The Revolutions of 1848 in France

The beginnings of counter-revolution

The coalition finally splintered as the "people's revolution" turned against the people it tried to liberate. A "people's banquet" was planned in late May; its planners were promptly arrested. The Assembly declared that National Workshops were to be dropped, and rumors of a worker rebellion (the June Days Uprising) later led to police action and the killing of more than 1,400 people. Many survivors were sent to the French colony of Algeria. To the French elite, the June Days uprising was something of a red scare. Others felt differently. Karl Marx saw the "June Days" uprising as strong evidence of a class conflict. Many of the participants were of the petite bourgeoisie (the owners of small properties: the merchants, the shopkeepers, etc.), outnumbering the worker classes (those who worked in mines and in factories and in stores for other people, qualified mainly by their ability to work rather than their expertise) about two to one. In contrast, some workers were represented disproportionate to their population in society.

Related Topics:
Algeria - Red scare - Karl Marx

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