1848+-+The+Year+of+Revolutions

The middle years of the 1840s were years of hardship for Europe:


 * Main Reasons for the Revolutions:**
 * Heightened awareness of liberalism (Demands for political reform - e.g freedom of press)
 * Growth of Nationalism (German states wanted to federate into one nation)
 * Poor living conditions (cholera epidemic caused widespread death in Prussia, huge population growth, failure of potato and grain crops which resulted in hunger)
 * Prussian economic success (introduction of customs and tariffs for travellers amongst German states)
 * Foreign affairs (e.g protest against Louis Phillipe - explained later)


 * Onset of Rebellion:**
 * 1848 - people in Paris protest violently against Louis Phillipe's regime
 * Louis Phillipe //abdicated// (gave up his position) as a result.
 * News reached Vienna, students rebelled, and soon Metternich also resigned.

REVOLUTION NOW SWEPT THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT. //However...// //But soon...// > > > __  1848- The year of revolutions   __ >
 * As revolution spread throughout the German states, the leaders were responsive and promised new constitutions, etc.
 * Prussia's leader, King Frederick William IV refused to reform, and used the army to stop protest.
 * After hearing of Metternich's resignation, Frederick decided to reform and supported the idea of the Germanic Confederation.

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**1848-The year of revolutions did not uprise from one reason to another, it stemmed from many uprising issues during this period of time .The following are the many factors that contributed to what would be known as 1848 -the year of revolutions**  ======  ·   Series of economic downturns  ·   Living conditions not met- Potato crops and grain corps were failing on farmers this existing widespread from Ireland in the West to Poland in the East.  ·   Foreign affairs- Political discontent; The Middle class felt that they were being robbed from being allowed to extend their civil and political rights due to overruling power at the time.  ·   Liberalism made aware to society  ·   The idea to unite essentially based on Nationalism  ·        Technology evolving

> __ Onset results __   ·        Protests: Paris 23 February 1848- against the regime of Louis Philippe causing Louis to //abdicate// meaning resign from his position the following day. Similarly on the 13th March 1848 in Vienna students staffed a rebellion that would result on Metternich to resign as Foreign Minister. ·     King Frederick William IV stood his ground on resigning from his absolute power unlike his fellow authorities that had given in to the sweeping revolutions. He used his absolute power in stopping protests by calling in his troops. However King Frederick William IV gave in towards the end due to the uproar he had caused as a result of hearing that Metternich had resigned. ·    This major year of the revolutions caused many leaders of lesser states in promising new constitutions and political reforms. >  __**DURING THE YEAR OF REVOLUTIONS**__ > The Middle classes of Prussia during the journey of this period began to feel uneasy as they feared the consequences of revolutionizing and the fact that the working class would be in total control. This opportunity was seized by the King of Prussia who was able to withdrawal any comprising decisions made during the widespread of the revolutions, restoring his absolute power at the same time marking the end to Prussia’s revolution. > > 1848-The year of revolutions can be seen as ultimately significant to the whole of Europe, who was able to realise the ideal of nationalism and liberalism working hand in hand were misleading. This idea was broken down through the many causes and affects brought on through the widespread of revolutions.  >  > >