The Revolutions of The Revolutions of the 19the 19thth Century. Century.

Patricia BarryPatricia Barry

© 2006.© 2006.

Overview.Overview.

► After the Napoleonic wars and After the Napoleonic wars and the peace treaty of 1815, the the peace treaty of 1815, the monarchy was restored in monarchy was restored in France, with a younger brother of France, with a younger brother of Louis XVI. Louis XVI.

► During the whole of the 19During the whole of the 19thth century in France, people tried to century in France, people tried to find the right balance between find the right balance between the monarchists – who wanted a the monarchists – who wanted a return to the Ancien Régime and return to the Ancien Régime and the republicans, who wanted a the republicans, who wanted a more liberal government.more liberal government.

Les revolutions. Les revolutions.

► The whole century The whole century is remarkable for its is remarkable for its revolts and revolts and revolutionsrevolutions

► In general, In general, revolutions tend to revolutions tend to be of economic, be of economic, social or political social or political originorigin. .

The communards of 1871 pull down the statue of the Emperor.

What’s a revolution?What’s a revolution?

In France, a revolution could mean:In France, a revolution could mean:►   Having concerns about a regime that Having concerns about a regime that

censors the media, restricts freedoms or censors the media, restricts freedoms or liberty or suppresses opposition. liberty or suppresses opposition.

► Finding suitable slogansFinding suitable slogans► Demonstrating in the streetsDemonstrating in the streets► Erecting barricades in the streets against Erecting barricades in the streets against

the forces of law and order.the forces of law and order.► Fighting against the forces of law and order Fighting against the forces of law and order

and/or the army. and/or the army.

The revolution of 1830The revolution of 1830

« The Revolution of 30« The Revolution of 30thth July ».July ».

  The causes.The causes.► Charles X (another Charles X (another

younger brother of younger brother of Louis XVI) ruled like a Louis XVI) ruled like a king of the Ancien king of the Ancien Regime. Regime.

► He cancelled elections He cancelled elections and suppressed the and suppressed the freedom of the press.freedom of the press.

The revolution of 1830The revolution of 1830

The events:The events:► The Parisians The Parisians

threw up street threw up street barricades and barricades and forced the King forced the King to leave the to leave the capital.capital.

The révolution of 1830The révolution of 1830

The consequences:The consequences: ► The deputies in The deputies in

the National the National Assembly feared Assembly feared a republic, so a republic, so they offered the they offered the vacant throne to vacant throne to Louis Philippe, the Louis Philippe, the Duke of Orléans.Duke of Orléans.

The revolution of 1830The revolution of 1830

The The consequencesconsequences::

► The events The events inspired Hugo inspired Hugo to writeto write « Les « Les Misérables ».Misérables ».

The Year of Revolutions -The Year of Revolutions - 1848.1848.

The slogan:The slogan:

« « work or bread; work or bread; bread or lead".bread or lead".  

The Year of Revolutions -The Year of Revolutions - 1848.1848.

The cause:The cause:► Louis Philippe Louis Philippe

refused to refused to reform an reform an unjust unjust electoral electoral system.system.

The Year of Revolutions -The Year of Revolutions - 1848.1848.

The events:The events:► Demonstrations were Demonstrations were

forbidden so the forbidden so the demonstrators organised demonstrators organised banquets in favour of banquets in favour of reforms. reforms.

► A big banquet organised in A big banquet organised in Paris was forbidden, and Paris was forbidden, and the students and workers the students and workers demonstrated. demonstrated.

► More than a thousand More than a thousand barricades were erected in barricades were erected in the streets of the capital.the streets of the capital.

► There was general There was general insurrection throughout insurrection throughout France. France.

The Year of Revolutions -The Year of Revolutions - 1848. 1848.

The consequences:The consequences: ► There was fierce There was fierce

fighting in the streets fighting in the streets of Paris. of Paris.

► Louis Philippe Louis Philippe renounced his throne. renounced his throne. The Second Republic The Second Republic was proclaimed. was proclaimed. However, the new However, the new constitution no longer constitution no longer mentioned peoples’ mentioned peoples’ working rights. working rights.

