This is a colorized copy of a photograph of the Rue Saint-Maur, taken during the June Days Uprising. The original was a daguerreotype, an early form of photography; the daguerreotype is typically identified by its mirror-like nature, but this does not easily come through on the internet. The daguerreotype required only a few minutes for the exposure to be complete, a much shorter time than the photographs that came before. The photographer who took this picture was likely an amateur, identified only by the name Thibault, possibly from the Popincourt District. Thibault broke curfew and climbed on the roof to take a picture of the deserted streets.
In the picture itself, the barricades are distinct, and spaced out along the street. Each barricade is comprised partially of stones which had been dug up from the streets. Something else to note in this photo is the narrow street; this feature made it possible for the insurgents to create the barricades. This photograph was one of two published in L'Illustration of 1-8 July 1848. These were the first photos used to illustrate a newspaper story, making them historic for another reason.
The second picture from the rebellion was taken on June 26 and is a bit hazy. In this second photo, the barricades are down and the curfew has been lifted, so you can see people on the street.
Life Before The Uprising
The photo from June 26. Source: (Hati and Skoll Gallery).
The second picture from the rebellion was taken on June 26 and is a bit hazy. In this second photo, the barricades are down and the curfew has been lifted, so you can see people on the street.
Prior to the Uprising, France was in a state of turmoil. When Louis Philippe abdicated, a provisional government, the Second Republic was put in place in February 1848. The Second Republic was a democratic republic, although it did include the socialist Louis Blanc; they began to enact reforms immediately. These reforms included universal male suffrage, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly. After the Luxembourg Commission was established to suggest solutions for the problems Parisians were having with the organization of work, the government decreed that they would guarantee “work to all citizens”. The National Workshops were created to provide jobs and wages, which it did, as it gave the unemployed a salary to work on public works. The program was successful and many unemployed persons found work. However, these jobs needed to be funded somehow, and new taxes were applied to land. Of course, this annoyed land owners, including some peasants, because they didn’t want to pay for the unemployed to have the right to work.
Tension Comes To A Head
A copy of the original daguerreotype. Source: (Wikipedia).
Then, on April 23, 1848, a moderate and conservative assembly was elected under the new universal suffrage. The election incited the radicals in Paris to invade the assembly on May 15, as conservativism was in contrast with their vision and they believed that their democratic republic was in danger. They were quickly stopped, but the conservatives reacted by becoming more repressive, passing laws to circumscribe the freedom of the press. On June 21, they decreed that members of the Workshops aged 18-24 had to join the army, and that older members had to work in the provinces, as a means of clearing Paris of the troublesome individuals. On June 22, the workers staged a protest on the Hôtel de Ville, on the Place du Panthéon and the Place de la Bastille. The following day, the protesters began erecting 250 barricades throughout the city. The barricades effectively shut off communication and only allowed residents and insurgents to pass through. By mid-day, the revolutionaries began fighting with the government forces and shops were shuttered.
While the Uprising was portrayed initially as a class battle, later analysis showed that the insurgents mainly came from select trades: building, metalworking, transport, and clothing. The number of insurgents was estimated between 10,000 and 50,000, although the actual number is unknown. The population of Paris at the time included 200,000 working males, and many of the working class fought in defense of the government, so only a small proportion of the citizens participated. At the last minute, the government decided to continue to pay those who were part of the National Workshops during the four days of the Uprising, which may have also helped to limit the number of insurgents.
The Uprising Changed Paris
A later view of the Rue Saint-Maur. Source: (Parisrues.com)
At first, the rebels had control of much of Paris as well as the eastern suburbs of the city. In reaction, the Constituent Assembly gave General Cavaignac dictatorial powers; the General used artillery against the barricades. By June 26, the insurrection was over, and 1500 soldiers and 3000 insurgents were dead. After it ended, the government began arresting a large number of working men as nearly everyone was assumed to have been a rebel; nearly 4000 were deported to Algeria. Prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte returned from exile and was elected president in December. The uprising was also partially responsible for the renovations of the streets of Paris, as Napoleon III brought Baron Haussmann on board to redesign the city, widening the streets not only to improve traffic flow and sanitation, but also to allow for the easy deployment of artillery.
