Revolutions of 1848

The Revolutions of 1848 were a series of political and economic revolts that took place in Europe because of a recession and abuse of political power. Although changes were made all throughout Europe, the original, oppressive government took back control soon after, undoing the work of the revolutionaries. Although these changes didn't last long, the revolutions did prove to both the governments and revolutionaries that the people had the power to undermine the government in order to bring about reform and create the policies of socialism and liberalism.

There was a pattern, or cycle that was evident throughout these revolutions. This cycle had four distinctive stages: First, the workers, university students, and other revolutionaries agitated for change. Next, the revolutionaries revolted and brought about change and established what they thought was the ideal government, sometimes forcing the king and other leaders to flee. Third, the activists began to quarrel among themselves, disputing over the fine points of their ideas and actions. This disunity set up the fourth and final distinct stage, when the old government was given the opportunity to take back control, or a new government that was even more repressive than the former took control by brutally crushing and repressing the revolution.

What sparked these revolutions was the second revolution in France, which drove Louis Philippe from his throne and brought in a provisional government dedicated to a democratic franchise and "national workshops" to reduce unemployment. This government also passed laws to handle the unstable condition in Paris and established was a constitution that provided universal suffrage for men. However, this was not the end. When elections were held for a new legislature, the voters sent a fairly conservative assembly to Paris. This message sent by the voters was clear--the rural areas in France did not want to be taxed in order to support the unemployed. This new legislature abolished the workshops. In reaction to this, the unemployed workers sought to overthrow the government. This led to three days of bloodshed in Paris, which is now known as the "June Days," when thousands of Frenchmen lost their lives as the army restored order to the city.(4) Just as Prince Klemens von Metternich pointed out, the infection of revolution spread from France, causing further revolts.

Soon after the French, other countries took up the torch of revolution and carried it until either they were defeated and suppressed, or they were successful in implementing their plan. The next country to take charge of what they thought was a degrading government and establishes their ideals were the people in Vienna, the capital of the Austrian Empire. The object of their uprising was to establish a liberal constitution that abolished serfdom, and promised self-rule for the Hungarians. Their plan was successful, when the weak ruler, Emperor Ferdinand I, gave in to their requests and granted it so. Conservative minister Prince Klemens von Metternich was forced to resign when demonstrations by university students and workers broke out. However, the tide soon turned when differences among the revolutionaries gave the reactionary forces an opportunity to suppress the revolution.

In June, Czech leader Frantisek Palacky organized a Pan-Slav Congress in the city of Prague, demanding equality with the Germans. On June 17, Austrian forces crushed this rebellion and a month later regained control in Milan. In December, Francis Joseph succeeded Ferdinand I as the emperor of Austria and, using the force of a Russian army, was able to get the Hungarian revolutionaries to surrender their independence. In the summer of 1849, a Roman republic crated by Giuseppe

Mazzini and Giuseppe

Garibaldi collapsed, and the Austrian forces took back control of Venice.

In Italy, the Napoleonic Era awakened liberalism and nationalism.