• Liberals: stressed limited state interference in individual life; representation of propertied people in government; urged importance of constitutional rule & parliaments
• Nationalists: importance of national unity; valued collective identity based on culture, race, or ethnic origin• Ex: Otto von Bismarck, unified Germany in 1871
• Radicals: basically extreme liberals, argued for even broader voting rights; some advocated for out-right democracy; urged reforms for lower classes
• Maximilien Robespierre,Radical leader of France1792-1794
• Conservatives: 19th century conservatives were most likely to support traditional European institutions, such as the church, aristocracy, monarchy, empire-building, & colonization; the rise of so many liberal factions caused conservatives to compromise; cons tried hard to slow down the changes & revolutions occurring
• Klemens von Metternich,Chairman at the CongressOf Vienna
The Revolutions of 1848
Who is spared???
• The Revs of 1848 were unorganized and chaotic, and many groups participated
• Nationalists protested for the unification for new nations (Germany & Italy)
• Socialists protested for better working conditions and social reforms
• Liberals & radicals protested for greater participation in government/end of monarchies
• Conservatives, of course, tried to repress the revolts
Background
• Britain’s Reform Bill of 1832: extended the vote to most members of the middle-class in Britain
• 1832 Reform Bill encouraged liberals and revolutionaries in Europe
• 1846-1848: bad harvest & financial crisis causes unrest in France. Boy howdy, don’t that sound like a broken record?
Beginning of Revolutions
• Popular uprising in Feb 1848 in France; overthrows monarchy & democratic republic created; workers protested for quasi-socialist government
• Spreads to Germany, Italy, Austria, & Hungary; liberals draft constitutions to limit monarchs & nationalists sought greater autonomy for their regions/nations; peasants wanted end to manorialism
Austro-Hungarian Empire, 1848
German Confederation, 1848
Results
• Revolutions were largely a failure• Conservatives & middle-class liberals joined
forces to put-down worker rebellions• Austrian & Prussian (German) armies ended the
dreams of nationalists• Napoleon III comes to power in France
(seriously) and is emperor from 1852-1870• Peasants achieve success, as serfdom is
abolished in west & central Europe
Results (continued)
• Taught revolutionaries that violence was too risky and did not work; liberals, radicals, & socialists would use more gradual & moderate methods in the future
• Last major revolutions in European history (although there were those world wars)
• After 1850, increased industrialization made bad harvests and food crises far less likely
• Industrial class structure: wealthy businessmen were > old aristocracy