Marx wrote The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Napoleon between December 1851 and March 1852.

Marx explores the conflicting ties between a struggle's outward form and its true social content in
this work, as well as how various social interests come to play in the intricate web of political
conflicts. Marx states in The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte that "Man makes his own
history, but he doesn't make it out of whole cloth." This sentence describes how Louis Bonaparte
became president and later the emperor of France.

According to Karl Marx, the overthrow of the French Second Republic (1848–52) and President Louis
Bonaparte's (1808–73) ascent to power were a parody of the French Revolution of 1789. Events that
have previously occurred were repeated in the years 1848–1852. Old slogans and titles were
adopted by political parties. The Second Republic and the 1848 Revolution, however, were doomed
by drawing too much influence from the past. The Industrial Revolution and the upper middle class
bourgeoisie were two new economic elements at play. Marx outlines the three main eras of the
Second Republic, the first occurred in February 1848, with the riots that led to Louis-Philippe's
(1773–1850) abdication from the throne. The second lasted from mid-1848 to mid-1849. The
bourgeoisie controlled the National Assembly during this period. Louis Bonaparte ultimately
subverted the National Assembly's power and overthrew the government. This period lasted from
mid-1849 to December 2, 1851.

The Moderate Republicans filled the political void left by Louis Philippe's abdication. Socialists and
other leftists who might have disagreed with the government's approach to the June Days revolt
were expelled from the government. Parisians protesting against policies that harm the poor were
shot at by the military on orders from the government. The June Days revolt made the Moderate
Republicans enemies of the working class since they supported the military. The country's previous
constitution, which Louis-Philippe oversaw, was substantially similar to the new one in France. The
ability to vote was eventually extended to all men. A huge amount of political power was also given
to the president. This development, according to Marx, is the fatal fault in the constitution. Louis
Bonaparte was able to use this during his presidency to control the National Assembly. Rural voters
overwhelmingly cast their vote for Louis Bonaparte and elected him to the presidency. The
conservative Party of Order supported Bonaparte, they wanted him to be a placeholder until they
could put Henry V (1820–83) on the French throne.

Marx delves into the time frame that stretched from May 29, 1849, through December 2, 1851,
when President Louis Bonaparte ousted the National Assembly. In the National Assembly at the
time, the Party of Order was in control. Democratic Socialists, a political party also known as the
Mountain, were its rivals. Following its unsuccessful attempt to topple Napoleon, The Mountain lost
its sway in the summer of 1849. There were issues inside the Party of Order. The House of Bourbon
or the House of Orleans should retake the French throne, according to a majority of its members.
Even though the Party of Order desired to relinquish its position of political authority, it was
necessary to hold onto it long enough to achieve its ultimate objectives. Marx emphasises
Bonaparte's ability to undermine the National Assembly as a result of these opposing viewpoints.
Following the Party of Order's 1849 election as the National Assembly's main party, President Louis
Bonaparte expelled political allies. At the same time, the bourgeoisie was growing weary of a
republican form of governance. Economic turbulence accompanied democracy. The bourgeoisie's
support for Bonaparte, according to Marx, swung as a result of this uncertainty. To keep their social
and economic standing, they would eventually give up their political authority.

The National Assembly enacted a measure limiting men's voting rights on May 31, 1850. They
thought that the bill would reduce Bonaparte's chances of winning reelection in 1852. Marx suggests
that the scheme would go horribly wrong and give Bonaparte more room to carry out his plan to
topple the government. President Louis Bonaparte received an increase from the National Assembly.
He used this cash to pay bribes to generals and enlisted personnel in the military. He was forced to
apologise for his bribery plan, but it strained relations between the military and the National
Assembly. The National Assembly observed a decline in its authority and stature. They made a
fruitless attempt to establish a parliamentary army that would not report to Bonaparte.

The National Assembly was attempting to defend itself against Bonaparte as he was forming new
plans. He and his allies used a nationwide lottery to shadily raise millions of francs. Also, he made a
lot of progress in eliminating military officials who supported the National Assembly. Since the Party
of Order was unable to cooperate, the National Assembly also gave him a gift. There were no more
barriers standing in Bonaparte's way of full authority. All during 1851, the Party of Order promoted
the idea of re-establishing the monarchy. Unfortunately, the party was unable to persuade the
bourgeois to support the scheme. The loss of the Party of Order's standing in the National Assembly
was viewed by the bourgeoisie as evidence that the party was unable to govern the country. They
switched to backing President Bonaparte. Bonaparte would provide the peace and order that were
essential for the expansion and stability of the economy. Early in 1851, a financial crisis drew the
bourgeoisie and Bonaparte together. In April of that year, Bonaparte started making preparations to
topple the government. He started it after the National Assembly decided not to reinstate the right
of all men to vote. The military's backing of Bonaparte ensured his swift triumph.

Marx utilises Louis Bonaparte's The Eighteenth Brumaire to support his historical materialism theory.
The National Assembly's bourgeoisie supported the republican administration as long as it benefited
their financial goals. The Party of Order and the Mountain's bitter rivalry, however, caused political
and economic turmoil. They were promised "peace for the future" by President Louis Bonaparte.
Order meant peace. Order meant the capacity for unbroken financial gain. Marx contends that
because of this, the bourgeoisie switched to Bonaparte's side. They came to the conclusion that
maintaining their social and economic dominance was preferable to having no political influence. As
Bonaparte decided to overturn the National Assembly, he had a new, crucial friend. Marx cites
historical materialism in his discussion of Bonaparte's manipulation of the army. Bonaparte won the
army's support not through political gifts or intimidation. All he needed to do was bribe them with
cigars, champagne, and sausages.