Title: 1848 REVOLUTIONS IN EUROPE- NATURE AND IMPACTS | Idea of History
Headings: 1848 REVOLUTIONS IN EUROPE- NATURE AND IMPACTS
1848 REVOLUTIONS IN EUROPE- NATURE AND IMPACTS
INTERPRETATIONS AND NATURE OF THE REVOLUTIONS –
CAUSES –
Economic Crisis –
State Aggravation –
Demands for National Unification –
COURSE –
‘SPRINGTIME OF THE PEOPLES’
CAUSES OF THE FAILURE –
COUNTER REVOLUTION AND IMPACT OF REVOLUTIONS ON THE POLITICS OF EUROPE –
LEGACY OF THE REVOLUTIONS OF 1848 –
Idea of History
-R.G. Collingwood (1946, revised edition 1993). ISBN 0-19-285306-6

Content: Thus the regime lost confidence and a Provisional Government was set up. The February revolution in France gave ideas to other countries in Europe which in turn started other revolutions. Germany- Discontent was widespread and the February revolution in France spread rapidly into the German states. In Berlin, demonstrators agitated for liberal political demands and in favour of German nationalism. After the spread of protests the King, Frederick IV introduced a more liberal cabinet and agreed to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. However as in Paris, the shooting of civilians by troops drove the situation out of control. The revolution in the German states had not only shaken Berlin and other capital cities but had reached the countryside as well. Austria- A crisis built up within the Austrian empire as there was increased Nationalism among the Czechs, Hungarians, and other groups. Encouraged by the liberal reforms which had taken place in France, the Austrians wanted to replace the Emperor’s present counselors and restore confidence between the monarch and his people. They wanted constitutional reform, the complete emancipation of the peasantry, greater efficiency in the administration and to establish a United Diet in which both peasants and middle classes would be represented.