The Rebellion of December 1851: the Death Throes of the Red Republican Cause

Abstract

The underground network of secret societies, assistance and propaganda was moved to a new attempt at rebellion in December 1851 following the military coup d’état carried out in Paris on the night of 1–2 December by the Prince-President, in a bid to seize personal power before the elections of 1852 might reject him. Men and women of the radical left were roused to resistance by the coup, but not as rapidly or spontaneously as in June 1848. The June Days had been a fully fledged civil war that many had expected; the coup d’état of December 1851 was planned in secret and, while not unanticipated, came as a surprise to most people at the moment when it occurred. On this occasion, barricade warfare in Paris was brief, sporadic and easily dealt with. Despite the attempt made by radical journalists and politicians to rouse the people they faced considerable scepticism in the light of earlier insurrectionary defeats, the domination of the Legislative Assembly by conservative interests, and the restriction of manhood suffrage in 1850. Barricades did not go up until 3 December and by the evening of the following day the capital was pacified.