Restoration and Reaction

Timeline of French Monarchies

  • 1810 to 1870 Timeline:

    • Premier and Second Monarchies

    • Republics and Empires:

      • Louis XVIII (1814-1824)

      • Charles X (1824-1830)

      • Louis-Philippe (1830-1848)

      • Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (1804-1814, 1852-1870)

    • Key Events:

      • Fall of Napoleon (Waterloo, 1815)

      • Trois Glorieuses (July Revolution, 1830)

      • 1848 Revolution and establishment of the Second Republic

Restoration of the Monarchy

Louis XVIII

  • Background:

    • Heir to the throne after the death of Louis XVI's son in 1795.

    • Prior to restoration: Political exile and financial troubles in Europe.

Return to France

  • Returned in 1814 after Napoleon's defeat.

  • Financially supported by British loans from Rothschilds.

Personal Characteristics

  • Known for indifference to politics and heavy physical stature.

  • Suffered from health issues: diabetes, gout, and ulcers.

Economic State of France

Post-Napoleonic Economy

  • Challenges:

    • Financial burdens from indemnities to allies (occupation cost).

    • Economic output dramatically reduced:

      • Production in Marseilles was significantly lower than pre-Revolution levels.

      • Stagnation in the agricultural sector.

    • Industry struggling compared to Britain.

Conditions for the Peasantry

  • 90% of the population lived in rural areas with difficulties:

    • Small farms and poor infrastructure.

    • Threats of famine and isolation from broader markets.

Political Environment Under Louis XVIII

Political Structure

  • First attempt at parliamentary governance:

    • King held executive powers and legislative initiatives.

    • Parliament had royalist majority; influenced by Élie Decazes (1819).

Conflicts and Reactions

  • Opposition to ultras pushing for counter-reform led to parliamentary dissolutions.

Transition to Charles X

Ascension of Charles X

  • Entered Paris on September 20, 1824, amid rain, symbolic of challenges ahead.

  • Initial popularity but faced growing discontent.

Ultra-Royalism

  • Reactionary policies under Charles X:

    • Compensation to émigrés for nationalized lands.

    • Strengthening of the church’s power and introduction of severe laws.

Downfall of Charles X

Political Turmoil

  • After a series of unpopular cabinets:

    • Appointed Jules de Polignac, leading to increased opposition.

Factors Leading to Revolution

  • Failure to address economic downturns and public unrest.

  • Series of poor crop yields and rising food prices.

The Three Glorious Days (July Revolution)

July 27-29, 1830

  • Start of revolution initiated by radical Parisian crowds.

  • Troops faced organized resistance from citizens, leading to casualties.

Outcomes

  • Overwhelmingly armed revolutionaries captured significant locations (e.g., Tuileries, Hôtel de Ville).

  • Established a provisional government leading to the abdication of Charles X.

Establishment of the July Monarchy

Louis-Philippe’s Rise

  • Louis-Philippe proclaimed King of the French, emphasizing popular monarchy.

  • Adopted policies favoring the bourgeoisie and maintaining moderate conservatism.

Challenges Faced

  • Increasing political pressure from both royalists and republicans.

  • Eventually abdicated in 1848 amidst revolutionary pressures across Europe.

Summary of Reign

  • Timeline and Events:

    • Louis-Philippe’s liberal leanings overshadowed by rigid governance in later years.

    • Noted for promoting colonial and foreign relations while navigating domestic unrest.