1848 The Year of Revolutions

In 1848 political turmoil in the Italian states and the collapse of the July Monarchy in France and the establishment of the Second French Republic encouraged liberals, nationalists, republicans of all types and the young Socialist movement in much of Europe to rally. Revolutionary outbreaks occurred throughout the rest of Italy, much of the German states including Prussia and the city of Baden, the Hapsburg Empire was tearing itself apart at the seems with Hungarians pushing for autonomy and then independence, the workers and students of Vienna rising up and chasing the Emperor out of his capital, the Italian possesions in revolt, with Venice withstand Austrian bombardment and siege for months, and the building of barricades in Prague.

Elsewhere the revolutions made themselves felt, Denmark, fearing the revolution would spread from Prussia passed extensive political reforms, and in Ireland an armed uprising of the Young Irish threatened British rule.

This video is a discussion by various academics on the extent of the revolts and the impact and legacy of those movements.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss 1848, the year that saw Europe engulfed in revolution. Across the continent, from Paris to Palermo, liberals rose against conservative governments. The first stirrings of rebellion came in January, in Sicily; in February the French monarchy fell; and within a few months Germany, Austria, Hungary and Italy had all been overtaken by revolutionary fervour. Only a few countries, notably Britain and Russia, were spared.The rebels were fighting for nationalism, social justice and civil rights, and were prepared to fight in the streets down to the last man. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives; but little of lasting value was achieved, and by the end of the year the liberal revolutions had been soundly beaten.With: Tim BlanningEmeritus Professor of History at the University of CambridgeLucy RiallProfessor of History at Birkbeck, University of LondonMike RapportSenior Lecturer in History at the University of Stirling.Producer: Thomas Morris.

 I've been slowly building up an archive of the revolts on Libcom.org, so far focusing on the events in Germany and France.