Crisis and Compromise in Britain

1815-1848

Crisis and Compromise in Britain

1815-1848

Stirrings of DiscontentStirrings of Discontent

Popular protests in favor of reform swept the country from 1815-1819Poor harvests 1818-1819 led to grain riots by the poorMass meeting was held at St. Peter’s Fields in Manchester in 1819 Police fired on the protestors, killing 11 and injuring 100’s

Peterloo Massacre-1819

Parliament passed the Six Acts that banned demonstrations, suspended habeas corpus, and restricted freedom of the press1820’s continued with economic bad times and riots in northern England over low wagesIn 1830, food riots and machine breaking spread to southern England

Passage of the Reform BillPassage of the Reform Bill

Election of 1830 reduced the conservative majority in Parliament5,000 petitions were brought to Parliament attacking the landed eliteLords resisted this and rioting ensuedWilliam IV exerted political pressure on the LordsReform Bill passed in 1832

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Accomplishments of the Reform BillAccomplishments of the Reform Bill

Eliminated “rotten boroughs” and “pocket boroughs”Reduced minimum franchise requirementDoubled the electorateWhat had been achieved in France by revolution in 1830 was achieved in Britain in 1832 by reform

Repeal of the Corn Laws Repeal of the Corn Laws

Protectionist Corn Laws were passed by Parliament in 1815 and 1828Bad harvests of 1839-1841 increased pressure for repeal Anti-Corn Law League formed in 1839Repeal of Corn Laws 1846 proved a decisive victory for economic liberalism

The Chartist MovementThe Chartist Movement

“Great Charter” called for universal male suffrage, salaries for elected officials, annual elections, etc.Rejected by Parliament in 1839 and 1842Reflected the limits of reform in Britain

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Chartist meeting at Kennington Common, England-1848

The Revolutions of 1848The Revolutions of 1848

FranceFrance

OriginsOrigins

Reformers planned a great banquet to be accompanied by street demonstrations in Feb., 1848Gov’t banned all such meetingsBarricades were then built by citizens throughout the cityNat’l Guard refused to act against these

After 20 protestors were killed outside PM Guizot’s home, rioting erupted in the streetsLouis Philippe abdicated and escaped to EnglandRadicals poured into the Chamber of Deputies and claimed France a republic

The Second RepublicThe Second Republic

“Political republicans” (7) dominated “social republicans” in the new Provisional GovernmentNat’l Workshops were established as a concession to social republicansLabor Commission failed to enact a ten hour day

Constituent Assembly was elected by universal male suffrageSocial republicans were marginalized in the new gov’tNat’l Workshops had mobilized the working classCoup was organized by Nat’l Workshop members, but failed

Constituent Assembly was now determined to crush socialism and class warfare broke out during the “Bloody June Days”Revolt was repressed with 10,000 killed and 11,000 deported

The Second EmpireThe Second Empire

Assembly decided to create a strong executive that would keep orderLouis Napoleon was elected by an overwhelming majority Louis presented himself as a friend of the people and supported universal male suffrage

Louis staged a successful coup in 1851 and was elected for a 10 year termIn 1852, Louis proclaimed himself Emperor Napoleon III

AustriaAustria

OriginsOrigins

News of the revolution in France reached the Austria in March, 1848Workers and students rose in revolt in ViennaMetternich fled to BritainRevolution now spread

through the Austrian Empire and Germany

Revolutionary momentum had faded by JuneInsurrection in Prague was put down by force and the Slav congress fledLombardy and Venetia in Italy which had declared independence were also reconqueredMagyar revolt in Hungary was repressed

The Impact of 1848The Impact of 1848

Marked the end of the era of liberal revolution that had begun in 1789Initiative passed temporarily to conservative political groupsMiddle classes became more conservativeWorking classes realized they needed more effective forms of organization