A History of Modern Europe - From the Renaissance to the Present

614 Ch. 16 • The Revolutions of 1848

1848, and popular pressure forced the expansion of the Belgian electoral
franchise.

A common process was present in the revolutions in France, the German
states, and in the Habsburg lands: initial mobilizations of liberals, republi­
cans, and nationalists coalesced into movements against existing regimes
(see Map 16.1). In each revolution, the hard times of the 1840s, marked by
harvest and business failures, had increased popular dissatisfaction with
conservative or moderate regimes. Essentially middle-class movements, they
drew on the support of artisans and craftsmen, members of trade organiza­
tions who believed that political change would lead to social reforms that
would benefit their trades. Following initial victory, ranging from the over­
throw of the Orleanist monarchy in France to political concessions in Aus­
tria and Prussia, however, the ensuing struggle to implement change led to a
split between moderates and radicals. Then followed the gradual but con­
vincing victory of counter-revolution, in which the armies of the reactionary
Tsar Nicholas I of Russia would play an important role.

Revolutionary Mobilization

The late 1840s brought food shortages in Europe, including the tragic Irish

potato famine. Unemployment plagued manufacturing towns. Yet, however

widespread, economic discontent was not enough in itself to bring about

the wave of revolutions that occurred in 1848 (if this was the case, the Irish

would have risen up). Rather, hard times provided an impetus to political

opponents of existing regimes, which were preoccupied with food riots and

other popular protest.

Critics and political opponents included liberal reformers asking for

moderate political changes, such as a lessening of restrictions on the press,

or, in states with elected assemblies, an expansion in the electoral franchise

so that more men could vote. German nationalists stood ready to push for

the unification of the German states. Republicans and socialists demanded

more radical reforms, including universal male suffrage and social reforms

to ameliorate the condition of the laboring poor. Radical reformers also

included nationalists within the Austrian Habsburg lands, principally

Hungarians, who wanted their own independent state. When a spark

ignited the fires of protest, moderates and radicals joined forces in revolu­

tion. The sudden overthrow of the July Monarchy in France provided that

spark.

The February Revolution in France

In France, the liberal Orleanist monarchy, which had been established by

the Revolution of 1830, seemed to have more enemies than friends. It was

caught between nobles insisting that the monarchy lacked dynastic legiti­