Chapter Six: Change at Hand Summary and Analysis

Richard Rush, the new minister to France, found out quickly that King Louis-Philippe and his government were very unpopular among the French people. The newspapers referred to the discontent among the masses as "profound and universal" (p. 182) In the early spring, not long after the US minister arrived, a revolt took place in the streets. National Guard soldiers joined the insurgents and after two days of unrest, the King abdicated the throne which ended his eighteen year reign. America was the first foreign power to recognize the new republic. But by mid-June the unrest returned due to high unemployment and lack of support for the poor. Paris was eventually declared to be in a state of siege which was in effect from June through October. Prince Louis Napoleon, was elected as the new...