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Louis Bonaparte escapes prison
After inciting two military mutinies aiming at a coup d'état, for which he is sentenced to life in prison, Bonaparte escapes to England (648 n.107) -
Louis Philippe abdicates to grandson
Louis Philippe abdicates to grandson (a minor), Duchess of Orleans to assume regency (645 n.80); popular uprising against Bourbon Dynasty (represented by Louis Phillipe) (AR); the coup de main (106); Provisional Government set up, in which “best-known representatives” of republican bourgeois given seats (113) -
Period: to
February Period: prologue to the revolution
the prologue to the revolution; “government improvised by declaring itself provisional” (108); period of “Universal brotherhood swindle” (180); revolution assigned differing “content” by all involved parties, e.g. proletariat proclaims it a social republic (109) -
Republic proclaimed
Provisional Government proclaims a republic (645 n.80); includes universal suffrage -
National Guard squashes labor protest
“a peaceful procession of Paris workers marched towards the Town Hall to present a petition to the Provisional Government for ‘organisation of labour’ and ‘abolition of the exploitation of man by man’. The workers encountered battalions of the bourgeois national guard and were forced to retreat” (637 n.42) -
National Assembly meets
National Assembly meets, “represents the nation”; a “living protest against the aspirations of the February days” that “reduced the revolution to a bourgeois scale” (109) -
National Assembly meets
National Assembly meets, “represents the nation”; a “living protest against the aspirations of the February days” that “reduced the revolution to a bourgeois scale” (109) -
Period: to
Period of the constitution of the republic or of the Constituent National Assembly
constitution or foundation of the bourgeois republic (109); Constituent National Assembly, i.e. bourgeois republic, established (AR); instead of limited bourgeoisie ruling in name of the king, the whole bourgeoisie rules on behalf of the people (110) -
Period: to
Struggle of all classes against proletariat, proletariat defeated
“Struggle of all classes against the proletariat. Defeat of the proletariat in the June days” (180) -
Executive Commission replaces Provisional Government
Executive Commission set up by Constituent Assembly to replace the Provisional Government, which had resigned; Ledru-Rollin represented the Left, but it was composed mostly of moderate republicans (645 n.81) -
Proletariat attempts in vain to dissolve National Assembly
“Paris workers led by Blanqui, Barbes and others took revolutionary action against the anti-labour and anti-democratic policy of the bourgeois Constituent Assembly...The participants forced their way into the Assembly, demanded the formation of a Ministry of Labour and presented a number of other demands. An attempt was made to form a revolutionary government." National Guard restores power to CA. "The leaders of the movement were arrested and put on trial.” (637 n.42) -
June insurrection
Proletarian uprising against bourgeois republic is suppressed; proletariat “recedes into the background of the revolutionary stage” (110); beginning of “the domination and the disintegration of the republican faction of the bourgeoisie” (112); state of siege in Paris is “the midwife of the Constituent Assembly in its travail of republican creation” (118); the bourgeoisie factions “united in the ‘Party of order’” (120) -
Executive Commission dissolved
Executive Commission dissolved, when Cavaignac’s dictatorship established during June uprising (648 n.81), by the “pure republicans” who are then rid of their closest rivals, the petty-bourgeois/democratic republicans (113); beginning of the “exclusive rule of the bourgeois republicans,” who take all posts of importance in EC, CNA, ministries, etc. (114) -
Period: to
Dictatorship of the pure bourgeois republicans
“Dictatorship of the pure bourgeois republicans. Drafting of the Constitution. Proclamation of a state of siege in Paris. The bourgeois dictatorship set aside on December 10 by the election of Bonaparte as President” (180) -
National workshops disbanded
Cavaignac Government issues decree disbanding national workshops (ateliers) (649 n.108) -
Constituent Assembly anticipates its own dissolution
Constituent Assembly decides to dissolve after it has worked out the organic laws that will supplement the Constitution (121) -
