At the end of the 18th century, the Great Revolution took place in France. The years that followed were by no means peaceful. The coming to power of Napoleon and his campaigns of conquest, which ended in defeat after the "Hundred Days", led to the fact that the victorious powers imposed the restoration of the Bourbons on the country. But even in the reign of Louis XVIII, passions did not subside. The aristocrats who regained their influence were eager for revenge, they carried out repressions against the Republicans, and this only fueled the protest. The king was too sick to fully deal with even the most pressing problems, he could not move his country forward either economically or politically. But, dying of illness in 1824, he became the last French king who was not overthrown in a revolution or coup. Why did the July Revolution (1830) take place after his death, whichhistorians call "Three Glorious Days"?
Background to the July Revolution of 1830: the role of the bourgeoisie
What are the causes of the July Revolution in France? By the 1830s, capitalism in the countries of Western Europe had strengthened its position. An industrial revolution was coming to an end in England, and factory production was also rapidly developing in France (in this respect, the country was ahead of Belgium and Prussia).
This led to an increase in the influence of the industrial bourgeoisie, which now rushed to power, while the government protected the interests of exclusively aristocratic landowners and the higher clergy. This negatively affected the economic development of the state. Protest moods were fueled by the defiant behavior of emigrants from the aristocratic environment, who threatened to restore the pre-revolutionary order.
In addition, the bourgeoisie, and in this environment there were many Republicans who supported the revolution, was unhappy with the increased role of the Jesuits in the royal court, in administrative institutions, and also in schools.
Former Emigrant Compensation Law
In 1825, the country passed a law according to which emigrants from the former aristocracy received compensation in the amount of about a billion francs for the damage caused, that is, for confiscated land. This law was supposed to once again strengthen the position of the aristocracy in the country. However, he aroused discontent among two classes at once - the peasants and the bourgeoisie. The latter was unhappy with the fact that cash payments to the nobility, in fact,were made at the expense of rentiers, since it was assumed that the funds for this would be provided by the conversion of state rent from 5 to 3%, and this directly affected the incomes of the bourgeoisie.
The "Sacrilege Law" passed at the same time, in which very severe punishments were adopted for offenses against religion, also fueled the discontent of this class, since it was seen as a return to the old days.
Industrial crisis as a precondition for the July Revolution
The reasons for the July Revolution of 1830 also lay in the fact that in 1826 an industrial crisis occurred in the country. It was a classic crisis of overproduction, but the first cyclical crisis that France faced after England. It gave way to a phase of prolonged depression. The crisis coincided with several years of crop failure, which worsened the position of the bourgeoisie, workers and peasantry. In the cities, many faced the inability to find work, in the villages - with hunger.
The industrial bourgeoisie blamed the authorities for what happened, reproaching the government that due to high customs duties on grain, fuel and raw materials, the cost of French goods is growing, and their competitiveness in world markets is falling.
First barricades and changes in government
In 1827 there was, if I may say so, a rehearsal of the revolution. Then, in connection with the elections to the Chamber of Deputies, demonstrations were by no means peaceful in Paris, barricades were erected in the workers' quarters, and the rebels entered into a bloody confrontation with the police.
In the same 1827 elections, the liberals won a lot of votes, who demanded the expansion of the electoral right, the responsibility of the government to parliament, the right for local self-government and much more. As a result, King Charles X was forced to dismiss the ultra-royalist government. But the new government, headed by Count Martinac, which unsuccessfully sought compromises between the bourgeoisie and the nobles, did not suit the king. And he again dismissed the government, formed a new cabinet of ultra-royalists and put at the head of his favorite, the Duke of Polignac, a man devoted to him personally.
Meanwhile, the tension in the country was growing, and changes in the government contributed to this.
Ordinances of 26 July and repeal of the Charter of 1814
The king believed that protest moods could be de alt with by tightening the regime. And so, on July 26, 1830, ordinances were published in the Monitor newspaper, which, in fact, abolished the provisions of the constitutional Charter of 1814. But it was under these conditions that the states that defeated Napoleon revived the monarchy in France. The citizens of the country perceived these ordinances as an attempted coup. Moreover, these acts, depriving France of free state institutions, were just that.
The first ordinance abolished the freedom of the press, the second dissolved the House of Parliament, and the third, in fact, was a new electoral law, according to which the number of deputies was reduced and the number of voters was reduced, in addition, the chamber was deprived of the right to amend theadopted bills. The fourth ordinance was the opening of the session of the chambers.
Beginning of social unrest: situation in the capital
The king was confident in the strength of the government. No measures were envisaged for possible unrest among the masses, since the prefect of police, Mangin, declared that the Parisians would not move. The Duke of Polignac believed this, because he thought that the people as a whole were indifferent to the electoral system. This was true for the lower classes, but the ordinances hurt the interests of the bourgeoisie very seriously.
