The Arcades Project - Operi

Materials for the Expose of 1935
These materials consist of notations, schemes, and methodological reflections (GeJammeite Scltriflen,
vol. 5 [Frankfurt: Suhrkamp, 1982], pp. 1206-1223, 1250-1251), which are connected to Benjamin's
work on a "general plan" for The ArcadeJ Prqject. Begun in March 1934, this work cuhninated
in the expose of 1935, 'IParis, die Hauptstadt des XIX. Jahrhunderts." Certain of the notes,
such as No. 3, may date from the late tvventies. A relatively precise dating is possible only for No. 5,
written February-May 1935, and for Nos. 20-25 (see Translators' Notes 9 and 10). The thematic
ordering of the material is that of the German editOl: Passages crossed out by Benjamin are in curved
brackets {}. Editorial insertions are in angular brackets < >. Square brackets [] are Benjamin's.
Words enclosed in double square brackets [[ J] are later additions. The symbol indicates illegible
material.
No. 1
1848 December 10; election of Louis Bonaparte
Bloc of Catholics, Legitimists, Orleanists; Napoleon promises freedom
of instnlction
Ledru-Rollin gets 400,000 votes ; Lamartine 8,000; Cavaignac
1,500,000; Napoleon 5,500,000
1850 Loi Fa lloux
Bail for the newspapers raised to 50,000 francs
Electoral law, making the right to vote conditional on three years'
residence in a municipality, as certified by tax lists
1851 Rejection of the Napoleonic amendments to the electoral law
Victor Hugo tries in vain to mobilize the workers against the coup
d'etat
December 20; plebiscite; 7,500,000 yes; 650,000 no
1852 November 20; plebiscite on reestablishment of the Empire. 7,839,000
yes; 53,000 no; 20 percent abstaining
1863 Thers and Berryer elected to the Chamber
1866 Formation of the Tiers Parti under Ollivier
1868 Restoration of freedom of the press and freedom of assembly
1869 Republicans 40 seats (Gambetta, Rochefort); Union Liberale 50; Tiers
Parti 116. Bonapartists in the minority