Transcript File
Revolutions of 1848
and Nationalism
Copied Chap and Chap 25
So many revolutions occurred within a
short time because of the years of
oppression for the benefit of the elites
that maintained a conservative power
structure
Fueled the revolutions across the Atlantic,
which in turn fueled revolutions back in
Europe
◦ Portuguese and Spanish empires in Americas
gone, France’s dwindling
Nationalism and Liberalism’s Rise
Elite military (nobility) were tired of the
tsar’s power and called for representation
in the government. Also wanted to end
serfdom for the betterment of all Russians
Leaders were executed by tsar Nicholas I,
who also instated a secret police force to
“deal” with insubordinates
Decembrist
Movement in
Russia - 1825
Greek War for
independence against
the Ottomans (182127)
Romanticized by many
Europeans for being the
“birthplace” of Western
Civilization
Gained independence,
but a fragile, small
state
1828 – Serbians fought
for a Christian
Orthodox state
Russians helped –
“Slavic” brothers
Still had economic ties
to Ottomans, as did the
Greeks
◦ Needed the intervention
of British, French and
Russians
Greek And Serbian Independence
Movements
1830- Belgium
(Austrian Netherlands)
breaks free of Holland
and allowed to remain
independent if they
promise to be neutral
1830- Poland pushed
out the Russian puppet
monarch, Constantine,
but are ultimately
crushed by tsar
Nicholas I and were
back under his control
1830 – Britain –
Peterloo massacre,
increasing calls for
reform
◦ 1832 –Reform Bill to
make parliament more
representative of the
people
◦ 1838 – abolishment of
slavery
◦ Fever pitch of revolutions
in 1848 when failures in
harvests and high grain
prices led to revolts in
the streets
Other Revolutionary Actions
1824-30 – Charles X on
throne, restored
Catholicism in schools,
made parliament accept a
bill to repay nobility for
damages incurred during
the Rev.
Dissolved parliament in
1830 when liberal party
was voted in
Forced to abdicate after
the commoners
revolted…again
France’s
Problems…Another
Revolution?
1830 Revolution:
Louis Philippe, duke
of Orleans, now king
of a constitutional
monarchy (had been
in exile since father
(a duke who
supported the
revolution) was
beheaded during
1789 rev)
◦ Doubled # of voters,
got commoners back
into politics
◦ Stability lasted until
1848
Louis Philippe forced to abdicate
in 1848 and returned to exile in
England
New (2nd) republic was formed
with universal male suffrage
Lifted restrictions on press and
allowed for the flourishing of
political voices
Set up National Workshops to
employ the needy – quickly
overwhelmed by the # of
workers seeking employment
Women’s rights expanding, more
rights for immigrants as well
Conservatives and moderates in
the middle and upper classes
fear the amount of change
taking place at once
In May of 1848, govt closed
workshops and drafted men into
the army to repress workers and
commoners that were rebelling
against changes
Many arrested and deported to
labor camps in Algeria
Election of president led to the
election of Louis Napoleon…
Yep, another Revolution in France
– 1848 edition
Along the lines of an enlightened despot –
“Authoritarian Nationalism”
◦ Romanticization of the original Napoleon after
1820 in France
Middle class and wealthy peasants actually
feared a move toward socialism, so
supported a more autocratic ruler like N3 –
elected in 1848 by large margin of votes
Already had been influential in politics
through a series of pamphlets that laid out
a new plan for France
◦ Wanted a direct democracy of policies that
bypassed the parliamentary system, which he
thought was corrupted by special interest groups
(Hello, US Congress…)
Louis Napoleon – Napoleon III
Worked with the National Assembly until 1851, then conspired
against them to achieve a longer term in office
Dec 2 – coup d’etat that dismantled the National Assembly
Held a vote to extend his term to 10 years – 92% in favor
Increased expansion of railroads, national banks, public works for
employment and urban planning, allowed the working classes to
unionize and strike
1860s- lost sway over voters, by 1869, National Assembly had
more control again
1870 – new constitution adopted to set up a parliamentary
system – 3rd republic of France founded
◦ Also made self the hereditary emperor of France through VOTE (WHAT THE
HECK, FRENCH PEOPLE?)
The Napoleon III Years (1852 –
1870)
Prior to 1850, there was no
unification in Italy
◦ Had been part of the Roman
empire
◦ Competing city-states grew out
of the later medieval period
◦ 1494-1815 – prime target for
European imperialism
Reorganized by the Congress of
Vienna
Lombardi and Venetia in north –
Austrian
Sardinian and Piedmont –
Italian Monarch
Tuscany – City-State
Central Italy and Rome – Papal
States
Naples and Sicily – Ruled by
branch of Bourbon monarchs
Pre-Unified Italy
Radical idealism – Guiseppe Mazzini –
universal male suffrage, direct democracy
◦ Carbonari – radical groups in the early 1800s had
been carrying this torch for a while
Federation of states under the Pope – Vincezo
Gioberti
Autocratic kingdom approach – Sardinia’s
Victor Emmanuel already working under a
constitutional monarchy
◦ See reading for more information
Ideas for unification
Before Bismarck – Austria and Prussia did
not see eye to eye.
Modern industry was growing within the
Zollverein, which was the trade union
among German states (which EXCLUDED
Austria)
William I of Prussia (r. 1861 – 1888)was
tough-minded – wanted to increase size
of army and expand defense budget
Path to German Unification
Prussian aristocrat, rebellious
and wild as a young man
◦ Kept options open for his climb to
the top
◦ “Might makes right” was his M.O.
◦ Ignored Parliament and the middle
class’s concerns
◦ Opportunistic in regards to foreign
policy and in his quest to unite the
German-speaking peoples of
Central Europe
Otto Von Bismarck –Man, Myth
Legend
Bismarck waged a war against Denmark in 1864
w/ Austria’s help to keep the state of SchleswigHolstein under German control
Turned on Austria in 1866 and defeated them at
the battle of Sadowain, Bohemia.
No reparations, but Austria lost Venetia to Italy
Creation of the Northern German Federation,
headed by Prussia –each state had a constitution
of its own, but the King of Prussia was the
“president” of the confed
◦ Bismarck was only accountable to the King of Prussia
◦ Official position was chancellor
Germany comes together
Manufactured by Bismarck to get the
southern German states into the confed.
◦ Germany now declared an EMPIRE at Versailles
after France officially surrendered
◦ France had to pay Germany 5 billion francs (an
outrageous price at the time) and lost AlsaceLorraine
◦ Laid the groundwork for WWI’s
hate party
The Franco-Prussian War
- 1870
25 states in the confederation, largest was
Prussia
Reichstag (Diet/Parliament) created as the lower
house of the legislative body
Bismarck’s anti-Catholic push called the
kulturkampf –”struggle for civilization” (he was
Lutheran)
Caused a rise of Catholic center party in
Germany as a result
Also tried to suppress the socialist movement by
outlawing their meetings
◦ Co-opted their political message by creating a welfare
state in Germany
German Empire