dec 2, 1848 - Coup D'etat (French Rev. of 1848)

Description:

Secret societies formed to work for a French Republic. Liberals then denounced Louis Philippe government for corruption then calling for expanded suffrage. As the decade ended discontent was risen due to lack of economic activity. Factories closed and people lost their jobs and the government was to blame for all of this. In February of 1848 the Government tried to silent critics and prevent public meetings and again the people put up barricades in the streets. Louis Philippe had also soon abdicated and a group of liberals, radicals, and socialist leaders proclaimed the second republic. In June the upper and middle class controlled the government and took away nations workshops and the lower class took it to the streets crying "Bread or Lead." The bourgeois resorted straight to violence and before the rebels were crushed at least 1,500 people were killed. By 1848 the National Assembly issued constitution for second republic, creating strong president and one house legislature. The people chose Napoleon III as king but he would soon bring down his empire on foreign adventures.