Revolutions and Unification

Europe from 1815-1850

Revolutions of 1830 & 1848Revolutions break out in many nations

Caused by Liberals wanting changes Industrial Revolution – low wage workers

wanting changes Intellectuals (teachers) wanting changes Nationalism – people want to create new

countries for their ethnic groups / nationalities

Revolutions of 1830 & 1848Almost all of these revolutions are

unsuccessful Liberal Revolutionaries can not agree on

their goals Conservatives are unified / more organized

– thus monarchs stay in power

Lets look at some examples

France – 1815-1850

France After Congress of ViennaLouis XVIII installed as new king of

France Conservative – but also a realist

Agreed to keep French Parliament / Limited Monarchy

Nobody Happy Liberals say he is not liberal enough Conservatives want to go back to an Absolute

Monarch

Charles XTakes over after Louis XVIII dies in 1824Even more conservative than Louis

Wants an Absolute Monarchy again Gets rid of Parliament 1830 Passes the July Ordinances

No freedom of press Restrictions on rights to vote

Liberals revolt against the July Ordinances Charles forced to flee to England

Louis Phillip “The Bourgeoisie Monarch”

Presents himself as more liberal In reality, he must keep the support of

conservatives. Favors the wealthy / Upper middle class

Middle class gets right to vote Against Socialism

1848 – Liberals revolt – Led by Socialists Factory Workers and Intellectuals (Professors)

Louis Blanc 1848 - comes to power

Only lasts a few months Socialist

Establishes “workhouses” Government controlled businesses Everyone guaranteed a job

“Busywork” type of jobs Must raise taxes to pay for these workhouses

Middle Class (conservatives) revolts Louis Flees to England

Louis Napoleon Nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte

Takes advantage of the family name Elected, sets himself up as Emperor – just like his

old uncle did Passed some reforms

Male suffrage (voting) Promotes railroads and work programs

Cracks down on dissent (disagreement) Censors newspapers, professors, Outlaws other political parties

Louis Napoleon Tries to make France great again

Gains colonies in North and West Africa Builds Suez Canal Tries to gain Mexico

Unsuccessful Gets involved in Crimean War against Russia

Does not get much out of it

Ends up in a war with Prussia in 1870 Franco-Prussian War

Disaster for France Loses Alsace and Lorraine territories

Next Up - Germany

From 1815-1870

green book

p 464-465, 537-540

Germany in 1815There is no Germany in 1815

Just a collection of independent German kingdoms and principalities and baronies

Prussia is the largest and most powerful German kingdom

German states organized into a loose Confederation under the supervision of Austria

Obstacles to German UnityAustria, France and Russia all feared a

unified German would be a powerful threat

Smaller German states feared a unified Germany would mean Prussian control

Catholic German states in the south feared Protestant Lutheran states in the north would dominate

Prussian LeadershipA strong Prussian Army dominated the

German statesJunkers (wealthy German Nobles) and

Capitalists (businessmen) dominated the German Parliament Prussian ownership of the Ruhr and its

coal fields fueled the economic growth of Prussia during the Industrial Revolution

Prussian Leadership continuedPrussia was an authoritarian state.Believed in Militarism

Strong army Army would carry out the needs of the

government

Germany 1848 Liberals demand reforms.

Constitution Workers rights

Revolt suppressed by Fredrick Wilhelm IV – emperor of Prussia

1849 – German Parliament tries to unify German States into one country Offer the crown of the new Germany to Fredrick

Wilhelm IV. He turns them down and disbands Parliament

German unification put on hold

Prussia under Bismarck1860s – Prussia led by

Otto von Bismarck Prime minister of Prussia Unite Germany with “Blood

and Iron” Believed in “Realpolitik”

Politics of reality – not idealism.

Best way to unify people? A good old fashioned war

Franco – Prussian War Both Prussia and France saw war as a great way

of uniting their populations in a common cause

Fought over – of all things- who should be king of Spain. (go figure)

Prussia wins big time Emperor William I named Kaiser of a united Germany –

dominated by Prussia Bismarck turns Germany into an efficient, military and

industrial giant.

Unification of Italy

Italy in early 1800sObstacles to Unity

Italy is a collection of separate kingdoms Most kingdoms ruled by outside powers

Naples – Spain Venice & Lombardy – Austria Papal states – Pope / Church

                                                                                       

                                  

The Leaders Giuseppe Mazzini

The “soul” of Italian unity Leads a secret nationalistic movement

“Young Italy Society” Wanted unified Italy Wanted Italy to be a democracy / republic

Viktor Emmanuel II and Camillo Cavour Led the “Resorgimento” (revival) Cavour is the “brains” behind the operation King Victor Emmanuel is the “Heart”

1848 RevolutionKingdom of Piedmont and Sardinia

stood up to Austria Fought Austria to aid other Italian states

under control of Austria Lost – but gained the respect of all Italians

King of Piedmont forced out, but his son Viktor Emmanuel II and Cavour step in to take over – good move

1859 Things looking up France and Austria go to war. Piedmont, allies with France. When France wins, Piedmont gets Lombardy

from Austria. Piedmont now seen as most influential Italian

kingdom. People in other kingdoms rise up and join

Piedmont. Tuscany, Modena, Parma

Piedmont

Enter GaribaldiGiuseppe Garibaldi

The “Sword” of Italian unity Formed a volunteer army of

nationalists “1,000 Red Shirts”

Sailed to Sicily and took it over. Sailed to Southern Italy

Moved up through Italy conquering and unifying

Ended up unifying nearly all of Italy

Garibaldi continuedGood general, lousy politician – and he

knew it.After unifying most of Italy, he turned

control over to Viktor Emmanuel. Knew Emmanuel was a better politician

who could lead all of ItalyNot all is perfect – but Italy is beginning

to look like the Italy we know today