2. CASE STUDY #2: AUSTRIA
Inspired by France
Begins in Hungary

3. Hungarian Nationalism and liberal rev in Vienna
Louis Kossuth Magyar Nationalist
Hungarians, led by Louis Kossuth, wanted national autonomy and civil liberties for Hungarians, as well as universal suffrage. This was both nationalist and liberal.
The revolution spreads to students in Vienna who also want liberal reform. It looked as though Ferdinand I, the Austrian Empire was going to give in to the revolution. Metternich flees in disguise.
Ferdinand frees the serfs – now the peasants are happy and they quickly lose interest in other parts of the revolution. The working classes want the French –style workshops, the liberals don’t. Minority groups start to revolt against the Hungarian nationalists – why should they get a Hungary? What about the non-Hungarians living in Hungary? Croats, Serbs, Romanians…The Austrian government gets these minority groups on their side to fight against the Hungarians. Czech nationalists and German nationalists start to fight each other.
Russia – as per CoV helps the Austrian emperor fight the revolution. They help crown a new King, 18 year old Francis Joseph (Ferdinand now unpopular with the conservatives as he had lost his crown to a “mess of students.”

4. Prague Uprisings of 1848: Pan-Slavic Conference
The Prague Barricades
Ethnic differences prevent unity with Hungary &/or Germany - Bohemia was split between Pan-Slavs & Pan-Germans.
Instead of attending conference in Frankfurt, they hold one of their own
Prague Conference: Developed the idea of Austro-Slavism; conducted in German!
Internal divisions: 1 = Poles & Ukrainians 2= South Slavs 3 = Czech Slovaks
Demands: A constitution & autonomy within the Habsburg Empire; debate over role of Austria in their lives
Meanwhile: uprising in Prague of students & workers
The Austrian military ultimately attacked Prague, occupied Bohemia & crushed the rebellion.

5. Prussia Frederick William IV 1840-1861
Prussia has goal of unifying 38 different states into the confederation
After Austria, Prussia most influential German kingdom
Fall of Louis Philippe in France encouraged Germans to seek liberal reforms; when these were not met, social war exploded.
FW IV promised a liberal constitution and creation of a new German state: workers wanted more;
Workers demanded: universal suffrage; minimum wage; 10 hour work day; ministry of labor
Various governments agreed to let people vote to elect deputies for an all German Assembly to meet at Frankfurt.
Frankfurt Assembly dominated by educated middle class & split into 2 groups:

6. Frankfurt Assembly Meets
German liberals are overjoyed!
German National Assembly established in Frankfurt:
Universal suffrage.
Delegates mostly from the middle class. Liberals get together to try and write a constitution. Get involved in battling over the question: If we are going to unite Germany…what exactly will be included? Get in a heated battle over Northern provinces that belong to Denmark,
They “elect” Frederick William as constitutional monarch – he declines- does not want to “take his crown from the gutter.” The Frankfurt assembly gets bogged down by nationalist issues and FW IV takes the opportunity to reassert his conservative power. A united Germany and liberal constitution remain unfulfilled.

7. 1849 Frederick William Declines the “German Crown”
Crown & title of “Emperor of the Germans” was offered to FW IV; refused it
Upon his refusal, the parliament began to dissolve, and soon after troops removed the remaining members. In many respects German liberalism never recovered from the failure of the Frankfurt Parliament.
Attempts to create a unified Germany had failed
In April 1849, Frederick dissolved the assembly and proclaimed his own conservative constitution.

8. “ O Brother Love Your Country, Our Country is OUR Home”
Italian Uprisings: 1848
“ O Brother Love Your Country, Our Country is OUR Home”
Guisseppe
Mazzini
&
The
Risorgimento

9. The Aftermath: Democrats Swept Out of Europe
Why did the revolutions fail?
They failed to attract popular support from the working classes.
The middle classes led these revolutions, but as they turned radical, the middle class held back.
Nationalism divided more than united.
Some gains lasted [abolition of serfdom, etc.]
BUT, in the long term, most liberal gains would be solidified by the end of the 19c:
The unification of Germany and Italy.
The collapse of the Hapsburg Empire at the end of World War I.
It looked like the Conservative forces had triumphed.
BUT…
Things had changed forever.
Economic/social problems continued to be constant challenges to the ruling order.
Conservatives would have to make concessions in order to stay in power.
Many of the limited Liberal achievements remained permanent.