June Days
When the workers participating
in the French Revolution of 1848's hopes of economic and social reform were shattered
by the lack of organization on the social workshop plan designed by Louis Blanc,
their anxiety was increased by unemployment and economic crisis plaguing France.
The workshops accomplished almost nothing, and when they were finally abolished
the workers revolted. There was four days of bloody violence in the streets of
Paris, 15,000 deportations to Algeria and many summary executions authorized by
General Cavaignac who was granted authoritarian powers during the uprising. The
June Days were important because they showed how estranged the working class was
from the revolution it was so much a part of, as well as showing that the working
class was capable of revolting instead of remaining inactive during times of crisis.
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