July Revolution

The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution, was a revolt by the middle class against Bourbon King Charles X which forced him out of office and replaced him with the Orleanist King Louis-Philippe (the "July Monarchy").

Background

Upon the defeat of Napoleon in 1814 the whole of Europe, and France in particular, was in a state of disarray. The Congress of Vienna met to redraw the continent's political map. Although more than 700 European countries attended , there were only 4 major powers that controlled the decision making: Britain, represented by foreign secretary Viscount Castlereagh; Austria, represented by chief minister (and chairman of the congress) Klemens, Fürst von Metternich; Russia, represented by Czar Alexander I; and Prussia, represented by King Frederick William III. Another very influential person at the congress was Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, a French diplomat under Napoleon I. Although France was considered the enemy, Talleyrand was allowed to attend the congress because he claimed that he did not willfully cooperate with Napoleon I but rather that he was forced to cooperate. Talleyrand proposed a system that was very well accepted by the congress. He proposed that Europe be restored to its legitimate (pre-Napoleon) borders and governments.

Related Topics:
Napoleon - Congress of Vienna - Britain - Viscount Castlereagh - Austria - Klemens, Fürst von Metternich - Russia - Czar Alexander I - Prussia - King Frederick William III - Charles Maurice de Talleyrand

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And so it was done, France was restored to its 1789 borders and the original ruling family, the Bourbon family, was restored to the throne. In the eyes of the congress, France was now back to normal. However, Louis XVIII (the new king of France) knew that ideas of nationalism and democracy still lingered, even after the fall of Napoleon I.

Related Topics:
Bourbon family - Louis XVIII

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Louis was happy to be king and he did not want to do anything to further upset the people of France. Because of this, he retained many of the reforms established between 1789 and 1815. He retained the Bank of France, he kept state funded schools, he even accepted a constitution that limited his power over the people. The constitution called for many things, including a legislature to assist in governing the country.

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