Final answer:
The state of French politics with the Bourbon Restoration was characterized by a constitutional monarchy that incorporated revolutionary principles but lacked full implementation. There was a tension between old monarchical power structures and new democratic aspirations, with conservatism advocating for gradual reform based on tradition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that best describes the state of French politics when the Bourbons were restored to power after Napoleon's defeat is B) Politics was established on newer revolutionary principles yet still lacked the practical means to achieve the promise inherent in those principles. Louis XVIII, the restored French king, could not rule as an absolute monarch and had to recognize the new constitutional rights of his subjects, which had emerged as a result of the French Revolution and Napoleon's rule. Despite this constitutional monarchy, there was a tension between retaining old power structures and integrating new ideas about government and society. At the time of the Bourbon Restoration, there was a profound sense among the traditional elites to re-establish stability and order. They knew some concessions were necessary to accommodate a society that had experienced equality under the law and democratic aspirations, despite a desire to reinforce traditional political structures. Conservatism became a significant force during this period, reacting to the chaos and excesses of the French Revolution's radical phases and to the militarism of Napoleon's empire. Many conservatives believed in gradual reform and maintaining the established traditions that had provided stability in the past.