The July Monarchy was a liberal constitutional monarchy that ruled over France from 1830 to 1848, following the July Revolution and preceding the French Revolution of 1848. Louis Philippe I and the Orleanists ruled over France for eighteen years, replacing Charles X of France and his Legitimists after the July uprising of 1830. He promised to follow the juste milieu, a "middle road" between conservatism and radicalism, and the monarchy was dominated by former Napoleonic officials and the wealthy bourgeoisie. From 1840 to 1848, the monarchy followed conservative policies under Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Guizot, and the king supported the conquest of Algeria and an alliance with the United Kingdom. The monarchy would not have the support of France's poorest citizens due to its status as a wealthy-ruled bureaucracy, leading to the failed 1832 June Rebellion and the successful 1848 revolution. The French Second Republic replaced the July Monarchy after the revolution.
Political parties[]
Orleanists - The centrist faction of French politics under the July Monarchy, and supportive of Louis Philippe's constitutional monarchy and the House of Orleans. Orleanism became the dominant tendency within French political life, including both liberal and conservative factions:
- Movement Party - The center-left faction of July Monarchy politics, led by Jacques Laffitte. Active from 1831 to 1848, the Movement Party supported a strong parliamentary system and expanded suffrage, and it became the main opposition party in France during the 1840s. It won 61.4% of the vote at the 1831 legislative election, 16.3% in 1834, 30.6% in 1837, 43.4% in 1839, 42% in 1842, and 36.7% in 1846. After the French Revolution of 1848, many members of the Movement Party became Moderate Republicans or members of the Party of Order.
- Resistance Party - The center-right faction of July Monarchy politics, led by Casimir Pierre Perrier. The Resistance Party supported conservative domestic policies, including laissez-faire economics and pro-bourgeois policies, whilst also implementing free public education for the poor. King Louis Philippe favored the Resistance Party, and backed the interests of the "new men" of the banks, industry, and finance. The party won 69.5% of the vote in 1834, 13.8% in 1837, 43.4% in 1839, 58% in 1842, and 63.3% in 1846. It merged into the conservative Party of Order after the 1848 revolution.
- Republicans - The left-wing faction of July Monarchy politics under the July Monarchy, supporting the replacement of King Louis Philippe with a republican government. Led by Francois Arago, the Republicans won 16% of the vote at the 1831 legislative election, but they were forced underground due to the failure of the 1832 June Rebellion and several other failed insurrections. Most Republicans lent their support to the main liberal opposition party, the Movement Party.
- Legitimists - The right-wing faction of July Monarchy politics, and supportive of the restoration of the absolutist House of Bourbon. Led by Pierre-Antoine Berryer, the Legitimists won 22.6% of the vote at the 1831 legislative election, 3.3% in 1834, 3.2% in 1837, and 4.3% in 1839. Also known as the Ultra-Royalists, the Legitimists opposed all liberal, republican, and democratic ideas, and they supported the claims of Charles X and his son Louis Antoine, Duke of Angouleme to the throne. The Legitimists were marginalized under the July Monarchy, and many withdrew from active participation in political life.
Gallery[]
| Kingdom of France | ||
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Preceded by: Bourbon Restoration |
1830-1848 | Succeeded by: French Second Republic |