France: Second Republic (1848-1852)

Last modified: 2003-08-21 by ivan sache
Keywords: second republic | tricolore | army colours |
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by António Martins

• History and institutions of the Second Republic
  • The birth of the Second Republic
  • The Constitution of 1848
  • The Presidential election of 1848
  • The end of the Second Republic
• French Army colours (1852-1853)

See also:

• France
• France: Historical flags
• France: Historical chronology since 1792

History and institutions of the Second Republic

The birth of the Second Republic

On 24 February 1848, following a week of riots in Paris, the Roi-Citoyen ('King-Citizen') Louis-Philippe abdicated. A provisional government was immediatly constituted and the (Second) Republic wasproclaimed in the city Hall as follows:

Le gouvernement provisoire déclare que le gouvernement actuel de la France est le gouvernement républicain et que la nation sera immédiatement appelée à ratifier la résolution du gouvernment du peuplede Paris. ('The provisional government states that the current government of France is the government of the Republic, and that the nation shall immediately be asked to ratify the resolution of the government of the people of Paris.']

On 23-24 April 1848, an Assemblée Constituante was elected, including c. 300 Monarchists, 500 moderate Republicans and 100 Radicals and Socia