Why was the July Monarchy called a bourgeois monarchy?

The July Monarchy (1830–1848) was termed the "bourgeois monarchy" because the regime’s social center of gravity shifted from the landowning aristocracy to the wealthy bourgeoisie.12

The revolution that brought Louis-Philippe to power represented a victory for this upper-middle class. The government’s policies were explicitly designed to protect and promote their interests:3

• Political Representation: The property qualification for voting was reduced, doubling the electorate and ensuring that the middle classes were the primary group represented in the assembly.2
• Economic Policy: Under the influence of François Guizot, the government imposed high protective tariffs to shelter entrepreneurs from foreign competition and granted railway and mining concessions to its supporters.12
• Ideological Alignment: The "Citizen King" was viewed as a liberal whose tastes and sympathies aligned with the upper bourgeoisie. Guizot famously encouraged those excluded from political power to "get rich" (Enrichissez-vous!), reflecting the belief that the wealthy governing class was an ideal elite accessible through talent and effort.2

By prioritizing these interests, the regime solidified its base among the wealthy, effectively excluding other social factions from meaningful influence.13