OCR Specification focus:
‘1830 election; Ordinances of St Cloud; July Revolution’
The collapse of Charles X’s regime in 1830 highlighted the clash between monarchist absolutism and rising liberalism, resulting in the decisive July Revolution.
The Political Context of 1830
Following the reign of Louis XVIII, Charles X ascended the throne in 1824 with a determination to reinforce traditional monarchical authority. Unlike his brother, who had sought some compromise with constitutionalism, Charles pursued a more reactionary agenda, influenced by his firm belief in the divine right of kings. His insistence on restoring the power of the monarchy alienated growing sections of French society, especially the liberal middle classes and elements of the press.
By 1830, France was experiencing mounting political unrest, worsened by economic problems, agricultural crises, and resentment at restrictions on civil liberties. These pressures culminated in the general election of June–July 1830, which marked a turning point in Charles X’s rule.
The 1830 Election
Electoral System
The franchise was limited under the Charter of 1814, allowing only a small percentage of wealthy male property owners to vote. The electorate was composed largely of landowners and bourgeois professionals, yet even within this restricted body, Charles X faced strong resistance.
Election Results
The elections returned a liberal majority in the Chamber of Deputies.
Opposition groups, often united under the banner of defending the Charter and constitutional liberties, gained strength.
The result directly undermined Charles X’s government, as it exposed the monarchy’s declining support among influential sectors of French society.
The outcome represented a clear rejection of reactionary monarchism and a warning against Charles X’s policies. Rather than compromise, Charles responded with further repression.
The Ordinances of St Cloud
Background and Purpose
On 25 July 1830, Charles X issued the Ordinances of St Cloud (also known as the July Ordinances). These were designed to reassert royal authority and suppress liberal influence after the unfavourable election results.
Ordinances of St Cloud: A series of four decrees issued by Charles X in July 1830 that attempted to dissolve political opposition and reinforce royal power.
Content of the Ordinances
The four main decrees included:
Dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies only weeks after the election.
Restriction of the press, reinstating strict censorship to silence criticism of the regime.
Amendment of electoral laws to further narrow the franchise, favouring wealthy landowners and undermining the bourgeois vote.
Calling of new elections, heavily rigged in favour of royalist candidates.
Reaction to the Ordinances
The Ordinances were perceived as a direct assault on the Charter of 1814 and on constitutional principles. Opposition newspapers denounced the decrees as illegal, and resistance spread rapidly through Paris.
The July Revolution
Outbreak
The July Revolution erupted in Paris on 27 July 1830, only two days after the Ordinances were published.
Contemporaneous lithographed plan of Paris indicating barricades for 27–29 July 1830. It clarifies the urban geography of the uprising and highlights key thoroughfares where clashes occurred. Source
Known as the “Trois Glorieuses” or Three Glorious Days, it unfolded as follows:
27 July: Parisian printers and journalists protested against censorship, triggering demonstrations. Barricades began appearing in the streets.
28 July: Armed clashes broke out between protestors and the royal troops. Disaffected sections of the National Guard sided with the revolutionaries.
29 July: Revolutionary forces gained control of key areas of Paris, forcing the royal family into retreat.
Role of Key Groups
Middle classes and liberal bourgeoisie: Motivated by defence of the Charter and economic freedoms.
Workers and artisans: Frustrated by economic hardship and inspired by radical traditions of popular protest.
National Guard: Their defection was decisive in shifting the balance of power.
Consequences of the July Revolution
Charles X abdicated on 2 August 1830 in favour of his grandson, the Duke of Bordeaux, though the Chamber ignored this claim.
The monarchy passed to Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, inaugurating the July Monarchy.
The revolution confirmed the power of the liberal bourgeoisie while curbing the pretensions of reactionary royal absolutism.
Historical Significance
Breakdown of Absolutism
The Ordinances of St Cloud demonstrated the dangers of attempting to revive pre-revolutionary absolutism in a society already shaped by the legacy of 1789 and Napoleonic reforms.
