Revolutions of 1848

Background Revolutionary political and social ideologies combined with economic crises and romantic impulses Only most advanced and most backward escaped untouched Governments toppled National independence, liberal- democratic constitutions and social reform—goals of this generation The revolutions failed…why?

France Louis XVIII’s Constitutional Charter of 1814 was basically a liberal constitution (Napoleonic Code) a) economic and social gains gained during the revolution were protected - free press, religion b) intellectual and artistic freedom was permitted c) real Parliament was created

The old aristocracy were a small minority Many Ultra-royalists wanted revenge 1815 the Ultras won control of government 1816 Louis dissolved government - new election produced a more moderate government

Charles X changed the situation He was a supporter of the Old Regime and repudiated the Constitutional Charter

Censored the press insurrection in Paris and in “three glorious days” the government collapsed Charles fled and Louis Philippe I (cousin) was placed on the throne Louis Philippe accepted the Constitutional Charter, the red, white, and blue flag, and admitted he was merely “king of the French people”

Revolutions of 1848 “Springtime of the peoples” Political and social upheaval romantic movement caused the revolutions Only reforming Britain and Russia remained untouched Bad harvests increased prices, caused unemployment and movement to the cities - revolution was expected

In the 1830s Louis Philippe’s “bourgeosie monarchy” characterized stubborn inactivity and had more enemies than friends

In France, Republicans asked for reforms But, also had terrible harvests and food shortages 1846 workers demanded the right to vote - more bad harvests Premier François Guizot banned a huge reform banquet in Paris Crowds marched in protest

France continued National Guard was ordered to stop the protest Soldiers refused to disperse the crowd The king fired Guizot Soldiers panic and open fire killing 40

The Barricades Feb 22, 1848 barricades went up in Paris. Louis abdicated in favor of his grandson The Chamber of Deputies formed a Provisional Govt. and declared the Second Republic Government had two groups: a) moderate Republicans led by poet— de Lamartine b) Socialists led by Blanc The socialists dominated the cities, the Republicans dominated the countryside

Beginning of the Second Republic The people started to draft a constitution for the Second Republic a) every male was given the vote b) slaves in the colonies were freed c) abolition of the death penalty d) 10 hour work day for Paris Yet there were internal problems for the revolutionary coalition

Constituent Assembly The people elected a new Constituent Assembly with 500 moderate republicans, 300 monarchists, 100 radicals A moderate was Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America The countryside was seized with a hatred of Paris In May, workers invaded the Constituent Assembly - failed The Govt. responded by using the National Guard

The government started to arrest radical republicans Close the National Workshops June the Assembly voted to close the workshops for 3 days all unmarried males would be drafted into the army The people went wild

June Days After three terrible “June Days” with thousands of deaths the republican army under General Louis Cavaignac stood victorious The revolution had been a spectacular failure, press was censored, clubs outlawed, and the right to assembly was removed

Louis Napoleon (nephew of Bonaparte) was elected in Dec His name and desire for peace at any cost allowed him to win the election * France was different from other countries because nationalism was not a key issue

Austria 1848 polyglot of different cultures, languages, peoples few liberals, but they did want political change Czechs also wanted more rights Nobody really opposed the Habsburg rule just the Habsburg autocracy

Began in Hungary after the February riots in France Louis Kossuth led the Hungarians demanding a) national autonomy b) full civil liberties c) universal suffrage

Habsburg emperor Ferdinand promised reform - Metternich fled in disguise to London The monarchy was forced to abolish serfdom - robot - Austria was overwhelmingly agricultural The free peasants had no interest in politics and seemed like an ally for the government Revolutionary leaders wanted a unified Hungary They acted as if the monarchy did not exist

“March Laws” delegates in the Hungarian Diet were elected by male property owners - Emperor would remain king but there would be a separate army and Hungary would deal with her own foreign policy

Other minorities Croats, Serbs, and Rumanians protested The Habsburg monarchy exploited these problems and was soon in an armed struggle When the urban poor revolted the middle class panicked Emperor Ferdinand regained his courage But his brother’s wife, archduchess Sophia provided the rallying point

Abdicated in favor of her son Francis Joseph Powerful nobles organized with Sophia to crush the revolution Francis Joseph became emperor in Dec Nicolas I of Russia helped by sending 130,000 Russian troops to Hungary The Habsburg ruled Hungary like a conquered territory

Prussia Burschenschafen - members of student fraternities wanted a united Germany Carlsbad Decree a) abolished free press b) outlawed fraternities Basically allowed arch- conservative Metternich to control Germany

Prussia was different because there was the additional goal of unifying the 38 states of the confederation Therefore the events were actually on two separate levels After Austria, Prussia was the most influential German kingdom The fall of Louis Philippe encouraged the Germans to seek liberal reforms When these were not granted a social war exploded

Frederick William IV promised a liberal constitution and the creation of a new German state The workers wanted more - the middle class wanted less The workers demanded: a) universal suffrage b) minimum wage c) 10 hour work day d) a ministry of labor Otto von Bismarck joined the Conservative clique around the king

The Frankfurt Assembly had no real political power Depended upon the states to supply the power Met in 1848, mostly professional people wanted a liberal, self-governing, federally unified Germany They wanted no armed conflict They feared the Chartists ideas in Britain and the June Days in Paris Radical riots broke out in Frankfurt in September, the Assembly suppressed the riots – they used the Prussian army The big question was ‘what was Germany?’

The Frankfurt Assembly – initially convened to write a constitution became absorbed with the war with Denmark over Schleswig and Holstein Frederick VII nationalistic king of Denmark had tried to integrate both provinces into Denmark - the Germans revolted The National Assembly called on Prussian troops to help in the name of Germany Prussia went to war with Denmark The National Assembly also wanted to unite the German-speaking provinces of Austria into a new Germany

Austria refused In 1849 the Assembly gave King Frederick William of Prussia emperor of the new German national state - minus Austria and Schleswig-Holstein, he refused Frederick William with the army disbanded the Assembly and claimed divine right to rule “crown from the gutter”

He tried to get the German kings to acknowledge him as emperor - they refused The Austrians with help from Russia forced him to renounce unification in 1850 The German Confederation was re-established

In what ways sense were the decades between thought to be the golden age of the bourgeoisie? 1.Liberalism influential 2.Working class power not yet high 3.Capital accumulation rapid 4.Political influence gaining 5.Capitalist share of profits great

What general conclusions can be drawn about Europe ?Consider the Metternich system, the industrial revo, the isms, revolutions and the bourgeoisie The bourgeoisie was gaining, the workers were trying to get some rights, but the conservatives were keeping both at bay on the Continents until 1848

What actions of Charles X (Artois) invited the July Revolution of 1830? Repressive policies Conservative practices Foe of liberalism Restricted suffrage to upper middle class Dissolved Chamber of Deputies Allowed Church to reassert power

What events precipated Charles X abdication? Censorship of the press Dissolved Chamber Revolution of workers, artisans, students, writers—to streets and barricades

The crowning of Louis Philippe by the Chamber of Deputies in 1830 is reminiscent of what analogous event in England? Glorious Revolution 1688

The Revolution of 1830 produced what kind of government in France? Constitutional Monarchy

All the revolutions failed To be continued…several years later