Our group had the Frankfurt Assembly of 1848. There was turmoil in the German states. University students demanded national unity (nationalism) and liberal reforms. Times were tough economically and a potato famine had occurred. This brought workers and peasants to a serious struggle. As a result, workers destroyed the machines which they worked on and peasants burned down the homes of the wealthy land owners. It was not just the German states that were having these problems. It was also occurring in Prussia. There were liberals forcing King Frederick William IV to a constitution written by an elected assembly. However, the assembly was dissolved within a year and preceded to write his own constitution which kept the power in his own hands or those of the upper classes. Throughout 1848, delegates from the German States met in the Frankfurt Assembly. One great leader even said "We are to create a constitution for Germany, for the whole land." Many topics were discussed such as having a monarchy or a republic and whether or not to include Austria in a united German state. However, the conservative King Frederick IV rejected the crown of a united Germany. Liberals clashed but conservative forces rallied dousing the revolt. Hundreds were killed and imprisoned. Thousands more left Germany. Most of those thousands went to the United States because the young nation had promised a democratic nation and economic opportunity. Now, King Frederick IV rejected the crown but many wondered why. A picture (which Blogger is refusing to allow to appear) shows King Frederick William IV slamming the door in the faces of the liberals who want the reforms. He has a soldier helping him shut the door which symbolizes that he has the support of the army as well but not his people. "No Piece of Paper Will Come between Myself and My People," stated by King Frederick. He believed that God had given him the right to rule the way he was and he was not going to let a piece of paper ruin it. At that point, the representatives of the assembly were not getting anywhere with change. Now, King Frederick William (Friedrich Wilhelm) had rejected the crown but he was not the only one who was not in favor. Karl Marx wrote a cologne on November 22, 1848 after the King's refusal to accept the crown. He said that the acts had destroyed the Frankfurt Parliament and that anyone who protested the government and its acts such as taxes would be committing treason which was unlawful because it was going against God.
Now, on the scale of success or failure, this revolution was a partial failure. It failed because the liberal reforms were not passed and resulted in deaths, imprisonments, and people leaving the country. However, it is only partial because this movement was recognized in and was used as an example for reforms that came in later generations so it was not a complete failure.
Many historians have said that the revolutions of 1830 and 1848 were failures. The Decembrists revolt was suppressed by Tsar Nicholas I in 1825 which took place in the Senate Square in St. Petersburg, Russia. Nicholas who took over the throne for his brother Tsar Alexander I who had died yelled "Holt" but the Decembrists replied "We're for Constantine" (who had not taken the throne). They walked by Nicholas I who knew bloodshed would occur had he not yelled right then "Fire" at the Russians who were enslaved and who's revolt was defeated. There was also the revolt of France in 1830. Now, this was not necessarily a failure at all. This was a partial success as a matter of fact. The Congress of Vienna declared Louis XVIII as the King of France. Louis had the support of ultraroyalists who were high clergy and émigré nobles were strong supporters of the King. They despised constitutional monarchy and wanted to restore old regime. However, factions who were liberals wanted more rights for the middle class. Louis XVIII had created a Charter of French Liberties which gave more constitutional rights. However, even though he tried to avoid absolutism, he still retained much power. After his death, his cousin Charles X inherited the throne. He was a strong believer in absolutism and he rejected every idea of the Charter. However, the liberals and radicals barricaded the narrow streets of France firing at soldiers. The rebels had controlled Paris within days and the French tricolor flew from the towers of Notre Dame "And could be seen from Miles Away!! Charles X fled to England. Then, his cousin Louis Philippe inherited the throne and gave the rights back to the middle class at the expense of workers and the fact that many still could not vote. This was not a complete success but the liberals and radicals made a huge gap in former policies. Lastly, the revolution of Hungary in 1848. This could be taken as a partial success and partial failure. Metternich who was the Austrian Emperor who had dominated Austrian politics for over 30 years was taken by surprise when a revolt broke out in Vienna. Students took the streets of Vienna. He tried to calm them, but when workers supported the students, Metternich fled in disguise. Revolution then spread throughout the empire to Budapest and Prague. Hungarian nationalists demanded an independent government and for an end to serfdom and they called for a written constitution to protect one's basic rights. Czechs made similar demands and overwhelmed Austrian government agreed. However, these were temporary gains as Austrian troops took back control of Vienna and Prague. They also smashed rebels in Budapest with Russian help. Many were imprisoned, executed, and forced into exile. The reforms were accomplished but at the expense of lives of protesters which is why it is partial success/partial failure.
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