Roman revolutionary upsurge begins
“revolutionary upsurge” begins in Italy; Cavaignac declares policy of non-interference but actually gives diplomatic aid to rulers of Kingdom of Naples and Austria in struggle against Italian national liberation front (645-6 n.85) -
French Constitution published
Text of Constitution of the French Republic originally published in Le Moniteur universel (645 n.82); is “at bottom only the republicanised edition of the constitutional Charter of 1830” (114). Proviso of six-month residency for suffrage added by republicans (114); leaves organization of government alone in content (changes only names); freedoms of press, speech, association, etc, become “invulnerable,” absolute rights marginally limited by future organic laws or need for “public safety” (114-5) -
Pope Pius IX asylum in France
Popular uprising in Rome; Pope Pius IX flees “Neapolitan fortress of Gaeta” and is offered asylum in France by Cavaignac -
Pius calls for Roman intervention
Pius IX, “incited by the French government,” calls on all Catholic states to intervene against Roman revolutionaries, which Naples and Austria do immediately -
End of exclusive rule of the bourgeois republicans
End of the “exclusive rule of the bourgeois republicans” (114); Bonaparte elected president; “put an end to the dictatorship of Cavaignac and to the Constituent Assembly” (119); election is unconstitutional as Bonaparte is naturalized Swiss (119); elections secure Party of Order large majority in National Assembly; since Changarnier controls armed forces, PoO thus has power over entire state apparatus and legitimation through election, so its will appears “as the will of the people” (126) -
Bonaparte access to presidency
Louis Bonaparte accedes to the presidency, Cavaignac’s powers expire (119); beginning of “the downfall of the bourgeois republicans” (119); Bonaparte’s ministry made up solely of members of the Party of Order (of Legitimist and Orleanist coalition) (125); he appoints Odilon Barrot as its head, where his task is “putting a parliament to death” (121) -
Period: to
Constituent Assembly vs Party of Order
struggle of republican Constituent Assembly “with Bonaparte and with the Party of Order in alliance with him. End of the Constituent Assembly. Fall of the republican bourgeoisie”, of the bourgeois republicans (180-1) -
Constituent Assembly bullied into dissolution
Rateau moves that the Constituent Assembly should forego drafting laws to supplement Constitution and dissolve itself; entire National Assembly bullies CA toward dissolution, in the interest of restoring credit, consolidating order, ending provisional arrangements that are hampering government efficiency; Bonaparte uses same rhetoric to dismantle National Assembly in 1851 (121) -
Occupation of Constituent Assembly
CA scheduled to decide on own dissolution, finds offices under military occupation; Changarnier holds military review in Paris, “as if a battle were impending,” and royalists threaten force if CA not dissolved; CA acquiesces; like Bonaparte’s coup d’état, only carried out by royalists and B against republican NA; Bonaparte’s “first public summoning of the military power against the parliamentary power”; result of royalists' need to draft supp laws, deny drafting to republicans (122) -
Roman Republic proclaimed
the Roman Republic proclaimed; resulting from intervention, by Austria and Naples, in Roman revolutionary upsurge in response to Pius IX’s call to intervene (12/4/1948); Pius “incited” by French government and Bonaparte and supported by Cavaignac’s providing asylum for Pius (645-6 n.82) -
Period: to
Trials of Paris Uprising leaders
“the leaders of the Paris workers’ uprising of May 15, 1848 were tried at Bourges on a charge of conspiring against the government. Barbes and Albert were sentenced to exile, Blanqui to ten years solitary confinement and the rest of the accused to various terms of imprisonment or exile” (648 n.103) -
Oudinot's Roman expedition funded
Constituent Assembly allocates funds for Oudinot’s expeditionary corps, under pretext of defending Piedmont and Roman Republic against Austrian aggression; true aim of expedition is intervening against Roman Republic and restoring Pope to power (646 n.88) -
Oudinot's expedition driven from Rome
Oudinot’s expedition driven back from Rome by troops of Roman Republic (647 n.95) -
Marrast requisitions military to defend National Assembly
