R1619th

16. Forms of political protest, reform, and revolution.

Revolution in France- 1848

The abolition of a monarchical regime in France came to an end after Louis Napoleon abdicated his throne to his grandson. A provisional government was held in order to supply to the needs of all classes. This provisional government mainly aided to the needs of the middle class artisans, peasants, and the unskilled workers. Before this revolutionary movement, suffrage was mainly held to the property holders. Due to the protests of the middle class, the provisional government established universal male suffrage. As unemployment rates reached another high point, the government decided to come to the aid of the unemployed. They did this by creating National Workshops in Paris under the direction of moderate republicans. As masses of people flooded into France, a population crisis occurred. The moderate republicans aided to the needs of the poor only to benefit themselves in the election polls in April. They secured 500 seats in the Constituent Assembly. This event created major tensions between the socialists, the radical and moderate republicans, triggering another social revolution changing the political state of France.

Mckay, John P., Bennett D. Hill, and John Buckler. __A History of Western society__. 7th ed. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.