THE REVOLUTIONS OF 1848 The Springtime of the Peoples

Overview During the first half of the nineteenth century, nearly all of the countries of Europe experienced conflicts between the old political order and liberalism/nationalism.

Revolutions of 1830 A French uprising against the monarchy, beginning in 1830, directly encouraged liberal and national movements in other countries. Metternich called the July Revolution in France, “the collapse of the dam in Europe”. These small uprisings throughout Europe would eventually lead to larger revolts throughout Europe in You may be familiar with events that occurred in July  v=cjp-Gyo5tNM v=cjp-Gyo5tNM  tch?v=gMYNfQlf1H8 tch?v=gMYNfQlf1H8

The Revolutions of 1848 The Revolutions of 1848 were a direct repudiation of the conservative restoration and would end the conservative, anti-liberal, and anti-national period initiated at the Congress of Vienna.

France In the early 1840s, middle-class protesters joined with peasant and working class movements who demanded relief from bad harvests and unemployment. Since political assemblies were outlawed, people met at “banquets” where food was served, but where people talked politics. In February 1848, the government tried to stop the “Monster Banquet”, which escalated into major street battles between police and banqueters and students. The monarchy abdicated and the revolutionaries set out to form a new government. The new government could not address the social problems inherent in French society. There was also infighting between radical socialists in Paris and the more liberal moderate contingent from rural France.  The June Days, - The liberal government killed more than 3,000 workers during an armed workers’ uprising.

Germany In Habsburg Austria, revolutions caught on as well. Liberals demanded a unified Germany and other liberal reforms. Clashes occurred in Vienna, and Berlin which left many people dead. Liberal Germans set up a constituent assembly in Frankfurt, called the Frankfurt Assembly, which set out to write a constitution which would include political rights for all. 90 percent of the representatives of the Frankfurt Assembly were educated, reflecting a “parliament of scholars”.

Hungary The Hungarian elite resented the power of the central government in Vienna and demanded an end to imperial rule. Hungarians elected a parliament and created its own army. Austria sent in an army and a war ensued between the imperial forces of Austria and Hungarian forces.

Italy In Italy, insurrections spread from Naples to Milan, Venice to Rome. Rebels took Rome and worked together to build a “Rome of the People” by establishing freedom of the press, secular schools and dissolving some church property to the poor.

The Restoration of Authority By early summer, the forces of the monarchs gained strength and crushed the revolutions by fall. Conservative regimes had clung to power and would rule for at least the next 15 years.

Legacy Even thought the revolutions of 1848 did not succeed in bringing liberal governments to power, it was a watershed year. There is no doubt that the ideas of constitutionalism, civil rights and the rule of law were becoming a part of the fabric of the Europe. Nationalism also played a role in the revolutions of These movements help popularize the idea that language should be recognized, and that a state must defend the values of a nation. The revolutions helped spread the ideas of liberalism and nationalism across Europe.

Map Activity Analyze the maps of 1815 and Answer the questions associated with the map of 1900.