Factors of the Revolutions of 1848

Factors of the Revolutions of 1848
In the years leading up to 1848 there were many factors that triggered revolts throughout Europe. The countries involved include France, Italy, Prussia/Germany, and Austria. Tension grew throughout these countries because of industrialization, population increases, agricultural and financial crises, repressive measures and lack of reform, and ideological challenges.
High unemployment, especially among the artisan classes, ignited liberal revolt. The Industrial Revolution, which introduced mechanization and the trade cycle, greatly contributed to this uprising. It made business men rich because they now had machines that did the work rather than people doing it by hand. The poor became aware that these business men owned capital and made the most profit, so they became more open to political ideas. This led to the popular crowd activity of machine-breaking. Such revolts would be the Silesian weavers’ revolt in 1844 and in 1846 when Metternich called upon Galician peasantry to put down the revolt of the Polish masters.
The population of Europe doubled from 1748-1848 partly because of the advances introduced from the Industrial Revolution. In 1846, famine struck Europe. Lack of grain drove up food and other prices, 60% in one year, while wages remained the same which reduced demand for manufactured goods resulting in factory layoffs. The urban poor spent 50% of their income on food, so there was nothing to spare to cope with these price increases. Another bad condition suffered by the urban poor was disease. Typhoid and cholera added to the death toll in 1847 especially in children, making the life expectancy to be only 32 years old which gave the peasants a feeling of discomfort with the state of affairs.
Financial crises caused an investment bubble bust in railways, coal and iron. People buying less made profits plummet causing industrial workers to lose their jobs. The middle class became upset with the lack of reforms and careers. In Prussia for example, the middle class felt resentment towards Metternich’s policies of control and repression. This repression made it very hard to find a career based on talent. Metternich had received word of the other revolutions in Europe. He decided to blame Russia for causing the ‘malaise’ or feeling of discomfort so he wrote to the tsar about his role in these revolutions. His solution was repression and control causing the middle class to become more radical than the working class.
In France, moderate liberals used to hold “banquet campaigns” where they gave speeches at dinners in order to raise money. Minister Francois Guizot, chief minister, canceled a scheduled banquet because he feared organized protests by the middle and working classes. This resulted in Parisian citizens demonstrating against the repression. Skilled workers along with the Army Garrison stationed in Paris started to revolt. Louis Philippe attempted reforms but was rejected which led to his removal. Only 1% of the middle class owned 30% of the wealth of the middle classes. The grande bourgeoisie who were bankers, manufacturers, and merchants supported this regime because they were able to buy land and raise their social status. However, the professional middle class containing doctors, lawyers, officials, professors and teachers, which was 10% of the middle class, did not like the liberal reform because they were unable to buy land and raise their status or have the right to vote. The lower middle class, known as the sans-culottes in the 1790s, much like the urban workers, had the same feelings. By the 1840s, they included Republicans who were involved in the June Days fighting in Paris.
In Prussia/Germany, unlike the French Revolution, it was an example of the government trying to unite all the provinces of Germany and Prussia into a single Germany. They thought a united Germany could create a force that could challenge Russia. In 1847 Frederick William IV of Prussia attempted to raise taxes to build a railway which led to serious outbreaks in Berlin and the death of 300 people. Remembering the destiny of Louis Philippe, he surrendered. If the Frankfurt Assembly had succeeded in adopting a new constitution, it would have resulted in a constitutional monarchy led by Frederick William and war with Austria.
In Austria, over the preceding decades, many ethics groups were becoming more nationalistic. Prince Metternich had worked for years to try to hold the Austrian empire together, however, after seeing the French revolt, students, workers and middle class liberals revolted in Vienna in an effort to set up self rule within the ethnic groups. In March 1848, Louis Kossuth began a vocal independence movement. His speeches were printed in Vienna which started an uprising. This caused Metternich to become fearful and fled Vienna because no one would support his policy of resistance.
In 1848, the Italian states were organized revolts led by intellectuals and agitators who desire a liberal government. Historically Italy was fragmented into several states, many of which were under Austrian control. The Italian people wanted to be free from foreign rule and the conservative leadership of the Austrians, so they staged a revolution in order to force out the Austrians.
The French Revolution acted as a catalyst for the revolutions in 1848 throughout Europe.