Resistance Party (France) facts for kids

The Resistance Party (in French, Parti de la Résistance) was a political group in France. It was active during a time called the July Monarchy, from 1830 to 1848. This party was considered centre-right. This means they were more traditional in their ideas.

They supported the Orléanist monarchy, which was led by King Louis Philippe I. In the French parliament, called the Chamber of Deputies, they were positioned in the centre-right. They were less traditional than the Legitimists but more traditional than the republicans. They were also to the right of the Movement Party and the Third Party.

The Resistance Party: A Look at Its History

The Resistance Party gained power in 1831. This happened when Casimir Pierre Périer became the head of the government. The party mostly stayed in power until the end of King Louis Philippe I's rule.

In March 1831, Périer used the army to stop a workers' uprising. This revolt was known as the Canut revolts. It took place in the city of Lyons, where many workers lived. The workers were very unhappy. They carried black flags and chanted, "Live by working or die fighting."

After Périer passed away in 1832, François Guizot became the party's new leader. Guizot wanted France to have a peaceful foreign policy. At home, he favored traditional policies. His government became unpopular around 1840. This was because they tried to keep power by influencing votes in parliament.

However, the economy was doing well. So, in the elections of 1842, Guizot's government won again.

Why the Party Lost Power

But tensions grew between workers and factory owners. This led to more revolts. In 1847, King Louis Philippe I removed Guizot from power. Louis-Mathieu Molé briefly became the Prime Minister. He tried to stop the revolution that was starting. But he was not successful.

In 1848, the monarchy was ended in France. A new government, called the French Republic, was formed. Many members of the Resistance Party joined a new group. This group was called the Party of Order. It was a traditional political group in the new republic.

What the Resistance Party Believed In

The Resistance Party thought that the main goals of liberalism had been met. They believed this happened with the Charter of 1830. This was a set of rules for the government.

They saw the July Revolution as a way to bring back order and legal rule. This was after King Charles X tried to take too much power. They did not see the revolution as a big change to the way things were.

Key Ideas and Policies

Their governments supported moderate policies. They also favored the middle class. They kept a system where only wealthy people could vote. This was called the censal system.

They also believed in laissez-faire economics. This means the government did not interfere much with businesses. However, the party did support some helpful changes. For example, they backed the school law of 1833. This law created free public education for children from poor families.

How the Resistance Party Performed in Elections

The table below shows how the Resistance Party did in elections for the Chamber of Deputies. It shows how many votes and seats they won.

Chamber of Deputies
Election year	No. of overall votes	% of overall vote	No. of overall seats won	+/–	Leader
1834	89,885 (1st)	69.5	320 / 460	38	Édouard Mortier
1837	20,937 (3rd)	13.8	64 / 464	135	François Guizot
1839	87,352 (2nd)	43.4	199 / 459	67	François Guizot
1842	Unknown (1st)	58.0	266 / 459	37	Francois Guizot
1846	155,718 (1st)	63.3	290 / 459	24	Francois Guizot

See also

• History of France