Download
1 / 12
160 likes | 523 Views
1848. The Year of Revolutions. What happened in 1848. The people across Europe (and other places) revolted and attempted to overthrow their governments or initiate major reform Revolutions occurred in more than 50 countries STOP! Say something . . . . Why did this happen?. Urban Workers:
E N D
1848 The Year of Revolutions
What happened in 1848 • The people across Europe (and other places) revolted and attempted to overthrow their governments or initiate major reform • Revolutions occurred in more than 50 countries STOP! Say something . . .
Why did this happen? • Urban Workers: • the working class, toiling in the factories, were extremely unhappy • Their working and living conditions were awful and they demanded change • Angered by the massive divide between rich and poor
Why did this happen? • The Countryside: • Population growth from industrialization had led to food shortages • 1845 and 1846 saw a Potato Blight and starvation across Northern Europe (The years of the Irish potato Famine) • Farmers were upset as nobles tried to re-establish their dominance after the French Revolution
Why did this happen? • The Impact of Ideas • The French Revolution had spread ideas throughout Europe • Also, with a more educated population, the works of 19th century philosophers were being read and discussed • The Big ideas . . . . Liberalism! Nationalism! Democracy! Socialism! • In February 1848, Karl Marx published his “Communist Manifesto”
IT Says, I Say and So . . . A Quote from 1848 . . . “Society was cut in two: those who had nothing united in common envy, and those who had anything united in common terror."
France • Louis Philippe was replaced in France by a democratic government • However, within four years Louis Napoleon returned France to monarchy
The German Confederation • After Napoleon, Germany was divided in 39 states . .. Most of which experienced revolution • The revolutions were fueled by Nationalism and Freedom of Speech concerns • However, the Working Class and Middle Class could not come together to form functioning governments • By the end of the year, conservative forces had re-established all of the German princes
Austria • The Austrian Empire was hit hardest by Revolution • Each of the different races within Austria rose up in nationalist revolutions (Romanians, Italians, Czechs, Slovaks, Serbs, Poles, Ukrainians etc.) • The largest group was the Hungarians, the demonstrations were so large that they were promised a constitution and an elected parliament • Metternich was forced to resign! • However, with help from Russian troops, the Austrians managed to crush each of these rebellions and bring Hungary back under control • However, the passive aggressive actions of Hungary in future years led to a compromise . . . The Formation of the Austria-Hungarians Empire. Hungary was given special privileges within the Empire (1867)
Elsewhere • Denmark • Switzerland • Poland • Ukraine • Brazil • And many others!
The Final Result • Although 1848 was the most turbulent year in History – very little was actually accomplished • None of the Revolutions had any lasting success • Ultimately, the forces of the Old Regimes all re-established themselves and the most of the people of Europe were still desperate for freedom!
What’s the Point? • Why do we bother talking about this? • Let’s think about it . . . If you were a European leader and you experienced this, what would you do know? • The repression of the congress system had clearly failed • You don’t want to go through this again! In groups, please discuss strategies that you might employ to create a lasting peace and stability.