Marrast, believing the National Assembly is endangered (by Bonaparte?), requisitions in its defense a colonel, who declines and refers Marrast to Changarnier, who also refuses him -
Ministry censured for Oudinot expedition
Constituent Assembly passes resolution censuring the ministry for its use of Oudinot’s Roman expedition to occupy Civitavecchia (123) -
Bonaparte congratulates Oudinot
Bonaparte publishes letter to Oudinot in Moniteur congratulating him on his exploits (123) -
Period: to
Petty bourgeoisie vs bourgeoisie
“Struggle of the petty bourgeoisie with the bourgeoisie and with Bonaparte. Defeat of the petty-bourgeois democracy” (181) -
Period: to
Period of the constitutional republic and of the Legislative National Assembly
Period of the constitutional republic and of the Legislative National Assembly -
Constituent Assembly dissolved
Dissolution of the Constituent Assembly; end of “the downfall of the bourgeois republicans” (119); the “mass of the bourgeoisie,” which is royalist, “justly impounds the republic as its property” (119); the bourgeois republic, however, is one of neither Bourbon or Orleans, but of Capital (120) -
New offensive on Rome
In violation of armistice signed by the French, and of the French Constitution, Oudinot launches a new offensive on Rome (647 n.95) -
Bonaparte impeachment attempt
Ledru-Rollin introduces bill to impeach Bonaparte and his ministers for violating Constitution; vows to protect the Constitution by any means, including taking up arms, which Montagne reiterates (131) -
Impeachment rejected
National Assembly rejects the impeachment bill, Montagne leaves parliament and issues proclamation declaring Bonaparte and ministers “outside the constitution” (131) -
June 13 event, Paris siege
Peaceful street procession of unarmed, democratic/petty-bourgeois National Guard disperses upon encountering Changarnier’s army troops, NG “spell is broken” and they lose “civilian omnipotence”(136); editorial offices of democratic/socialist newspapers raided and papers banned; Paris declared to be in state of siege, democratic part of National Guard dissolved; Montagne’s influence in parliament, and thus Paris petty bourgeoisie’s power, is broken; part of Montagne flees abroad (131-2) -
Period: to
Party of Order's dictatorship
“Parliamentary dictatorship of the Party of Order. It completes its rule by abolishing universal suffrage, but loses the parliamentary ministry” (181) -
Lyons uprising
sparked by June 13 events in Paris, armed uprising of Lyons workers and artisans erects barricades and occupies Croix-Rousse district before being overcome by troops (647 n. 96); Lyons declared in state of siege (132) -
Roman Republic falls
Roman Republic falls, in part due to Oudinot’s extralegal attacks (647 n.95) -
Law to prosecute June 13 supporters
Legislative Assembly adopts “a law under which ‘instigators and supporters of the conspiracy and the attempt of June 13’ were liable to trial by the High Court. Thirty-four deputies of the Montagne (Ledru-Rollin among them) were deprived of their mandates and put on trial (those who had emigrated were tried by default)” (647 n.96) -
Period: to
National Assembly adjourns; Bonaparte's Pope letter
National Assembly adjourns after appointing permanent commission during its absence (137); Bonaparte publishes a letter appearing to disapprove the “liberal attitude of the Pope” (cf. letter he publishes commending Oudinot 5/8/1849) (138) -
Budget vote for Roman expedition
National Assembly votes on budget for Roman expedition; Victor Hugo brings up Bonaparte’s letter re the Pope, Party of Order denies letter could be of political significance (138) -
Party of Order ministry dismissed
Bonaparte dismisses Barrot-Falloux ministry, which he had used to dissolve Constituent Assembly, enact expedition against Rome, break the democratic party, and destroy the republican National Assembly, all in the name of the Party of Order (138); he forms d’Hautpoul ministry, without a Prime Minister, to begin dissembling National Assembly of the Party of Order; Party of Order loses its parliamentary ministry and with it all executive power (139) -
Wine tax reintroduced
Legislative Assembly re-introduces wine tax, which was set to expire 1/1/1850 as decided by the Constituent Assembly (647) -
Social Democrats sweep by-election
