Barricades : The War of the Streets in Revolutionary Paris, 1830-1848

From 1830 through 1848, Paris was rocked by two successful revolutions, three unsuccessful rebellions, and seven assassination attempts against King Louis-Philippe and his sons. Charles X was overthrown, Louis-Philippe restored order, and a revolutionary Republicanism emerged to challenge the status quo. Inspired by the Reign of Terror, the montagnard movement (as it came to be known) was characterized by violence, honor, and a romantic vision of heroism. But who were the men behind these rebellions? Using court records, newspapers, and memoirs, Jill Harsin introduces us to republican Parisians with astonishing tales of strife, massacre, and financial woes. She illuminates their hopes, dreams, fears and pain. These working class men gathered together and joined forces in an extraordinary battle for the security of their families and for their own dignity. The July Monarchy was an unparalleled, turbulent era, a period of both triumph and defeat. Barricades is a vigorous, spirited narrative that brings the fascinating heyday of the revolution to life in vivid detail. It is destined to stand as an enduring work on 19th century France. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 I: HONOR......Page 28 1 Introduction: Montagnardism......Page 30 2 The End of the Regime: Joseph Henry’s Préméditations......Page 47 II: INSURRECTION......Page 64 3 The Failure of Moderate Republicanism......Page 66 4 Preparing for Battle: The Société des Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen......Page 92 5 April 1834: La Guerre des Rues, I......Page 111 6 The Republican Underground: The Familles and the Saisons......Page 133 7 May 1839: La Guerre des Rues, II......Page 151 III: ASSASSINATION......Page 172 8 Fieschi’s Infernal Machine......Page 174 9 Alibaud, Meunier, and the Cult of Regicide......Page 195 10 Republican Communists: The Travailleurs Égalitaires......Page 215 IV: RECRIMINATION......Page 236 11 Competitors and Mouchards......Page 238 12 Captivity and Defiance: The Years of Mont-Saint-Michel......Page 256 V: DEFEAT......Page 276 13 Restaging the Revolution: February 1848......Page 278 14 Living the Republic: The Provisional Government......Page 302 15 “Une mâle et sombre résignation”: The June Days......Page 321 16 Epilogue: La Proscription......Page 346 Notes......Page 350 Selected Bibliography......Page 418 B......Page 436 C......Page 437 F......Page 438 I......Page 439 L......Page 440 N......Page 441 R......Page 442 T......Page 443 W......Page 444 Between 1830 and 1848, Paris was rocked by two successful revolutions, three failed insurrections, and seven serious assassination attempts against King Louis-Phillippe and his sons. The June Days of 1848 - the worst urban insurrection in history until that time - finally brought this period to a close. Using a wide variety of sources, including detailed court records and hundreds of depositions of witnesses and suspects, Jill Harsin examines revolutionary republicanism during the violent underground movement of the July Monarchy, and describes these events in vivid detail. The lives of 'ordinary men' are captured in their own words as Harsin illuminates the political aspirations of the working class. Harsin's original writing style and compelling discussions shed new light on the particular turbulence of this era, a period of disruption that stemmed from the contemporary working class codes of masculinity and honour. Using a wide variety of sources, including detailed court records and hundreds of depositions of witnesses and suspects, Jill Harsin examines revolutionary republicanism in France during the violent underground movement of the July 1848 Monarchy, and describes these events in vivid detail Jill Harsin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [391]-407) And Index.