Friends of the ABC

In French, the name of the society is a pun, in which abaissés ('the abased, humiliated, degraded') is pronounced [abese], very similar to A-B-C ([ɑ be se]).

Their members represent a wide variety of political viewpoints, ranging from communist agitation to advocacy for democracy to supporting the Levellers and more, but on 5 June 1832 they all join the popular insurrection known as the June Rebellion and organize the construction of a massive barricade.

They are based on the real political group Friends of the People [fr] (French: Société des Amis du Peuple).

The central committee, which was at the head, had two arms, the Society of Action, and the Army of the Bastilles .... A legitimist association, the Chevaliers of Fidelity, stirred about among these the republican affiliations.

The Society of the Friends of the A B C affiliated to the Mutualists of Angers, and to the Cougourde of Aix, met, as we have seen, in the Cafe Musain.