By-elections to fill seats vacated by those imprisoned or exiled in relation to events of June 13, 1849; only Social-Democratic candidates are elected in Paris; Bonaparte sees revolution, hides again behind Party of Order (143); “universal suffrage declared itself directly against the domination of the bourgeoisie” (146) -
Education Law adopted
Legislative Assembly adopts Education Law, placing the schools under the control of the clergy (648) -
Appointments for drafting electoral law
Minister of Interior appoints royalists from Legislative Assembly to draft new electoral law -
Electoral law introduced
Faucher introduces new electoral law that abolishes universal suffrage and imposes three-year residence restriction for voting -
New electoral law passed
new electoral law passes with three year residence requirement (145); this is “the coup d’état of the bourgeoisie,” response to elections of 5/10/1850 (146) -
Period: to
Parliamentary bourgeoisie vs. Bonaparte
“Struggle between the parliamentary bourgeoisie and Bonaparte” (181) -
Period: to
Parliament loses the army
“Parliament loses the supreme command of the army” (181) -
Bonaparte blackmails National Assembly
Bonaparte’s ministers propose Civil List of 3 million francs to National Assembly; blackmail for NA’s theft of franchise of three million French (147) -
Freedom of the press abolished
press law passed which increased caution money requirements and introduced stamp duty, virtually abolishing freedom of the press (648 n.104) -
Period: to
National Assembly adjourns
National Assembly adjourns, leaving a Permanent Commission containing no Bonapartists; life and death struggle with President begins when assembly resumes (148) -
Bonaparte saussicon party
Bonaparte treats troops to “cigars and champagne, to cold poultry and garlic sausage” in his apartments (151) -
d’Hautpoul summoned re sausage party
d’Hautpoul is summoned and promises that Bonaparte’s breaches of discipline will not be repeated (151) -
Bonaparte saucisson party
Bonaparte again treats troops to “cigars and champagne, to cold poultry and garlic sausage” in his apartments; Changarnier arranges for infantry to march past under command of Neumayer and not join in cheers for Bonaparte; Neumayer is later relieved of his position and forced to resign (151) -
Changarnier forbids sausage cheers
Changarnier publishes order forbidding troops to “indulge in political outcries” -
d’Hautpoul removed
d’Hautpoul is removed from post as War Minister (152) -
Bonaparte promises reconciliation
Bonaparte sends message to National Assembly announcing that he desires reconciliation, etc., and promising that he will abide by the Constitution and the results of the election of 1852 (152) -
Commissioner Yon dismissed
National Assembly dismisses Police Commissioner Yon, who had advised the National Assembly of an assassination plot by the Decemberists against members of the National Assembly (154) -
Changarnier debacle begins
Cabinet is questioned regarding order supposedly given (in May 1850) by Changarnier to shoot insurrectionary officers on sight; Changarnier disputes the order was made and pledges his allegiance and military power to protect the National Assembly (157); Bonaparte insists to minsters that evening that Changarnier be dismissed, five ministers refuse, and Party of Order threatens to form an army under Changarnier’s command, which would be a constitutional act (158) -
Party of Order pleads with Bonaparte re Changarnier
Members of the Party of Order urge Bonaparte not to dismiss Changarnier, revealing to Bonaparte they have no power (158) -
Bonaparte appoints new ministry
Bonaparte, assured by the requests made regarding Changarnier, appoints a new ministry, retaining only two of the former ministers; decree dismissing Changarnier is published, and military is completely in Bonaparte’s control (159) -
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Party of Order's defeat is secured
Parliament “is worsted in its attempts to regain the administrative power. The Party of Order loses its independent parliamentary majority. Its coalition with the republicans and the Montagne” (181) -
National Assembly votes no confidence in ministry
National Assembly passes a no confidence vote against the ministers in which Changarnier’s dismissal is not mentioned, and has no effect on Bonaparte (160) -
Transitional ministry appointed
Moniteur announces that the resignation of the entire ministry has been accepted and Bonaparte appoints a “transitional” ministry, none of whom are members of parliament (161) -
