Revolutions of 1848 Flashcards
(43 cards)
What were the main goals of the 1848 revolutions?
Constitutional liberty, individual rights, and national unity.
What inspired the 1848 revolutions?
The French Revolution of 1789 and the legacy of Napoleonic rule.
Which cities experienced revolutions in 1848?
Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Budapest, Milan, and others.
What was the role of nationalism in the 1848 revolutions?
Nationalism and liberalism were initially united but later led to conflicts among ethnic groups.
Why did conservative governments oppose the revolutions?
They feared instability and the collapse of the existing monarchical order.
Who was the key conservative leader opposing revolutions in 1848?
Austrian Chancellor Klemens von Metternich.
What was the Congress of Vienna (1815) and its impact?
A meeting of European powers that restored monarchies and suppressed nationalism.
Why did the revolutions initially succeed?
Economic crisis, widespread discontent, and weak conservative responses.
What were the social classes involved in the revolutions?
Bourgeoisie, workers, students, and some military forces.
What role did women play in the revolutions?
They loaded weapons, treated the wounded, and relayed messages.
How did the revolutions fail?
Ethnic divisions, lack of unity, and conservative military intervention.
What happened to Metternich during the revolutions?
He was forced to resign on 13 March 1848.
Which country introduced universal male suffrage as a result of the revolutions?
France.
How did monarchs regain control?
They used the military to crush uprisings and regained support from the middle class.
What were the long-term consequences of the failed revolutions?
Strengthened conservative rule, ethnic conflicts, and eventual unification of Italy and Germany through force.
What was the ‘Springtime of Peoples’?
A period in 1848 when liberals and nationalists worked towards political and national reform across Europe.
How did the Revolutions of 1848 affect the Habsburg Empire?
Ethnic groups like Hungarians, Czechs, Poles, Romanians, and Serbs sought autonomy or independence.
What were the main weaknesses of the liberal revolutionaries?
Excluded too many people, especially ethnic minorities, and lacked a unified vision.
How did class divisions contribute to the revolutions’ failure?
The middle class feared radical working-class demands, leading them to side with conservatives.
How did the role of the military contribute to the revolutions’ failure?
Monarchies retained control of the armed forces, allowing them to suppress uprisings.
What role did the economy play in the revolutions?
Economic crises, famine, and unemployment fueled discontent, making people more receptive to revolutionary ideas.
What happened in France after the 1848 revolution?
The monarchy was overthrown, and Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte became president, later establishing an authoritarian regime.
What was the impact of the revolutions on Italy and Germany?
Unification was later achieved through force rather than democratic means, contributing to future authoritarianism.
