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Has anyone else studied the 1848 Revolutions in Europe?I think it is fascinating that these events get so little coverage in American textbooks. They led to the fall of the First Republic in France and the rise of Napoleon III and they also led to significant reforms in the Prussian government. It was almost as if a revolution bug hit Europe that summer as there was unrest in most of Europe that year. The demonstrations and violence in Prussia and France was simply the most significant.
Too true, most texts show them (and their futility) as the triumph of the Congress of Vienna… re-establishing monarchy as the way to go and allowing the various states to help each other counter any revolutions. Read: “Balance of Power”.Not until the unifications of Italy and Germany do we see this change.
What I find to be the most relevant to my specialty is that it was the 1848 revolutions that led to the Prussian king granting a constitution with minimal representation. Granted, the Prussian constitution after 1848 was only eye candy with little substance but it was a start. Gordon Craig does an excellent analysis of the effects of 1848 on Prussia in his history of the Prussian Army.
The demonstrations and violence in Prussia and France was simply the most significant.
Eastern Europe is forgot as usual ;)I mean by this Hungarian Revolutionary War in 1848-1849. War by which Austrian Empire was almost destroyed.Forgive me but I'm going to put below a link to Wiki to describe the events in brief ;)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Revolution_of_1848
The changes is the Austrian empire were significant to be sure…**The recognition that with only 25% of the population ethnic Austrians were going to have a hard go of holding things together even with the Hapsburg's army and bureaucracy as tools.**Recognizing the strength of the Magyars in the Hungarian area.**Ditto the growing cultural pride of the various Slavic peoples, as well as the Italians and Romanians with the Empire.**Ferdinand I's sacking Metternich.**Kossuth forcing the new constitution.The down side:**Everyone else feared Magyar domination and civil war erupted in the Hungarian areas.**Francis Joseph called for help from Russia and the Congress of Vienna (again) maintains the “balance of power”.Lasting effect: abolition of serfdom in the empire.
Lasting effect: abolition of serfdom in the empire.
And huge loss of the empire's military prestige. Next beatings – given by the French in 1859 and the Prussians in 1866 – forced reforms. Since 1867 there's no Austrian Empire but Austria-Hungary with several autonomous states.
I did not forget Austria but at the time of the original post I was taking a class on French history and so the revolution in Paris with the rise of Napoloeon III and my personal interest Prussia led me to neglect that aspect. You are 100% correct in that 1848 brought about a sea change in the Austrian Empire and almost saw its dissolution. If it had not been for Russian assistance the Habsburgs would probably have been deposed.
I see. On my part, this matter is in my personal area of interest because of its connection with history of my country. Thanks to beatings which Austria inflicted between 1848 – 1866 and loss of its internal prestige “Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria” was granted autonomy. The Galician autonomy allowed Polish culture to survive and be developed. Some Polish guys became ministers in Vienna and one was Prime Minister for a while. Short story of this part of Austria-Hungary Empire is in Wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Galicia_and_Lodomeria Hungarian Revolution was also a significant event in history of Poland. Thousands of volunteers from our side of the Carpathians went to aid the Hungarians. Ironically, Russian army which was sent to put down the Hungarian Revolution was commanded by the same man, who put down our Uprising in 1831 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_Uprising )
One historian — I forget whom — called the revolutions of 1848 a turning point in History that failed to turn.An upside for the USA and perhaps fatal for the future of Germany to 1945 is that a large number of Germans immigrated to our shores, many of them disappointed or liberals hunted by the authorities (meaning they wanted a republic/democracy).
An upside for the USA and perhaps fatal for the future of Germany to 1945 is that a large number of Germans immigrated to our shores, many of them disappointed or liberals hunted by the authorities (meaning they wanted a republic/democracy).
My Great-Great-Grandfather was a '48er who also fought in the Civil War as a memeber of the Iron Bridage according to family legend. I know for a fact that he was a '48er, I am not so sure about being with the Iron Brigade although I do know he fought in the Civil War. So the Revolutions of 1848 had an impact on my personal history, my grandmothers side goes back to Colonial times though..
Lasting effect: abolition of serfdom in the empire.
And huge loss of the empire's military prestige. Next beatings – given by the French in 1859 and the Prussians in 1866 – forced reforms. Since 1867 there's no Austrian Empire but Austria-Hungary with several autonomous states.
Quite right; I should have said immediate (or short term)effect.
