The Romantic Age, : The Revolutions of 1848 “The Springtime of the Peoples”

The turning point at which history failed to turn. --- George Macaulay Trevelyn [1937] The turning point at which history failed to turn. --- George Macaulay Trevelyn [1937]

Causes Industrialization Economic challenges to rulers. Rapid urbanization Unemployment! Ideological Challenges Liberalism, nationalism, democracy, socialism. Romanticism Repressive Measures of the Congress System Carlsbad Decrees Secret police created in many European states. Not coherently organized revolts They were specific to each state Few to little connections between them Russia and England did not have revolts

Centers of Revolution in 1848

France

Louis Philippe, “The Pear,” 1848

Prince Louis : Not Too Steady! Victor Hugo & Miguel de Girardin try to raise Prince Louis upon a shield. [Honoré Damier’s lithograph published in Charavari, December 11, 1848].

The February Revolution Working class & liberals unhappy with King Louis Protesters fired upon by the king National Guard defects to the radicals Louis adbicates.

Provisional Goverment New government declared by a coalition of groups Conservatives & liberals are suspicious of republicanism Too reminiscent of the Reign of Terror. National Workshops created Tried to alleviate unemployment Failed, unemployment, taxes, and inflation rose Coalition split between conservatives and radicals Louis Blanc

The “June Days” Worker groups in Paris rose up in insurrection. Class Warfare! They said that the government had betrayed the revolution. Workers wanted a redistribution of wealth. Barricades in the streets. Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables was based on this event. A new liberal-conservative coalition formed to oppose this lower class radicalism.

Paris: To the Barricades Again!

The 2 nd French Republic ( ) New constitution formed with a president Louis Napoleon Bonaparte wins the election Represses the socialists and republicans Fallous Law 1850

1851 Coup d’Etat Louis Napoleon declares himself emperor National plebiscite confirms him Emperor Napoleon III

AustriaAustria

The Austrian Empire: 1830

The nature of the Austrian Empire: Very conservative monarchy [liberal institutions didn’t exist]. Culturally and racially heterogeneous. Social reliance on serfdom dooms masses of people to a life without hope. Corrupt and inefficient. Competition with an increasingly powerful Prussia. Problems of Austria Therefore, the Empire was vulnerable to revolutionary challenges. Ferdinand I ( )

The “February Revolution” in France triggered a rebellion for liberal reforms. March 13  rioting broke out in Vienna. The Austrian Empire collapsed. Metternich fled. Constituent Assembly met. Serfdom [robot] abolished. The revolution began to wane and t he revolutionary government failed to govern effectively. The “March Days”

June, 1848 Bohemia was split between Pan-Slavs & Pan-Germans. Prague Conference: Developed the idea of Austro-Slavism. A constitution & autonomy within the Habsburg Empire Feared Germanization. The Austrian military ultimately attacked Prague, occupied Bohemia & crushed the rebellion. The Prague Barricades

The Hungarian Revolution

The New Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I [r ] Bach System NO NATIONALISM!

Italy

Upheaval in Italy, 1848 Italian nationalists sought to end foreign rule Venice rebelled and Piedmont-Sardinia attacked Austria

Italy, 1849 Giuseppe Mazzini established a Roman Republic in 1849 protected by Giuseppe Garibaldi. Pope Pius IX forced to flee. Austrian crushed Sardinia-Piedmont. French troops take back the Papal States. Victor Emmanuel II takes the throne in Sardinia-Piedmont.

Germany

German Conferedation Structure Zolleverein

Mad as a hatter! Anti-liberal, but an ‘Arthurian’ medieval romantic [Cinderella’s Castle]. Agricultural romantic. Relied on Junker support. March Days Riots in Berlin Army crushed them, but then withdrew Prussia Frederick William IV of Prussia ( )

Frankfurt Assembly Meeting of German nationalists Big question – Habsburgs or Hohenzollerans? Choose Habsburgs Rejected by Habsburgs Fails

Prussian Constitution of 1850 Single parliament for all of Prussia Almost three estates like with universal male suffrage Ended serfdom Junkers went along because they got more property Increased Prussia’s status amongst the other German States

SummarySummary Revolutions of 1848 demonstrated that the old states could control their populations, but not well Revolutions of 1848 the end of Romanticism & “democracy” Set up a period of hard- core, violent nationalism to follow