The Revolutions of The Revolutions of 18481848

The turning point at which history failed to The turning point at which history failed to turn…turn…

- George Macaulay Trevelyan, 1937- George Macaulay Trevelyan, 1937

Causes of upheavalCauses of upheaval Considered the watershed political event of the 19th Considered the watershed political event of the 19th

century.century. 1848 revolutions influenced by romanticism, nationalism, 1848 revolutions influenced by romanticism, nationalism,

and liberalism, as well as economic dislocation and and liberalism, as well as economic dislocation and instability.instability.

Only Britain and Russia avoided Only Britain and Russia avoided significantsignificant upheaval. upheaval. Neither liberals or conservatives could gain permanent Neither liberals or conservatives could gain permanent

upper hand.upper hand. Resulted in end of serfdom in Austria and Germany, Resulted in end of serfdom in Austria and Germany,

universal male suffrage in France, parliaments universal male suffrage in France, parliaments established in German states (although controlled by established in German states (although controlled by princes & aristocrats), stimulated unification impulse in princes & aristocrats), stimulated unification impulse in Prussia and Sardinia-Piedmont.Prussia and Sardinia-Piedmont.

Last of liberal revolutions dating back to the French Last of liberal revolutions dating back to the French RevolutionRevolution

France 1848:France 1848:The February RevolutionThe February Revolution

Working class and Working class and liberals unhappy with liberals unhappy with King Louis PhilippeKing Louis Philippe, , esp. his minister esp. his minister Francois Guizot Francois Guizot (who (who opposed electoral opposed electoral reform).reform).

King dismisses King dismisses Guizot, but riots break Guizot, but riots break out.out.

King forced to King forced to abdicate on Feb. 24.abdicate on Feb. 24.

Francois GuizotFrancois Guizot

The Provisional GovernmentThe Provisional Government Second French Republic declared by Second French Republic declared by

Chamber of deputies.Chamber of deputies. Moderate republicans led by liberal Moderate republicans led by liberal Alphonse Alphonse

LamartineLamartine (allied w/ bourgeoisie) (allied w/ bourgeoisie) SocialistsSocialists led by Louis Blanc led by Louis Blanc national workshops national workshops created by Blanc to created by Blanc to

provide work for the unemployedprovide work for the unemployed Reforms: abolished slavery in the empire, 10 hr Reforms: abolished slavery in the empire, 10 hr

workday in Paris, abolished death penalty.workday in Paris, abolished death penalty. April elections for new Constituent Assembly April elections for new Constituent Assembly

resulted in conflict between moderate resulted in conflict between moderate republicans (who won) and socialistsrepublicans (who won) and socialists

The June Days RevoltThe June Days Revolt Workers attempted to create a revolutionary Workers attempted to create a revolutionary

republic after Blanc was dropped from republic after Blanc was dropped from assembly.assembly.

Results inResults in “June Days” Revolution “June Days” Revolution Cause: gov’t closed national workshopsCause: gov’t closed national workshops Marked beginning of class warfare in FranceMarked beginning of class warfare in France Workers sought war against poverty and Workers sought war against poverty and

redistribution of income.redistribution of income. Barricades put up in streets to oppose gov’t Barricades put up in streets to oppose gov’t

forces (Hugo’s forces (Hugo’s Les MiserablesLes Miserables based on this) based on this)

France 1848France 1848The Second RepublicThe Second Republic

General Louis CavaignacGeneral Louis Cavaignac: : assumed dictatorial powers & assumed dictatorial powers & crushed revolt (10,000 dead)crushed revolt (10,000 dead)

Victory for conservativesVictory for conservatives Nov 1848 – constitution provided for Nov 1848 – constitution provided for

elected president and one-house elected president and one-house parliamentparliament

Election of 1848: Louis Napoleon Election of 1848: Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (1803-1873)Bonaparte (1803-1873) defeated defeated CavaignacCavaignac

1852: Louis Napoleon consolidates 1852: Louis Napoleon consolidates power and becomes power and becomes Emperor Emperor Napoleon IIINapoleon III Louis Napoleon Louis Napoleon

BonaparteBonaparte

Revolution in Austria, Revolution in Austria, 18481848

Habsburg empire was vulnerable to revolutionary Habsburg empire was vulnerable to revolutionary challengechallenge

Ethnic minorities sought nationalistic goals: Ethnic minorities sought nationalistic goals: Hungarians, Slavs, Czechs, Italians, Serbs, Croats, Hungarians, Slavs, Czechs, Italians, Serbs, Croats, and others. (More non-Germans than Germans lived in and others. (More non-Germans than Germans lived in the empire)the empire)

Austrian gov’t was reactionary; liberal institutions were Austrian gov’t was reactionary; liberal institutions were non-existent.non-existent.

