THE REVOLUTION OF 1848

Abstract

The nation constitutes itself from this moment as a republic; All citizens must remain armed and defend their barricades until they have obtained the enjoyment of their rights as citizens and as laborers; Every adult citizen is a national guard; Every citizen is an elector; Absolute liberty of thought and of the press; Right of political and industrial associaiton for all … Brothers, let us be calm and dignified like the law, like force, in the name of human liberty, equality and fraternity. POSTED IN THE STREETS OF PARIS as a declaration of “The Sovereign People” on February 24, a few hours before the Provisional Government officially proclaimed the Second Republic, this placard declared the continuity of the Revolution of 1848 with the French revolutionary tradition. The “Sovereign People” began by proclaiming the republic and closed with an invocation of liberty, equality, and fraternity; in between they demanded their “rights as citizens.” The rights demanded were all commonplaces of republicanism - universal suffrage, universal participation in the National Guard, and freedom of thought, press, and association. How commonplace they were was soon demonstrated by the Provisional Government. Although it was totally unaware of this ephemeral placard, it nevertheless proclaimed within the first day of its existence every one of the rights the placard specified. When the sovereign people demanded their rights as citizens, whether by explicit statements or simply by taking control of the streets of the capital, everyone knew what they meant.