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- Liberalism and Nationalism became the essence of revolution among many parts of Europe .
- These revolutions were led by educated middle class elite which included professors, school teachers, clerks and members of commercial middle classes .
- The revolutions began in France in 1830 when the conservative monarch was overthrown by the liberal - nationalists and Louis Phillipe was made the constitutional monarch .
- France became an example for the whole of Europe .
- Greek independence mobilised the nationalist feelings among the educated middle class.
- Starting from France , the revolution spread across Italy, Germany, Ireland and Poland .
The Romantic Imagination and National Feeling
- Nationalism did not come only through wars and territorial expansion but also through the Culture and cultural activities like art, poetry, stories and music .
- Romanticism was the cultural movemen t which sought to develop a particular form of nationalist feeling .
- Romantic artists believed in creating a sense of shared collective heritage which formed the basis of a nation .
- Johann Gottfried Herder was a German philosopher who believed that true German Culture was to be discovered among common people .
- The intention of spreading the message of nationalism through vernacular language and folklore was to enhance the knowledge of the illiterate people .
- Poland is the biggest example for this.
- Along with music and folklore , revolt for language also took place in Poland in 1831 when it was freed from the Russian empire.
Hunger, Hardship and Popular Revolt
- In the 1830s , Europe faced a lot of struggles when a large part of the population migrated towards the urban settlements.
- There was a lot of unemployment because of the stiff competition against the machine produced goods of England .
- In the year 1848 , people of Paris came out on roads due to widespread food shortage and unemployment .
- This led to Louis Phillipe fleeing away in terror.
- As a result, the National Assembly proclaimed a Republic , granted suffrage to all adult males above the age of 21 and guaranteed Right to work .
- National workshops to provide employment were also set up .
- One of the most popular European revolts of this sort took place in Silesia in 1845.
- Small weavers led the revolt against contractors who were exploiting them.
- Around 18000 rebellions attacked the storehouses of the contractor , which forced him to flee away with his family.
- In this altercation , 11 rebellions were also shot.
1848: The Revolution of Liberals
- Along with the revolts done by the poor people , the educated middle class also started raising their voices for what they demanded .
- In parts of Europe like Germany, Italy, Poland and Austro - Hungarian empire, men and women of liberal middle classes combined their demands for constitutionalism with national unification .
- In Germany , a large number of political associations were formed whose members included middle - class professionals, businessmen and prosperous artisans .
- These associations voted to form an all - German National Assembly on May 18,1848 with 831 elected members.
- They drafted a constitution but it was strongly opposed by aristocrats and the military.
- This led to the disbandment of the assembly as the middle - class opposed the demands of artisans and workers .
- The role of women was still of an observer in the assembly even after they had formed their own political associations and they were also not granted suffrage rights.
- Conservative forces were able to suppress these movements but could not restore the old order of the monarchy.
- Finally, serfdom and bonded labour were abolished in Habsburg dominions and in Russia in 1867.