Social reliance on serfdom doomed masses of people Social reliance on serfdom doomed masses of people to a life w/o hope.to a life w/o hope.

““February Revolution” in France sparked rebellion for February Revolution” in France sparked rebellion for liberal reforms.liberal reforms.

Vienna, 1848Vienna, 1848 March 13 – rioting breaks out in March 13 – rioting breaks out in

ViennaVienna Austrian empire collapsed; Austrian empire collapsed;

Metternich fledMetternich fled Constituent assembly meets.Constituent assembly meets. Serfdom (robot) abolished, Serfdom (robot) abolished,

revolution withers.revolution withers. Revolutionary gov’t failed to Revolutionary gov’t failed to

govern effectivelygovern effectively Ferdinand I abdicates, Ferdinand I abdicates,

Habsburgs restored royal Habsburgs restored royal absolutism under Franz Joseph absolutism under Franz Joseph (r. 1848-1916).(r. 1848-1916).

Franz JosephFranz Joseph

Hungary, 1848Hungary, 1848 Louis KossuthLouis Kossuth (1802-1894) (1802-1894)

Hungarian (Magyar nationalist) Hungarian (Magyar nationalist) leader demanded independence.leader demanded independence.

March laws provided for March laws provided for Hungarian independence.Hungarian independence.

Austrians invade, Hungarian Austrians invade, Hungarian armies drove within sight of armies drove within sight of Vienna.Vienna.

Slavic minorities resisted Magyar Slavic minorities resisted Magyar invasion and Hungarian army invasion and Hungarian army withdrewwithdrew

Austrian and Russian armies Austrian and Russian armies defeated Hungarian army.defeated Hungarian army.

Hungary would have to wait until Hungary would have to wait until 1866 for autonomy 1866 for autonomy Louis KossuthLouis Kossuth

Bohemia, 1848Bohemia, 1848

Prague ConferencePrague Conference developed notion of developed notion of Austroslavism: Austroslavism: constitution and constitution and autonomy within Habsburg empire.autonomy within Habsburg empire.

Pan-Slav Congress failed to unite Slavic Pan-Slav Congress failed to unite Slavic peoples in the empire.peoples in the empire.

Austrian military ultimately attacked Austrian military ultimately attacked Prague and occupied Bohemia and Prague and occupied Bohemia and crushed rebellion.crushed rebellion.

Upheaval in Italy, 1848Upheaval in Italy, 1848

Italian nationalists and liberals seek to end Italian nationalists and liberals seek to end foreign domination of Italyforeign domination of Italy

Milan, Lombardy and Venetia seek expel Milan, Lombardy and Venetia seek expel Austrian rulersAustrian rulers

Bourbon rulers in Kingdom of Two Sicilies and Bourbon rulers in Kingdom of Two Sicilies and House of Savoy in Sardinia-Piedmont grant House of Savoy in Sardinia-Piedmont grant liberal constitutions.liberal constitutions.

Sardinia-Piedmont declared war on Austria. Sardinia-Piedmont declared war on Austria. Beginning in May, revolutions suppressed. Beginning in May, revolutions suppressed.

Italy, 1848Italy, 1848

Giuseppe MazziniGiuseppe Mazzini established established Roman Republic in 1849 Roman Republic in 1849 protected by protected by Giuseppe Giuseppe GaribaldiGaribaldi

Pope Pius IX forced to fleePope Pius IX forced to flee Austrian Austrian General Radetsky General Radetsky

crushes Sardinia-Piedmont; crushes Sardinia-Piedmont; regains Lombardy and Venetia.regains Lombardy and Venetia.

French troops take back Papal French troops take back Papal States.States.

Victor Emmanuel II takes Victor Emmanuel II takes throne in Sardinia-Piedmont.throne in Sardinia-Piedmont.

Giuseppe MazziniGiuseppe Mazzini

Italy, 1848Italy, 1848 Causes for failure:Causes for failure:

Rural people did not Rural people did not support revolutions, support revolutions, focused mainly on focused mainly on urban middle classes.urban middle classes.

