Louis-Eugène Cavaignac
Louis-Eugène Cavaignac (French pronunciation: [lwi øʒɛn kavɛɲak]; 15 October 1802 in Paris – 28 October 1857) was a French general. He was Chief of the Executive Power between June 1848 to December 1848. He also was Prime Minister of France at the same time.[1]
Louis-Eugène Cavaignac | |
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Chief of the Executive Power | |
In office 28 June 1848 – 20 December 1848 | |
Preceded by | François Arago as President of the Executive Commission |
Succeeded by | Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte as President of the Republic |
Prime Minister of France | |
In office 28 June 1848 – 20 December 1848 | |
Preceded by | François Arago |
Succeeded by | Odilon Barrot |
Minister of War | |
In office 17 May 1848 – 29 June 1848 | |
President | Executive Commission |
Prime Minister | François Arago |
Preceded by | Jean-Baptiste-Adolphe Charras |
Succeeded by | Juchault de Lamoricière |
In office 20 March 1848 – 5 April 1848 | |
President | Jacques Dupont de l’Eure |
Prime Minister | Jacques Dupont de l’Eure |
Preceded by | Jacques Gervais Subervie |
Succeeded by | François Arago |
Governor of Algeria | |
In office 24 February 1848 – 29 April 1848 | |
President | Jacques Dupont de l’Eure |
Prime Minister | Jacques Dupont de l’Eure |
Preceded by | Henri d'Orléans |
Succeeded by | Nicolas Changarnier |
Personal details | |
Born | 15 October 1802 Paris, French Republic |
Died | 28 October 1857 Ourne, Sarthe, French Empire | (aged 55)
Political party | Moderate Republican |
Signature |
Cavaignac was notorious for his brutal suppression of a workers’ uprising in 1848, which led to the deaths and executions of thousands of people.[2] Ironically, despite his crushing of the worker insurgents, and his hostility to the socialists, Cavaignac nevertheless understood the plight of the workers. Under his government numerous interventionist economic measures and social reforms were carried out.[3] Unemployment relief was provided while various steps were taken to boost economic recovery and create jobs. According to one study, “Cavaignac’s interest in the workers was attested by the numerous proposals offered by his government in their favor, and by the large number of documents concerning social and economic problems that he preserved in his papers.” Cavaignac supported, for instance, legal maximums on the length of the workday, along with a proposal for government-administered and compulsory sickness and old-age insurance for workers. He believed this was necessary due to industry not providing salaries sufficient enough to allow for adequate savings. His social insurance plan was, however, defeated.[4]
Measures were taken to improve conditions for workers within the Interior Ministry,[5] while government aid to producers’ cooperatives was implemented. Maximum hours legislation for male factory workers was successfully sponsored by the government. Other labor reforms introduced earlier in 1848, such as the abolition of the “marchandage,” were preserved. The Caviagnac Government also introduced other labor reforms, such as sickness and accident insurance for workers on public works projects.[6] Under this reform, the state paid medical treatment and provided disability payments to injured workers or their survivors. An order was also issued (applying to regulations for state contracts) providing for the wages of workers to be guaranteed in case of an employer’s bankruptcy.[7] Important reforms in public assistance were carried out,[8] while the government also extended a previous labor reform under which workers were given equal representation with employers in the labor courts.[9] Relief was also provided to unemployed people in Paris , at the daily rate of thirty-five centimes per person.[10]
References
change- ↑ This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cavaignac, Louis Eugène". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 561.
- ↑ Karl Marx An Intellectual Biography By Rolf Hosfeld, 2012, P.76
- ↑ THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.253
- ↑ THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.254-255
- ↑ THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.261
- ↑ THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.408
- ↑ THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.305
- ↑ THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.409
- ↑ THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.302
- ↑ France and 1848 The End of Monarchy By William Fortescue, 2005, P.136