• 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