Revolutionaries not Revolutionaries not united, fear of radicals united, fear of radicals among moderates among moderates leads to collapse.leads to collapse.

Lack of leadership Lack of leadership and administrative and administrative experience among experience among revolutionaries.revolutionaries. Giuseppe GaribaldiGiuseppe Garibaldi

The German States, 1848The German States, 1848

Revolutions inspired by 1848 Revolutions inspired by 1848 revolutions in Francerevolutions in France

Liberals demanded Liberals demanded constitutional government and constitutional government and a union or federation of a union or federation of German states.German states.

Frederick William IV rejected Frederick William IV rejected liberal constitution; imposed liberal constitution; imposed conservative one that conservative one that guaranteed royal control of guaranteed royal control of gov’t (lasted until 1918).gov’t (lasted until 1918). Frederick William IVFrederick William IV

Frankfurt ParliamentFrankfurt Parliament Liberal, romantic, & nationalist Liberal, romantic, & nationalist

leaders called for elections to a leaders called for elections to a constituent assembly, from all constituent assembly, from all states in the German Bund, for states in the German Bund, for the purpose of unifying the the purpose of unifying the German states.German states.

Sought war with Denmark to Sought war with Denmark to annex Schleswig & Holstein; annex Schleswig & Holstein; Prussia declared war on Prussia declared war on DenmarkDenmark

Presented constitution for a Presented constitution for a united German federation.united German federation.

Selected Prussian King Selected Prussian King Frederick William IV as Frederick William IV as emperor; he declined claiming emperor; he declined claiming “divine right of kings”“divine right of kings”

Collapse of the Collapse of the RevolutionRevolution

Debate over whether or not to include Austria Debate over whether or not to include Austria and who would rule (Hollenzollerns or and who would rule (Hollenzollerns or Habsburgs?)Habsburgs?)

Failure of Prussia and Austria to support Failure of Prussia and Austria to support unification movement resulted in its collapseunification movement resulted in its collapse

Frederick William’s attempt to unify Germany Frederick William’s attempt to unify Germany ended in failure, he dissolved the Parliament ended in failure, he dissolved the Parliament and created a constitution of his own for and created a constitution of his own for Prussia.Prussia.

This created a two-house parliament, but gave This created a two-house parliament, but gave the king ultimate authority.the king ultimate authority.

Collapse of the Collapse of the RevolutionRevolution

Prussia attempted to create a north German Prussia attempted to create a north German confederation that it would dominate.confederation that it would dominate.

Austria opposed, demanding Prussian Austria opposed, demanding Prussian allegiance to the Bund (that Austria dominated)allegiance to the Bund (that Austria dominated)

Nov. 1850 - Nov. 1850 - “Humiliation of Olmutz”“Humiliation of Olmutz”: Prussia : Prussia dropped plan to unify Germany, leaving Austria dropped plan to unify Germany, leaving Austria as dominant German state in the Bund.as dominant German state in the Bund.

Prussia would seek revenge in 1866 (Austro-Prussia would seek revenge in 1866 (Austro-Prussian War)Prussian War)

Britain, 1848Britain, 1848 The ChartistsThe Chartists

Movement reached its Movement reached its height with the Kennington height with the Kennington Common demonstration on Common demonstration on April 10, 1848.April 10, 1848.

Could have been the Could have been the prelude to revolution in prelude to revolution in Britain, but meeting was Britain, but meeting was peaceful.peaceful.

Leaders did not follow-up Leaders did not follow-up on the meeting and on the meeting and Chartist movement died.Chartist movement died.

Kennington Common Kennington Common demonstration on April 10, 1848demonstration on April 10, 1848

1848 – The Consequences1848 – The Consequences The revolutions failed to pull popular support from The revolutions failed to pull popular support from

working classes.working classes. Middle classes led the revolution, but as it turned Middle classes led the revolution, but as it turned

more radical, they held back.more radical, they held back. Were they were successful, old guard was left in Were they were successful, old guard was left in

place and they turned against them.place and they turned against them. Nationalism divided more that united.Nationalism divided more that united. Some gains lasted (abolition of serfdom, etc.)Some gains lasted (abolition of serfdom, etc.) In the longterm, most liberal gains would be In the longterm, most liberal gains would be

solidified by the end of the century, Germany and solidified by the end of the century, Germany and Italy would be unified, and the Austrian Empire Italy would be unified, and the Austrian Empire would collapse at the end of World War I.would collapse at the end of World War I.