The Period Of Protests: The Age Of Revolution In Europe
This period of protests and revolts is described as the ‘age of revolution’, it is renowned for the change of governments from monarchies to constitutionalist states and republics. It consisted of the American revolution, followed by the French and finalising with the creation of a new German state under the leadership with Prussia. The mass amounts of protests that occurred in Europe in this time showed the sheer discontentment of the European people at this time; with the working and living conditions and political structure.
The French revolution pronounced the end to the monarchies and greeted new democracy and nationalism. The French government was spending a fortune on wars with the British empire leading to an economic crises meaning
unpopular taxes had to be introduced, to make matters worse a recent bad harvest had left France in disarray and the monarchy bankrupt. The monarchy became extremely unpopular as the French population envied their lavish lifestyles even more due to the dire living conditions that the economic crisis had produced. The main reasons for the French revolution of 1789 were: agricultural failure, national dept, and poor political management from king louis XVI.
The German Revolutions of 1848-1849 where a series of protests within the states of the German confederation and the Austrian empire; consisting of large assemblies and protests. The overall, key beliefs were for freedom: freedom of the press and freedom of opinion. The middle class populations wanted liberal principles, with the key beliefs of liberty and equality. However, the poor part of the population wanted better living conditions and vastly improved working conditions. The divide between the middle class and the poor meant that they were easily defeated by the conservative aristocracy and the liberals then had to exile to America.
The decline in Austrian power existed from 1850 to the late 1860s. The revolts were mainly nationalist in character. There was conflict over the organised religion of the country, the taxes that were being collected agriculture and freedom.
The revolts in Europe all seem to share the same motives that surround money and politics. Poor agriculture and harvests lead to unhappiness and poverty. The working and living conditions were often poor and his led to revolts. Political opinions are a cause for revolt in the case of the German revolutions were the middle class favoured the liberal views. Finally, the amount of equality that there is in the country. All of these individual factors lead up to the hatred of the upper class and leaders of the country from the views of the lower classes. The revolts that occurred across Europe lead to a decrease in monarchies and a rise in democracy, equality and nationalism.
The French revolution pronounced the end to the monarchies and greeted new democracy and nationalism. The French government was spending a fortune on wars with the British empire leading to an economic crises meaning
unpopular taxes had to be introduced, to make matters worse a recent bad harvest had left France in disarray and the monarchy bankrupt. The monarchy became extremely unpopular as the French population envied their lavish lifestyles even more due to the dire living conditions that the economic crisis had produced. The main reasons for the French revolution of 1789 were: agricultural failure, national dept, and poor political management from king louis XVI.
The German Revolutions of 1848-1849 where a series of protests within the states of the German confederation and the Austrian empire; consisting of large assemblies and protests. The overall, key beliefs were for freedom: freedom of the press and freedom of opinion. The middle class populations wanted liberal principles, with the key beliefs of liberty and equality. However, the poor part of the population wanted better living conditions and vastly improved working conditions. The divide between the middle class and the poor meant that they were easily defeated by the conservative aristocracy and the liberals then had to exile to America.
The decline in Austrian power existed from 1850 to the late 1860s. The revolts were mainly nationalist in character. There was conflict over the organised religion of the country, the taxes that were being collected agriculture and freedom.
The revolts in Europe all seem to share the same motives that surround money and politics. Poor agriculture and harvests lead to unhappiness and poverty. The working and living conditions were often poor and his led to revolts. Political opinions are a cause for revolt in the case of the German revolutions were the middle class favoured the liberal views. Finally, the amount of equality that there is in the country. All of these individual factors lead up to the hatred of the upper class and leaders of the country from the views of the lower classes. The revolts that occurred across Europe lead to a decrease in monarchies and a rise in democracy, equality and nationalism.