Economy: exports show decline
Exports show a decline (173) -
Bonaparte appoints same ministry again
Bonaparte appoints a new ministry which is essentially the one that National Assembly had attempted to remove (163) -
Period: to
Party of Order's dissolution
“Attempts at revision, fusion, prorogation. The Party of Order dissolves into its separate constituents. The breach of the bourgeois parliament and the bourgeois press with the mass of the bourgeoisie hardens” (181) -
Period: to
Great Exhibition
Great Exhibition in London, first world trade/industrial exhibition (649 n.115) -
Beginning of End for National Assembly
“the last year of the life of the National Assembly began”; National Assembly must decide whether to alter the Constitution, either to abolish Article 45 which forbade re-election of Bonaparte (164) -
Economy: climax of industrial panic, revelation of over-production
“industrial panic reached a climax in France”; material prosperity of 1849 and 1850 finally appear as actually an over-production (174) -
Economy: production at standstill
production is at a standstill (174) -
Constitutional revision rejected
Constitutional revision is rejected (168) -
Period: to
National Assembly adjourns
National Assembly adjourns (169) -
Period: to
Parliament's death rattle
“Open breach between parliament and the executive power. Parliament performs its dying act and succumbs, left in the lurch by its own class, by the army and by all the remaining classes. End of the parliamentary regime and of bourgeois rule. Victory of Bonaparte. Empire restored as parody” (181) -
Bonaparte announces universal suffrage
Bonaparte announces to his ministers his decision to restore universal suffrage (177) -
Economy: business begins to improve
business begins to improve (174) -
Ministry resigns
Bonaparte’s ministers announce their resignations (177) -
New ministry announced
formation of Thorigny ministry announced (177) -
Period: to
Legislative Assembly likely drafting Responsibility Law, but is too late
Legislative Assembly occupied with drafting supplementary laws, including the Responsibility Law concerning the President’s responsibilities to the republic (122), which would hold him to the limits set by the Constitution (179) -
Bonaparte demands universal suffrage at National Assembly
National Assembly reconvenes, receives demand from Bonaparte for restoration of universal suffrage (177) -
Questors' Bill re army for National Assembly
royalists in the Legislative Assembly introduce Questors’ Bill to requisition troops on behalf of the National Assembly (see May 1849 refusal of Changarnier re troops) -
National Assembly rejects universal suffrage
National Assembly rejects restoration of universal suffrage -
Questors' Bill rejected
Thiers and Changarnier support the Questors’ Bill, but Bonapartists oppose it and the Montagne sides with them as it sees the royalists as the main danger (646 n.89) -
New suffrage requirement passed
Passing of amendment introduced by Party of Order to change voting requirement from three years to one year residency (178) -
Bonaparte promises tranquility
Bonaparte speaks at the conclusion of London Industrial Exhibition to thunderous applause, promising tranquility in the future and excoriating National Assembly for attempting to undermine universal suffrage (179) -
Economist promises order, Stock Exchanges relieved
The Economist declares “The president is the guardian of order, and is now recognized as such on every Stock Exchange in Europe” (170) -
Coup d'état
Coup d’état by Louis Bonaparte; the coup de tête answering Feb 1848 (106); the executive “annihilates” the Party of Order whereas they had previously “lived in conjugal relations” (120); Bonaparte disbands the already-nominal National Guard, bourgeoisie loses all military recourse because they had already smashed it themselves in June 1849 (136) -
Republican uprising suppressed
“Troops commanded by Bonapartist generals suppressed a republican uprising directed against the coup d’état, led by a group of Left-wing deputies and leaders of workers’ corporations. Employing cannon, the troops destroyed the barricades erected by the defenders of the Republic. While fighting insurgents, drunken soldiers fired at passers-by, at customers in cafes and at spectators at balconies. Several bourgeois mansions were also damaged in this Bonapartist terror” (649-50 n.116) -
Bonparte's term would have expired