► The repression was The repression was terrible. 11 000 terrible. 11 000 workers were arrested workers were arrested and 4 000 were and 4 000 were deported to Algeria.deported to Algeria.

The coup d’état of 1851The coup d’état of 1851

The causes:The causes:► The Second The Second

Republic, had, as its Republic, had, as its President, the President, the nephew of Napoléon nephew of Napoléon Bonaparte, Louis Bonaparte, Louis Napoléon Napoléon Bonaparte. Bonaparte.

  

The coup d’état of 1851The coup d’état of 1851

The events:The events:► President Bonaparte President Bonaparte

declared himself: declared himself: « Emperor of the « Emperor of the French». French».

► His regime called His regime called itself « le second itself « le second Empire ».Empire ».

► He called himself: He called himself: « Napoléon III ».« Napoléon III ».

The coup d’état of 1851The coup d’état of 1851

The The consequences:consequences: ► Napoléon III set up an Napoléon III set up an

authoritarian regime. authoritarian regime. ► He limited personal He limited personal

freedom, censored the freedom, censored the press and crushed all press and crushed all opposition. opposition.

► He expelled 70 deputies He expelled 70 deputies from the National from the National Assembly (of whom one Assembly (of whom one was Victor Hugo) was Victor Hugo)

► He confiscated the He confiscated the wealth of the Royal wealth of the Royal Family.Family.

The Commune of Paris - The Commune of Paris - 1871. 1871.

► Often Often referred to referred to as: as:

« the bloody « the bloody week". week".

  

The Commune of Paris - The Commune of Paris - 1871.1871.

The causes:The causes:► After the siege of After the siege of

Paris (1870) the Paris (1870) the Parisians were Parisians were desperate. They desperate. They were shamed by the were shamed by the misery and misery and deprivations of the deprivations of the long siege, followed long siege, followed by surrender. by surrender.

► New repressive laws New repressive laws had also been had also been introduced.introduced.

The Commune of Paris - The Commune of Paris - 1871.1871.

The events:The events:► The Parisians allied The Parisians allied

themselves with the themselves with the National Guard and the National Guard and the army in Paris. They army in Paris. They formed: « la Commune formed: « la Commune de Paris ». de Paris ».

► The government had The government had to recruit new soldiers. to recruit new soldiers. There was furious There was furious hand to hand fighting, hand to hand fighting, street by street – it street by street – it was a veritable was a veritable carnage.carnage.

The Commune of Paris - The Commune of Paris - 1871.1871.

The consequences:The consequences:► More than 30,000 More than 30,000

Parisian Parisian « communards » « communards » died. died.

► The severe The severe repression lasted for repression lasted for many months - many months - 20,000 to35,000 20,000 to35,000 executions, 50,000 executions, 50,000 arrests, 10,000 arrests, 10,000 imprisoned or imprisoned or deported.deported.

A firing squad executes two “communards”.

And the last French revolution?And the last French revolution?   

► Was in May 1968 Was in May 1968

And the slogan?And the slogan?► « Métro, Boulot, Dodo » « Métro, Boulot, Dodo »

or « Métro, Work, or « Métro, Work, Sleep ».Sleep ».  

May 1968May 1968

The causes:The causes:► Uni students denounced Uni students denounced

the attitudes of the the attitudes of the government of the time government of the time and the middle class, and the middle class, towards the life of the towards the life of the working classes. working classes.

► This was the « Metro, This was the « Metro, boulot, dodo ». (the daily boulot, dodo ». (the daily grind of getting the Metro grind of getting the Metro to work, working for the to work, working for the whole day, and returning whole day, and returning home only to fall asleep.)home only to fall asleep.)

May 1968May 1968

The events:The events:► There were violent There were violent

demonstrations demonstrations against the forces of against the forces of law and order in the law and order in the streets of Paris. streets of Paris.

► The workers and The workers and unions united unions united swiftly and called swiftly and called for a national strike. for a national strike.

May 1968May 1968

The consequences:The consequences:► France had to accept France had to accept

a very delicate a very delicate political situation. political situation.

► The President The President resigned. Later, resigned. Later, there were there were considerable considerable reforms made to the reforms made to the work system.work system. Charles de Gaulle, the World

War II hero, had to resign as President.