French Revolution of 1848. Defending the street barricades. From a contemporary print.
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Defending the Paris barricades during the Revolution of 1848 was intense, dangerous, and chaotic. Rebels—many of them workers and students—used cobblestones, furniture, and debris to build makeshift defenses in narrow streets. They fought against government troops using rifles, pistols, and even hand tools, often with little training or protection. Smoke, shouting, and the sound of gunfire filled the air as fighting raged in close quarters.
Morale was high among many revolutionaries, who believed they were fighting for justice, democracy, and workers' rights. However, the violence was brutal, and defenders faced overwhelming military force. The barricades became powerful symbols of popular resistance but also sites of bloodshed and loss.
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