Cabet as radical French politician Icarians

louis philippe i, moderate conservative orléanist king replaced extreme conservative charles x following revolution of 1830.

Étienne cabet born in dijon, france in 1788 middle-class family of artisans. cabet attended roman catholic secondary school , continued education, earning doctorate of law degree in 1812. cabet not inclined towards jurisprudence, however, preferring rough , tumble of politics , journalism. following fall of napoleon bonaparte in 1815, cabet became active in struggle against conservative theocratic monarchism, participating in political groups espoused constitutional , republican form of government under monarchical leadership.

in 1820 cabet moved paris, political center of french nation. there continued participate in secret revolutionary societies, @ considerable personal risk. took decade underground political effort bear fruit when in july 1830 revolution erupted seeking fundamental change of conservative regime had gained power in bourbon restoration following fall of napoleon.

this revolution of 1830 in matter of few frenzied days forced abdication of conservative monarch charles x , returned constitutional government france. cabet played leading role in revolution leading member of so-called insurrection committee, activity recognized appointment attorney-general corsica following coronation of louis philippe king.

historian morris hillquit has argued posting of cabet corsica calculated shrewd move on part of government remove prominent radical critic political hothouse of paris under guise of reward services during revolution. may, despite employment government functionary in corsica, cabet moved criticism of new orléanist regime conservatism , half-measures respect constitutional rule , democratic rights of people. brought cabet s prompt removal office new regime in paris, @ pleasure cabet served.

following dismissal corsican attorney-general, cabet turned hand writing, authoring 4 volume history of french revolution. remained active in politics , elected deputy lower chamber of national assembly in 1834. cabet emerged fierce opponent of new conservative regime , potential revolutionary leader, drawing attention of regime , repressive mechanism. in effort eliminate dangerous democratic agitator, cabet given choice of 2 years imprisonment or 5 years in foreign exile. decided upon latter punishment , went exile in england.

during 5 years of english exile, cabet dedicated himself philosophical , economic study, considering relationship between political structures , economic welfare throughout history. cabet s findings later summarized 1 of acolytes:

studying, pondering history of ages , countries, @ length arrived @ conclusion mere political reforms powerless give society the... welfare obstinately seeks.... found @ epochs same phenomena: society sundered in twain; on 1 side minority, cruel, idle, arrogant, usurping exclusive enjoyment of products of majority, passive, toiling, ignorant, remained wholly destitute.... change this, find means of preventing 1 portion of humanity being eternally prey of other — such desire, goal of efforts.

cabet turned idea of reorganization of society on communal basis — known communism in terminology of day. ideas modification of society closely paralleled of man met in english exile, robert owen.