Napoleon II

What people wore

Working men adopted trousers for freedom

Working-class men transitioned from traditional knee breeches to loose-fitting trousers, known as pantalon, to allow for greater freedom of movement during manual labor. This style, paired with a short jacket called a carmagnole and wooden clogs (sabots), became a symbolic badge of revolutionary identity.

Getting around

Slow and expensive travel across France

Between 1800 and 1824, land travel was slow and expensive; a journey across France could take 20 to 30 days on foot or by slow carriage. Transporting a ton of goods from Paris to Marseille cost around 250 francs, roughly the annual wage of an unskilled laborer.

At the table

Bread as the Daily Staple

Bread was the essential staple for all social classes, often eaten as soup or with lard, onions, and cheese. It was baked in various qualities, with some large loaves weighing up to twelve pounds.

Music

Village dancing with pipe and tabor

The pipe and tabor were common instruments used for village dances, and travelers often observed young people dancing to this music in meadows or at festivals.

Daily life

Divergent paths for children's schooling

Bourgeois children were taught reading, writing, and sometimes music by their mothers, then sent to primary school at age six. In contrast, rural children often began working in the garden or farmyard at age seven, while poor urban children performed odd jobs like shoe shining or worked in factories.

What it cost

Average Daily Wages for Workers

During the First Empire, a typical worker earned an average daily wage of 2 francs, while specialized blacksmiths earned 5 francs and masons earned between 1 and 1.50 francs.