Why did the economic crisis of 1846 increase opposition to Louis-Philippe?

The economic crisis of 1846 significantly intensified opposition to the reign of Louis-Philippe by exacerbating existing social and political tensions. Triggered by a widespread crop failure, the crisis led to severe food shortages and rising prices, which caused widespread hardship. As businesses faced bankruptcy and unemployment rates climbed, the economic stability that had characterized the 1840s collapsed, fueling public unrest.12

This economic distress deepened the alienation of various groups already dissatisfied with the regime. Urban workers, who were increasingly influenced by socialist thought, felt the brunt of the misery, while members of the bourgeoisie grew more vocal in their demands for political reform and an expansion of the suffrage. The government’s stubborn refusal to address these grievances—coupled with moral scandals within the governing elite—further eroded support for the July monarchy. By 1847, opposition leaders capitalized on this widespread discontent, using political "banquets" to mobilize the public, ultimately leading to the February Revolution of 1848.123