THE 1848 EUROPEAN REVOLUTIONS

Why were there so many revolutions in Europe in 1848?

In 1848, Europe erupted into a number of revolutions. A revolution is a political upheaval,
removal or replacement of government or state characterized by great change. These revolutions
were caused by so many factors due to political, social and economic conditions. In the 19 th
century, Europe was dominated by several powerful countries, for instance, the Austrian Empire,
the Russian Empire, Great Britain and many more. The following are the reasons or causes for
the revolutions.
Economic and Social causes
There was a dramatic population increase or growth in Europe in the 19 th century. Britain was
able to deal with rapid population growth with the help of industrialization which created jobs
for the majority. Industrialization is a process of social and economic change where a human
society changes from preindustrial to an industrial society. However, the rest of Europe was slow
to industrialize and could not offer people jobs, worsening their living conditions. Due to this, a
huge number of people migrated to the cities or towns in search of jobs and better living
conditions, but there were not enough jobs. Those that were left in the countryside did not have
enough food to supplement them for longer periods. The peasants that were left in the
countryside constituted of roughly eighty percent (80%) of Europe and these were subjected to
feudal dues (taxes by land owners on peasants). A peasant is a member of the lowly social class
that toils on the land, constituted by the small farmers and tenants, sharecroppers, farmhands and
other laborers on the land where they form the main labor force in agriculture and horticulture.
Therefore, the feudal dues that the peasants were subjected to made their lives practically hard.
Industrialization in the Ruhr, Saxony and suburbs of Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Prague, caused
revolutions due to;
 Rapid built housing were generally overcrowded and workers lived in terrible conditions
 Inadequate sanitation in the houses led to outbreak of diseases such as cholera and
typhoid
 New class of factory owners wanted political rights
 Industrialization threatened traditional crafts and labor practices e.g. weavers had
competition from cheap industrial textiles.
Therefore, this led to rising anger and dissatisfaction among the skilled artisans who lost out to
unskilled laborers willing to work for lower wages and with machinery that made work easier.
Political causes
A) Liberalism
The age of enlightenment brought about the ideas of liberalism. Enlightenment was a 17 th and
18th century philosophical movement in European history, emphasizing rationalism, achieving
clarity of perception, reason and knowledge. Hence, the ideas of liberalism fired up Europeans
who felt they had rights to be involved in politics. The liberals included groups of the educated
professionals like teachers, journalists, doctors etc., who believed that they had to be in politics
rather than the political fraternity only confined to absolute monarchs. Inasmuch as wanted these
rights and freedoms, they were generally not in favor of getting vote for everyone but wanted a
parliament full of educated and responsible elite.
B) Nationalism.
Nationalism is basically patriotism for one’s country; the idea of loving one’s country, people
and culture. After 1815, at the Congress of Vienna, support for the idea of nationalism grew
steadily. Many people in Italy and Germany questioned the legitimacy of the Austrian Empire
ruling over them.

Triggers for Revolution

By 1848, a series of economic crises had left millions of workers and peasants across Europe in
acute poverty.
- the potato crop which was the staple food for the poor people in northern Europe was wiped out
by disease in 1845
 The cereal harvest of 1845 was very poor and the next year even became worse.
 These poor harvests led to shortage of foods and increase in the prices of available foods.
 Therefore, there was increased unrest and bread riots due to starvation.
 The rising cost of living also angered many. People spent less money on goods such as
shoes and clothes which led to depression in the manufacturing industry.
 These crises led to banking and debt crisis. Interests rates increased and loans to pay for
investment were withdrawn, forcing many businesses to go into bankruptcy

Did the revolutions of 1848 have anything in common?

The 1848 European revolutions had a number of aspects in common. For instance;
 A) Opposition to Monarchy – The revolutions were primarily aimed at limiting the power of
kings and emperors. People wanted governments that represented their interests rather
than absolute rule by monarchs.
B) Leadership by Liberals and Democrats – The uprisings were led by groups that supported
political reforms, such as constitutional governments, individual freedoms, and
democratic rights. These leaders sought to replace authoritarian rule with more
representative governance.
C) Awareness Due to Industrialization – As industries grew, common people, including
workers and the middle class, became more aware of social and economic inequalities.
They began demanding better wages, working conditions, and political rights.
D) Role of Nationalism – Many revolts were fueled by the desire of different ethnic and
cultural groups to form their own independent nations. People wanted to break away from
large empires and establish governments that reflected their national identities.
E) Economic Hardships as a Trigger – Poor economic conditions, including food shortages,
unemployment, and financial crises, worsened public dissatisfaction. Events like the Irish
Potato Famine and agricultural failures created widespread suffering, which pushed
people to revolt.
F) Failure to Overthrow Monarchies – Despite widespread uprisings, none of the European
monarchies were permanently overthrown. After temporary concessions, rulers regained
control, and much of Europe returned to its pre-1848 political order. However, the
revolutions did lay the groundwork for future political changes..
Why did the revolutions fail?
Most of the Revolutions of 1848 failed due to several key reasons.
1. Lack of Full Support from the Working Class – While workers initially joined the
uprisings, they had different goals than the middle-class revolutionaries. Many workers
wanted social and economic reforms, while others prioritized political changes. This
division weakened the movement.
2. No International Support – Unlike some successful revolutions in history, these uprisings
did not receive help from foreign powers. Each revolution was largely confined to its own
country, making it easier for rulers to suppress them.
3. Failure to Remove Conservatives from Power – Many revolutionaries sought change, but
they did not fully eliminate conservative forces, such as royal advisors and aristocrats,
who worked against reforms. As a result, traditional power structures remained strong.
4. Continued Military Support for Monarchies – In most countries, the army remained loyal
to the monarchy. When rulers faced challenges, they used military force to crush protests
and restore order.
5. Divisions Over Nationalism – Nationalist groups had different goals, which led to
disagreements. Some wanted to create new independent nations, while others aimed for
 greater autonomy within existing empires. These internal conflicts weakened the
revolutions.
6. Desertion by the Middle Class – The middle class initially supported the revolutions
because they wanted more political rights. However, when protests turned violent, many
withdrew their support, fearing instability and loss of property.

Did the revolutions have anything in common?

Despite their immediate failure, the Revolutions of 1848 had significant long-term effects on
Europe. While monarchies regained control, these uprisings planted the seeds for future political
and social changes. Here’s how they made an impact:
a) End of Absolute Monarchies – Although kings remained in power, they gradually had to
accept constitutional governments and share authority with elected bodies. Many
European countries later introduced parliamentary systems.
b) Expansion of Political Rights – The revolutions pushed ideas of democracy and
individual freedoms. Over time, many countries introduced reforms, such as voting rights
for more people and protections for free speech.
c) Rise of Nationalism – The nationalist movements that started in 1848 continued to grow.
In the following decades, major unifications took place, such as the formation of Italy
(1861) and Germany (1871).
d) Stronger Working-Class Movements – Although workers’ demands were not fully met,
their activism led to future labor reforms, such as better wages, improved working
conditions, and trade unions.
e) Inspiration for Future Revolutions – The events of 1848 inspired later revolutions and
reforms in Europe and beyond. Ideas of democracy, national self-determination, and
workers’ rights influenced political struggles in the 19th and 20th centuries.

While the revolutions failed in the short term, they contributed to shaping modern Europe by
promoting political participation, national unity, and social justice.