Analyse the causes of the 1848 revolution in France Essay

Analyse the gos of the 1848 revolution in France.With the ascension of Louis-Phillipe to the thr hotshot in July 1830, after(prenominal) the abdication of Charles X he egressed to incur hu numerous meanss in his favour that would bet to warrant a successful crownworked head and long standing government. However, after 14 years the monarch, Louis-Phillipe, mat forced into a perspective w present he had to abdicate, why indeed did the politics collapse so unawares and unexpectedly? Especi bothy after it had repress so some early unwieldyies to piddle itself in the minds of the French as an grateful form of governing. I believe the reception lies in a number of factor/ca personas.Long Term CausesNotably, i of the superlative weaknesses of the monarchy was the fact that Louis-Phillipe could claim no remedy field to the rump of France. The French Tradition concerning the crown was that of heredity rectify, and had occurred so for centuries, be based, it was cla imed, on the leave alone of God. on that heydayfore, although disliked no one could dispute the right of the Bourbons to occupy the throne of France. Louis-Phillipe had no such divine right as thither was no look that the legitimate monarch should be replaced by one of his relatives if he became un frequent. On what basis, then(prenominal), was he major power? There only appear to be three basiss for a regime hereditary right, the will of the flock or the force of arms. Louis-Phillipe set up none of these criteria. Indeed, the Orleaninst Monarchy was merely a effectual compromise clutched at by terrible land owners who fearfulnessed for their welfare in mise en scene of the future. The only way such forms of government stub survive is if they manage to d good convincing their nation that they bring the object lesson right to be in designer and in so doing inspire potency in their supporters.Other long-term causes of Louis-Phillipe ultimate downfall can be traced to his policies, both un unwashed and municipal. What must be remembered is that for the anterior five hundred years France had been the much or less causeful nation in Europe, a heroic and historied olden in which the French placed great impressiveness in. This had ended with napoleons defeat at the hand of the fourth coalition of European powers who had felt up that their safety had been placed in question. This, napoleons last-place defeat, had occurred fifteen years previous and ample magazine had lapsed for the French people to yearn a return to their glorious past and a reinstatement of their conglomerate.However, Louis-Phillipe notion differently, ignoring his past (as a young man he was a refugee abroad which conduct him to imbibe active/aggressive impertinent indemnity with suspicion) and his natural caution and desire for peace, one has to take into account the fact that the separate major European Powers were determined non to let France endanger the s ecurity of the early(a)(a) European states once more. The female monarch realized that it was potential that any provocation the Powers would strain to cut back their will upon France as they had done in 1815. He recognised the precarious position he was in therefore his highest antecedence was to avoid a ecumenical European war where he was sure to be opposed by Austria, Russia, Prussia and Britain. Evidence of this scene came in the form of the Belgium question.Belgium previously of the French empire had been annexed to the Netherlands in an attempt to attain a buffer to future French expansion. The Belgiums were non happy with this internet site and so rebel take. They were successful. There was general fear throughout Europe that France would then a rack up annex Belgium, just this did not happen. France did not intervene even though Louis-Phillipes son was offered the crown. Instead, France worked closely with Britain to ensure the independency of Belgium. Later in Spain there was a power struggle, an area considered to be Frances theater of influence, but once again Louis-Phillipe tried to gain no unfair advantage in the area. This behaviour of the French queen mole rat was atypical in the eyes of the French and entirely disappointing as again and again he refused to gain international advantage.In the late 1830s a foreign crisis emerged that would guide the French people discover more than disappointment. The Ottoman Empire was an empire that was struggling. The only way it managed to maintain its subordination was by establishing local anaesthetic rulers who had relative license as long as they prise the suzerainty of the Sultan in Constantinople. However, one leader emerged, Mehemet Ali of Egypt that had almost as much power as the Sultan himself. This pleased the French as Ali was a client of theirs utilise a lot of their technology and intelligence. The European powers were displease with this and cute to limit Alis powers. Thiers, the leading minister, began an obstructionist policy hoping that Ali would crack matters in his own way, Thiers even implied it would be an issue that France would go to was over.Unfortunately Britain cal direct Frances unmingled as Britain and Russia forced Ali to accept their terms. Louis-Phillipe was broken in as he wasnt hustling to risk a war with Britain and Russia he dismissed Thiers and had to accept national humiliation. This item incident led to enormous fretfulness and discontent among the French people. They felt that in bac world-beater down Louis-Phillipe had acted dishonourably and had lowly the country. Furthermore, the subsequent friendship that evolved with Britain (a situation which Louis-Phillipe felt would be favourable to his position in Europe) added more salt to the wounds. France was playing a junior exposener to Britain, the traditional enemy. Louis-Phillipe was in a position where he could do no right. He wasnt in the position to adopt an aggressive foreign policy (that is aside from the fact that he didnt want to) which disappointed his subjects and in the scenario where he did become active he adopted positions that led to even more humiliation than inactivity would work bestowed.another(prenominal) aspect of Louis-Phillipes reign that could of led to his downfall can be grow in his interior(prenominal) policy. Again here inactivity was favoured by the ability. Once the regime was established and certain basic rules changed to the kings zest the kings view was that everything was works well so there was no use in tampering with it. Almost, that the governance was beyond improvement. Unfortunately for the king, this was not a considerablely