Revolutions of 1848: What factors, old and new, led to the widespread outbreak of revolution in 1848? Were the causes in the various countries essentially the same or did each have its own particular set of circumstances? What was the response to the revolutions? Why did they fail?
Nationalism, discontent with industrialism, and a renewed sense of liberalism and Romanticism in varying degrees fueled the revolutions that swept through Italy, France, Austria, Hungry and Germany in the cataclysmic year of 1848. Except for the French Revolution, these were revolts spawned by a strong sense of frustrated nationalism as well as hatred of unresponsive and reactionary leaders.
The Paris revolutions started in the working class areas of the city, in protest of the conservative king's policies, and the lack of political enfranchisement of the citizens. Economically, the country was struggling, and eventually the "Bourgeoisie King" was overthrown, leading to the second French Republic, although a fairly moderate one, and the beginning of universal suffrage for all men (Henry, 2007). But the Italian revolution was more fueled by nationalism than class conflict than France. At the time, only Piedmont and the Papal state had Italian rulers, while the Spanish controlled Sicily and Naples, and the rest of the Italian city-states were controlled by the Hapsburgs. Unlike the French Revolution, Italian revolt was not successful, and Louis Napoleon restored papal authority to appease French Catholics and the Hapsburgs regained their influence by 1850 (Henry, 2007).
Within Austria itself, there was a revolt more in the French class-based mode protesting the reactionary policies of the Hapsburgs that was crushed, although a new Hapsburg was placed on the throne -- just in time to put down a revolt in Hungary similar to that of the Italian nationalist revolt. The demands for German confederation likewise failed, as nationalism combined with a strong sense of republicanism did not galvanize the angry disenfranchised masses under a single banner. The middle classes and the radical socialists failed to overcome their differences, and the King of Prussia's refusal to govern a unified Germany struck a death-blow to the fractured movement (Henry, 2007)
Works Cited
Henry, Prof. "The Revolutions of 1848." Western Civilization Study Guide. 17 Mar 2007. http://www.wpunj.edu/~history/study/ws2/set7b.htm
