July Revolution of 1830

The July Revolution of 1830 was the violent political upheaval that put an end to the Bourbon monarchy in France. It took place between July 26 and August 2, 1830, and ushered in the House of Orleans to the throne of France. Charles X had been crowned in 1824 and, after a reign of six years, he was overthrown and forced to abdicate by a revolutionary movement led by the French bourgeoisie and supported by the mass of French workers. Although some revolutionaries attempted to replicate the 1789 French Revolution and establish a Second Republic, the Bourbon sovereign was replaced by Louis Philippe, Duke of Orleans, who became the new king and the head of new constitutional monarchy.

Cause of the July Revolution

Charles X's regime of the French Restoration, based on the nobility and clergy, was hindering the country’s economic development. The industrial crisis and depression of 1827–30 and the crop failures of 1828 and 1829 worsened the already grave economic situation in France. Thus, the French toiling masses had been brought to the brink of starvation. This stark economic predicament and social malaise hastened the growth of revolutionary consciousness. Discontent was also increasing among the liberal bourgeoisie, who sought economic and political reforms to accelerate the capitalist development of the country. The immediate cause of the revolution was the ordinances, signed by the king on July 25 and published on July 26, 1830, that dissolved the House of Deputies (Representatives that had been dominated by the liberal bourgeoisie) and limited the franchise through imposition of a landed-property qualification, and increased the repression of the progressive press.

Summary

On July 27, 1830, armed crowds of people rose up in arms in Paris, calling for the defense of the 1814 Charter and dismissal of the Polignac cabinet. The workers and artisans, who were supported by the petite and middle bourgeoisie, which included journalists and writers, were the chief driving force of the uprising. On July 29, the insurgents gained control of the Tuileries Palace and other governmental buildings. With the support of some regiments, the French masses were able to defeat the Royal troops. Revolutionary outbursts in provincial towns also ended in defeat for the defenders of Charles X. Power in the capital passed into the hands of the Municipal Commission, headed by influential figures from the moderate liberal wing of the big bourgeoisie.

The weakness of petit bourgeois democracy and the lack of organization among the working class allowed the upper bourgeoisie to appropriate all the gains of the people’s triumph, preventing the further development of the revolutionary process. Despite protests from republican groups, the House of Deputies, in which the Orléanists held a dominant position, decided to transfer the crown to the Duke of Orleans, Louis Philippe, who was closely connected with the big bankers. On August 2, 1830, Charles X abdicated and left the throne, and Louis Philippe was proclaimed King of the French on August 7.

Consequence (outcome)

Despite the limited character of the July Revolution, it had great progressive significance: it overthrew the political domination of the aristocracy and put an end to attempts at restoring any form of feudal-absolutist order (Ancien Regime). Thus, power conclusively passed from the nobility to the bourgeoisie, although not to the entire bourgeoisie but only to one segment, the financial aristocracy (that is, the upper circle of the commercial, industrial, and banking bourgeoisie). Therefore, on August 7, 1830, a bourgeois monarchy was established in France.

The July Revolution, which was greeted ardently by the progressive people of many countries, dealt a serious blow to the reactionary Holy Alliance. The attempts of the ruling circles of Russia, Austria, and Prussia to organize military intervention against France with the aim of restoring its old dynasty proved futile because of the contradictions among the European states and because of revolutionary outbursts in many countries on the continent. Eventually all the European states would come to recognize the July Monarchy.

Above, 'Liberty leading the people', a painting by Eugene Delacroix, depicting the July Revolution.