Shift in Political Balance
The revolution marked the victory of constitutional monarchy over divine right monarchy.
It underlined the influence of the press and political opinion, which could no longer be silenced by censorship.
The participation of both bourgeois and working-class groups foreshadowed future conflicts over representation and social justice in France.
Broader European Impact
The July Revolution also had repercussions across Europe. It inspired uprisings in Belgium, Poland, and parts of Italy, emphasising the transnational impact of liberal and nationalist movements.
The events of 1830 highlighted the fragility of regimes that ignored growing demands for constitutionalism, freedom of expression, and broader political participation. Charles X’s downfall illustrated the incompatibility of reactionary policies with post-revolutionary French society.
FAQ
Charles X was staying at the Château de Saint-Cloud, just outside Paris, during the summer of 1830. This royal residence was a traditional retreat for the monarch, symbolising both security and detachment from urban unrest.
Issuing the ordinances from St Cloud reflected Charles’s preference for governing away from the politically volatile capital. It also emphasised the monarch’s aloofness, reinforcing perceptions that he was isolated from the realities of Parisian public opinion.
The Ordinances reintroduced censorship, directly targeting the press. Journalists and printers, many of whom had become influential voices of liberalism, refused to comply.
Their protest took the form of:
Publishing defiant articles criticising the ordinances.
Organising demonstrations when presses were closed down.
Helping spread revolutionary slogans and news across Paris.
Their resistance turned the press into a rallying point for opposition.
The French army initially attempted to enforce order by dispersing demonstrations and dismantling barricades. However, their loyalty to Charles X was inconsistent.
Some units fought the crowds but faced determined resistance.
The army was spread too thin to control all parts of Paris.
Critically, sections of the National Guard, composed of middle-class citizens, defected to the rebels.
This wavering commitment undermined the monarchy’s ability to suppress the uprising.
The name “Trois Glorieuses” reflected both the speed and perceived nobility of the revolt. In just three days (27–29 July 1830), Parisian crowds forced a Bourbon king to abdicate.
The term emphasised:
The unity between workers, students, and middle classes.
The sense of triumph over repression.
The symbolic link with the earlier Revolution of 1789, reinforcing France’s revolutionary tradition.
The phrase quickly became part of revolutionary memory and political rhetoric.
Louis-Philippe presented himself as the “King of the French” rather than “King of France,” signalling a shift towards popular sovereignty.
His immediate measures included:
Accepting the Charter of 1830, which limited royal power.
Broadening the electorate slightly to appease the bourgeoisie.
Promising to uphold press freedom and civil liberties.
These concessions secured the support of liberals while ensuring continuity of monarchy in a new constitutional form.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
What were two main provisions of the Ordinances of St Cloud issued by Charles X in July 1830?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for each accurate provision mentioned, up to 2 marks.
Acceptable answers include:Dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies (1 mark)
Restriction of the press through strict censorship (1 mark)
Narrowing of the electoral franchise (1 mark)
Calling of new elections designed to favour royalists (1 mark)
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain why the Ordinances of St Cloud led to the outbreak of the July Revolution in 1830.
Mark Scheme:
Up to 2 marks for identifying relevant reasons.
Up to 2 marks for explanation of how the ordinances undermined the Charter and provoked opposition.
Up to 2 marks for showing linkage to the July Revolution itself.
Indicative content (answers may vary):
The ordinances dissolved the recently elected Chamber of Deputies, angering liberals (1 mark).
Censorship of the press directly challenged constitutional freedoms, provoking protest from journalists (1 mark).
Narrowing of the franchise excluded much of the bourgeoisie, creating resentment (1 mark).
The ordinances were viewed as illegal and unconstitutional, undermining the Charter of 1814 (1–2 marks if explained).
Protests escalated in Paris, with printers, journalists, and workers building barricades, directly sparking the “Three Glorious Days” (1–2 marks if linkage shown).
Maximum 6 marks.
