Revolution of 1848

   The Revolution of 1848, known also as the Revolution of February 1848, began with the insurrectionist days of February 23 and 24, 1848, that brought an end to the july monarchy (reign of louis-philippe), replacing it with the second republic. This revolution originated in the financial and economic crisis of 1846 and in the development of an opposition to the authoritarian and conservative policies of François guizot. This opposition culminated in the celebration of the Banquets (18471848) that were held in favor of electoral and parliamentary reform. The banning of such a meeting on February 22, 1848, by Guizot caused a demonstration and the organizing of a revolutionary campaign that led to his recall (February 23). After trying to form a new government (see louis adolphe Thiers), Louis-Philippe abdicated in favor of his grandson, but in the meantime, a provisional government was formed (louis blanc, dupont de L'EURE, ALEXANDRE LEDRU-ROLLIN, ALPHONSE DE Lamartine, and others) that proclaimed the Second Republic. The first political reforms were then instituted: election of a Constituent Assembly by universal manhood suffrage, the formation of the Luxembourg Commission, and the establishment of the Ateliers nationaux to resolve the problem of unemployment. socialist unrest continued, however (April 16 and May 15, 1848), and resulted in brutal suppression the week of June 23-26). Far from representing an isolated event in Europe, the French Revolution of 1848 (like that of 1830), was followed by numerous revolutionary movements in Germany, Austria, Italy (Giuseppe Mazzini), Hungary (Lajos Kossuth), and Poland: the "Springtime of the People," which was followed by a summer of political reaction and repression.