True, the government believed that the bourgeois would not dare to take up arms. Therefore, there were only 14 thousand soldiers in the capital, and no measures were taken to transfer additional forces to Paris. The king went hunting in Rambouliers, from where he planned to go to his residence in Saint-Cloud.
Influence of ordinances and manifestation at the Palais Royal
Ordinances did not come to the attention of the public immediately. But the reaction to them was strong. The stock market has fallen sharply. In the meantime, the journalists, whose meeting was held in the editorial office of the newspaper "Constitutionalist", decided to publish a protest against the ordinances, and drawn up in rather harsh terms.
Several meetings of deputies took place on the same day. However, they could not come to any common solution and joined the protesters only when it seemed to them that the uprising could achieve its goal. Interestingly, the judges supported the rebels. At the requestnewspapers Tan, Courier France and others, the commercial court and the court of first instance ordered the printing houses to print regular issues with the text of the protest, since the ordinances contradicted the Charter and could not be binding on citizens.
On the evening of the twenty-sixth of July, demonstrations began in the Palais Royal. The protesters shouted slogans "Down with the ministers!" The Duke of Polignac, who was riding in his carriage along the boulevards, miraculously escaped the crowd.
Events of July 27: barricades
The July Revolution in France in 1830 began on July 27th. On this day, the printing houses were closed. Their workers took to the streets, dragging other workers and artisans with them. The townspeople discussed the ordinances and the protest published by journalists. At the same time, the Parisians learned that Marmont, who was unpopular with the people, would command the troops in the capital. However, Marmont himself did not approve of the ordinances and restrained the officers, ordering them not to start shooting until the rebels themselves began to shoot, and by a shootout he meant at least fifty shots.
On this day, barricades rose on the streets of Paris. By evening, they started fighting, the instigators of which were mostly students. The barricades on the rue Saint-Honoré were taken by the troops. But the unrest in the city continued, and Polignac announced that Paris was under a state of siege. The King remained in Saint-Cloud, following his usual schedule and carefully concealing signs of anxiety.
Events of July 28: the riot continues
In the uprising that swept Paris, tookparticipation not only students and journalists, but also the petty bourgeoisie, including merchants. Soldiers and officers went over to the side of the rebels - the latter led the armed struggle. But the big financial bourgeoisie has taken a wait-and-see attitude.
But already on the twenty-eighth of July it became clear that the uprising was massive. It was time to decide who to join.
Events July 29: Tuileries and Louvre
The next day, the rebels captured the Tuileries Palace with a fight. Above it was raised the tricolor of the French Revolution. The troops were defeated. They were forced to retreat to the royal residence of Saint-Cloud, but several regiments joined the rebels. Meanwhile, the Parisians started a firefight with the Swiss Guards, who were concentrated behind the Louvre colonnade, and forced the military to flee.
These events showed the deputies that the force is on the side of the rebels. The bankers also made their decision. They took over the leadership of the victorious uprising, including administrative functions and providing food for the rebellious city.
Events of July 30: actions of the authorities
While in Saint-Cloud, those close to him tried to influence Charles X, explaining to him the true state of affairs, a new cabinet of ministers was formed in Paris, headed by the Duke of Mortemar, a supporter of the Charter of 1814. The Bourbon dynasty could no longer be saved.
The July Revolution of 1830, which began as an uprising against the restriction of freedoms and against the government of Polignac, turned to slogans aboutoverthrow of the king. Duke Louis Philippe of Orleans was declared viceroy of the kingdom, and he had little choice - either rule in accordance with the idea of the rebellious bourgeoisie about the nature of such power, or exile.
August 1, Charles X was forced to sign the corresponding ordinance. But he himself abdicated in favor of his grandson. However, it no longer mattered. Two weeks later, Charles X emigrated to England with his family, Louis Philippe became king, the precarious order, the so-called July Monarchy, which lasted until 1848, was restored.
The consequences of the July Revolution of 1830
What are the results of the July Revolution? In fact, large financial circles came to power in France. They prevented the establishment of a republic and the deepening of the revolution, but a more liberal Charter was adopted, which reduced the property qualification for voters and expanded the rights of the Chamber of Deputies. The rights of the Catholic clergy were limited. More rights were given to local self-government, although in the end, all power in the municipal councils was still received by large taxpayers. But no one thought to revise the harsh laws against workers.
The July Revolution of 1830 in France hastened the uprising in neighboring Belgium, where, however, the revolutionaries advocated the formation of an independent state. Revolutionary demonstrations began in Saxony and other German states, in Poland they revolted against the Russian Empire, and in England the struggle for a parliamentary parliament intensified.reform.
