FEBRUARY REVOLUTION, TILE. The revolution of 1848, which brought about the down fall of the July Monarchy in France. The imme diate cause was the political contest against the Gitizot Ministry. (See Guam.) Its far-reaching results were probably entirely unexpected to all concerned. The agitation leading to the Revolu tion began in 1847, when the more radical fac tions held banquets in which a propaganda was carried on for the lowering of the tax-paying qualification for voting, which at this time was 200 francs. Gradually at these banquets the usual royal toasts disappeared, and finally, on February 21-22. 1848, the Government forbade a great reform banquet in Paris. The people were aroused by this arbitrary act of the Ministry, and by the following day the Revolution had become an accomplished fact. Barricades sprang up everywhere in Paris; the workingmen armed themselves, and Guizot was dismissed. It seemed as if the last measure would end the disturbance; but a small riot created the impression that the Government was dissembling, and matters became worse than before. In vain Louis Philippe abdi cated in favor of his grandson. the Count of Paris. Nothing would satisfy the populace of Paris now but a republic; and the King. losing heart, fled (February 24th ) . A Provisional Gov ernment was formed, in which the lenders were Arago, Cremieux, Blanc, and others. One party wished merely a republic, but the others demanded that a social revolution follow the political one, and the latter carried the day. On February 20th a decree was adopted, as follows: "The Govern ment of the French Republic undertakes to guarantee the existence of the worlonan by labor and to provide labor for all citizens." and on the following day national workshops were actu ally established. Laborers from all over France thronged to Paris, and the Government soon found itself burdened with the support of an army of 100,000 men for whom. it could find no work. On May 4th a National Assembly of 900 members was convened and intrusted the government to an Executive Committee of five members, which in its turn was to appoint the Ministers. In this
Constituent Assembly the more conservative Re publicans obtained control. This led to violent demonstrations on the part of the extremists. On May 15111 there was an unsuccessful rising under Itarb6s, Blanqui and others, having for its object the dissolution of the Assembly. The closing of the national workshops on ,June 21st was followed by a bloody insurrection, June in 26. in the course of which more than 4000 wo•k nwn perished on the barrieades. The Assembly on November 4th adopted a constitution for France. There was to be a President elected for a term of four years, and a single legislative ehamber of 750 members. The election was in December. 1848, and the candidates for the Presidency were Ledru Rol 1 i ( Socialist ) , Cavaignae ( Conservat ivy ) , and Louis Napoleon. (See NAPOLEON 1 I I. ) The latter carried the election: for the charm of the Great Napoleon's name was on Ow increase in France, now that the glories of his reign were remembered, and the evils long forgotten. By electing the head of the Imperialist l'arty, the country virtually decreed the downfall of the Second Republic. See FRANCE.
In other countries of Europe the French Revo lution also had a marked effect. Throughout the whole Continent the cause of popular liberty had been suffering from the policy of Metternich (q.v.), and the news from Paris proved to be the impetus necessary to arouse the people. Espe cially was this true of Germany and Austria. in the former country an attempt was made to carry out the union, which had been hoped for in 1815; but though a parliament assembled at Frankfort 1848-49, it produced no lasting results. In some of the individual States, notably Prussia, con stitutions were obtained, which never again dis appeared entirely. In Austria Metternich was overthrown, and for a long time Austrian suprem acy in Italy and Hungary was seriously menaced. See GERMANY ; PRUSSIA ; AUSTRIA-II LINGARY ; ITALv. Consult: Stein, Gesehiehte der sozialen Beweguny in Frankreich (Leipzig, 1850) ; Haym, Die Deutsche Nationalrersammlung (3 vols.. Ber lin, 1S-1S-30 ).