REVOLUTIONS OF 1848

1. REVOLUTIONS OF 1848

2. 1815 - 1830 • Forces of change – liberalism and nationalism – began to break through the conservative domination of Europe • France • The Congress of Vienna restored the Bourbon family to the throne and a brother of the beheaded Louis XVI became Louis XVIII • When he died, his brother, Charles X, tried to rule as an absolute monarch • The French rebelled when he tried to suspend the legislature because liberals won the majority • In response to the uprising, Charles abdicated and fled to Britain

3. Moderate liberals established a constitutional monarchy with Louis-Philippe (cousin to the Bourbons) as the new king • He was highly popular and called the “bourgeoisie king” • Italian states – a group called Young Italy led by Guiseppe Mazzini started a revolution that was crushed by Austrian troops • Poland – revolution crushed by Russian troops • Belgium – rebels against Dutch Republic and becomes and independent state • Great Britain • Reform Act of 1832 gave the right to vote to middle class men, increasing the number of voters by 50%

4. Greece revolted against the Ottoman Empire and gained independence • Russia • Czar Alexander dies and Constantine, the oldest son, refuses the throne • His younger brother becomes Czar Nicholas I • Decembrist Revolt • Group of revolutionaries, includes many military officers, revolt – they want more reform • They also believe Nicholas stole the throne from Constantine • Nicholas brutally crushes the revolt and will rule Russia with an iron fist for the rest of his reign

5. France • Once again revolution in France is the spark for other revolutions • Over fifty revolts in the first four months of 1848 • First revolt – King Louis-Philippe became increasingly repressive • There were also economic problems and the middle class wants the right to vote (suffrage) • The monarchy is overthrown and a temporary gov’t established • Called for election of representatives to draw up a new constitution • Universal male suffrage = all adult men can vote

6. Set up national workshops for the unemployed • Second Revolt • Emptied the treasury and the temporary gov’t closes • Workers revolt – known as the June Days, thousands are killed in the streets of Paris • The Second Republic is created and the people elect as the new president Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon • Known as Louis-Napoleon, will eventually establish the Second French Empire

7. Austrian Empire • Metternich passed the Carlsbad Decrees • Prohibited any reforms that conflicted with absolute monarchy • Established censorship and secret police • The Austrian Empire was a multinational state = a collection of different peoples • Germans, Czechs, Magyars, Slovaks, Romanians, Slovenes, Poles, Croats, Serbians, and Italians • Germans, who are ¼ of the population, govern the empire • The other nationalities wanted independence and their own gov’t

8. Demonstrators in Vienna take over the city • Metternich resigns and flees • The emperor abdicates in favor of his young nephew Franz Joseph • Hungarian Magyar rebel against Austrian rule, along with Czech rebels at Prague and Italians in their states • Austria eventually reestablishes control over their empire, thanks to help from Czar Nicholas I • Use military force to crush the rebels • All the revolutions failed, but the Austrian Empire has been weakened

9. Italian States • Revolts break out throughout the Italian states against Austrian rule • Revolutionaries even seize Rome, although the pope was able to gain control again thanks to French troops • These Italian revolutionaries want to create a constitution and a unified Italy • Fails – Austria puts down the revolts

10. German States • People revolt in the German states and German rulers promise constitutions, free press, and jury trials • Go back on their promises once the revolts are crushed • All-German parliament, called the Frankfurt Parliament, was held to draft a constitution and a plan to unite Germany • The Frankfurt Parliament offers the throne to the king of Prussia, who rejects a “crown picked from the gutter” • Revolts fail – drafted a constitution, but had no way of forcing the German rulers to accept it • No unification and Austria helps put down revolts

11. Great Britain • Does not have a revolution in 1848 • Britain is the most stable nation in Europe, Parliament gives people what they want • Slowly granting suffrage to citizens • Chartist movement • Chartists demand that Parliament adopt their petition, which includes universal male suffrage, payment to members of Parliament, vote by secret ballot, and annual elections • Parliament rejects their petition, but there is no revolt – all of the reforms will later be adopted

12. Russia • No revolution due to complete oppression • The Russians are too scared to rebel against the ruthless Nicholas I • He has a secret police force whose job is to hunt down all potential revolutionaries

13. Conclusion • Popular revolts started upheavals that led to liberal constitutions and govts. However, moderate liberals and more radical revolutionaries were soon divided over their goals and conservative rule was reestablished.

14. Country Reason for Revolution Successful? France Italian States German States Austrian Empire