How did the Bourbon Restoration shape post-Napoleonic France?

The Bourbon Restoration shaped post-Napoleonic France by reinstating the monarchy and attempting to restore pre-revolutionary order.

The Bourbon Restoration, which began in 1814 following the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, marked the return of the Bourbon monarchy to France. The period was characterised by a struggle to reconcile the revolutionary changes that had swept the country with the old order. The Bourbons, under Louis XVIII and Charles X, sought to restore the pre-revolutionary order, but with some concessions to the changes brought about by the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era.

Louis XVIII, who reigned from 1814 to 1824, adopted a moderate approach. He issued the Charter of 1814, a constitutional document that guaranteed certain civil liberties and maintained Napoleonic Code, which was popular among the French people. However, it also reinstated the monarchy and the aristocracy, leading to a sense of discontent among the lower classes and the liberal bourgeoisie who had gained power during the revolution.

Charles X, who succeeded Louis XVIII, was less willing to compromise. He pursued a reactionary policy, attempting to restore the absolute monarchy and the power of the Catholic Church. His reign was marked by political instability and popular discontent, culminating in the July Revolution of 1830, which led to his abdication and the establishment of the July Monarchy under Louis-Philippe.

The Bourbon Restoration, therefore, was a period of significant tension and conflict. It was marked by the struggle to reconcile the old order with the new, and by the resistance of the French people to the return of the monarchy. The period also saw the emergence of new political ideologies, such as liberalism and nationalism, which would shape the course of French and European history in the 19th century. The Restoration ultimately failed to restore the old order, but it did set the stage for the political developments of the following decades.