical reforms) ), the zealous Bonapartist was also one of the rebels.