1. Revolutions in Europe
European people revolt against leaders who want to maintain absolute power

2. 3 Groups in Europe
Conservatives- usually wealthy property owners and nobility who wanted to keep traditional monarchies
Liberals- mostly middle class- wanted to give more power to parliaments where educated people would vote
Radicals- wanted everyone to vote (democracy)

3. Stop and Check!
Which person would identify with which political group?
A wealthy business man who wants to give his country’s parliament more power
A poor student who has read extensively about democracy
A nobleman who is related to his country’s king
A prosperous land owner

4. Idea of the Nation-State
Nationalism- belief that loyalty should be to your ethnic group and not a king or empire
Nation-state- a nation with its own government

5. Nationalism in the Balkans
Ottoman Empire controlled the Balkans
Greeks were first people to get independence in 1830 (many people, incl. poets like Lord Byron helped the revolution)

6. Revolutions Everywhere…. But most Fail…
Belgians get independence from Dutch in 1830
Failed revolutions follow by Italians (against Austria), Poles (against Russia), Czechs (against Austria)
Revolutionaries fail in the end because they can’t unite
So by 1849 Conservative Europe back in charge

7. What About France?
In 1848 there were a series of liberal rulers (who tried to return power back to the people) but they ultimately fail because they split into factions (groups)
Louis-Napoleon (Napoleon’s nephew) becomes Napoleon III and helps economy (builds railroads, encourages industrialization) and country is getting stronger

8. Change in Russia
Serfdom very popular but by 1820s most Russians disagreed with it but Czar not willing to change it

9. Crimean War in 1856
Team1: Russia vs Team 2: Ottoman Empire, France, Britain, Sardinia
Russia loses because it is too far behind economically

10. Loss in War Forces Change
Alexander II abolishes Serfdom in 1861
But serfs still had to pay “redemption payments” so they were free but in debt to the government
But nationalism will start pulling Russia apart because Russia is a multi-ethnic empire