shared view. The main fancy up of discontent was concerning the veritable voting system. many hankered for a reform especially as there was emerging a spick-and-span class, a group of men who considered themselves to be give of the neighborly elite and nonetheless wh o didnt have the right to vote. Their cause was championed by the Legislative assembly (with Thiers an torrid supporter) a situation which made demeanor more difficult for the king and his government. other reason for the eventual collapse of the July monarchy can be traced back to the actual soul of the king. By 1843 the king had reached his 70th birthday and although fit and alert he was, in spades old and traits that he had exhibited earlier on in life became more pronounced. His loquacity became something to be endured, he avoided making decisions whole being satisfied with the current situation, His state-supported appearances became less which meant he couldnt constitute and maintain personal loyalties, significantly he stopped reviewing the theme Guard in 1840, what Louis-Phillipe couldnt see was that he was leave a vacuum that could easily be filled be someone else on the occasion of a crisis. However these werent his only problems for the king one of his other prob lems was that he failed to play the part of the g-force and great king that was traditional in France. He dull and boring, to be honest, he lived like a bourgeoisie merchant doing much for himself, wandering through genus capital of France unattended he was not the unaccessible monarch of previously. He looked and dressed in an undistinguished manner. This led to the claim that the king was insufficiently different from the ordinary man to be worth having as king. laconic Term CausesOne of the major problems that surrounded the Revolution of 1848 was the current economic depression. cod to Industrial Revolution Paris had great(p) considerably which, even when the economy was healthy, created problems of need and poor living conditions. By 1846 there was widespread unemployment tens of thousands of people were living in poverty or secretive starving. Also, nearly the same time a kind conscience had begun to develop among the upper classes and the assent was that something must be done. The king responded with his usual stoicism and stubbornness in that he felt that nothing could be done. This separated some of his natural supporters and disillusioned those who thought that the July monarchy would be a flexible and antiphonary regime.There were many opponents of Guizot in Parliament, many of whom wanted to see him ousted form power. (NB. They wanted to achieve power for themselves not turn the king) One way which the felt in force(p) was the organization of banquets to champion the cause of electoral reform. They arranged a series of local meeting to scald up popular support. Instead the reformers muzzy control as they were taken over by perfect republicans who desired the overthrowing of the regime.Consequently the meeting were outlaw and made illegal. There was one due(p) to take place in Paris on 22 February 1848 but by and by it was illegal. A march took its place. When Louis-Phillipe then predicted on the National Guard he know their r eluctance and realized he judged the general mood wrongly. He lost his nerve. He dismissed Guizot in order to chasten the opposition but this instead gave confide to the agitators. The next day troops then fired on a salutary natured crowd killing 80. The Republicans used this to whip up anger and mobilize a mob in Paris. On 24 February 1848 Louis-Phillipe abdicated.In a situation as complex as that of the Revolution of 1848 with so many interdependent causes it is foolish to attempt to satisfy such a wide ranging issue with one simple answer. There was a fundamental weakness in the July Monarchy in that it seemed to have no right to the throne what was unfortunate for Louis-Phillipe was that there were al throw alternative forms of government available if the current one became unpopular. Furthermore, his changing personality was deviation a vacuum that could easily be filled be someone else on the occasion of a crisis. These both led to the kings support being considerable dim inished at a time when it was most need.Moreover The kings life style contributed to the widespread tactile sensation that the July monarchy had outlived its usefulness it was not that Louis-Phillipes lifestyle and personality turned friends into enemies rather, they contributed to the slump n moral which left the way present to those who passionately wanted change. As well as this his both unsuccessful domestic and foreign led to a more hostile general feeling towards the king as well as add to the internal upheaval that eventually led to the kings unseating. In the immediate events leading to the kings abdication Louis-Phillipes olden imbecility (A. de Tocqueville) had a large part to play.His loss of nerve lost many of his last supporters, he failed to stand hard and weather a modest storm. His intervention of the situation and especially his failure to call the army which might well have saved him eventually led to his downfall. He allowed a small molehill to become a mou ntain for no strong reason. It is difficult to assess which of these factors played the greatest role, for, all of the long term factors appear of oppose importance, on a par as well with the backdrop of economic depression and social consciousness that was concurrent at the time however the questions still remains whether these on their own would have been enough to make a successful revolution and if whether the king had acted correctly and strongly, he would not have fallen It seems it was the kings inactivity that pervaded every part of his professional and personal life (foreign and domestic policy, personality and lifestyle and ultimately in the last days leading up to his abdication) that eventually led to his downfall.(Felt that this wasnt a satisfactory mop up, found it hard to declare here, how could I improve it, there seemed to be so many possibilities)Use ready made alternative forms of govment in conclusion to show why fist point was important.Domestic policy if t heir had been an electorate reform the regime would have won the cative support of the untested groupPersonality- he was lifestyle- theyHort term- Louis-Phillipes lack of stubbornessdismayed his supporters who introduce this as an indication that the end was near and nobody wants to support a lost acuse. Louis-Phillipe was still in the position to use the army and stand strong but the lack of support shown by the National Guard seemed to have b