AP European Forces of Conservatism and Reform
Published on Nov 18, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Domestic Challenges
1815-1830
Prussia
- Frederick William III rejects constitutionalism
- Student protest - Burschenschaften
- Metternich - Carlsbad Decrees
In 1813 Frederick William III changed his mind on promises to accept a Prussian Constitution and with the Congress of Vienna in 1815 turned to reactionary conservatism instead. Even though it was the largest German state, Austria exercised the largest influence over the newly created German Confederation (replaced the Holy Roman Empire). Under Metternich's leadership any attempts at unification or liberal reform were prevented. A unified German state would only be created after the development of a rivalry between Prussia and Austria and Bismarck's victories in the Austro-Prussian War (1866)
England
- Bad harvests, food shortages, increasing taxes for working classes
- Working class protest - William Cobbett, John Cartwright, Henry Hunt
- Government suspends Habeas Corpus - 1817
- Peterloo Massacre - 1819
- Passage of the Six Acts - repression of political organization
England was the first to industrialize and the first to deal with the creation of a large urban working-class population along with the development of a larger class of petit bourgeoisie. These groups called for political reform to government institutions that favored the rural landed gentry and expanded the right to vote. These efforts oscillated between reform efforts at the Parliamentary level and more violent protests that broke out in desperate economic conditions.
Great Reform Bill 1832
Led by Whig (Aristocratic) moderates
The Great Reform Bill of 1832 is a perfect example of how conservatives co-opted the efforts of liberal reformers. The Reform Bill was pushed through by Whigs (traditionally aristocratic and conservative). It produced a more favorable balance of political power between the new urban elite and the traditional landed elite, while at the same time cutting off larger efforts to expand voting rights to the working classes. The right to vote would be slowly extended to all men by 1918 and to women by 1828.
Great Reform Bill
- Property and gender qualifications persist for voting
- Reform of borough voting to include new cities
- Expanded vote to new urban middle class
- Rural aristocracy still dominated politics
France
- Bourbon Restoration - The Charter and Louis XVIII
- Charles X - ultraroyalist, causes the July Revolution in 1830
- Louis Philippe becomes King of the French
- Peasants, urban poor, and industrial or petit bourgeoisie could NOT vote
The Congress of Vienna restored the monarchy in France placing Louis XVIII on the throne ruling under the limitations of a constitution called the Charter. His successor, Charles X, and his ultraroyalist government (elected by reduced suffrage) provoked a revolution in 1830 fueled by anger towards new policies for settling land ownership questions from the 1789 Revolution and the imposition of harsh penalties for speaking out against the Catholic Church.
Anger in Paris culminated in July of 1830. Unemployment was rising and the King had suspended freedom of the press and dissolved his elected Chamber of Deputies. After 3 days of rioting and then organized rebellion Charles X abdicated the throne. Louis Philippe from the Orleans branch of the royal family was crowned King of the French and promised to rule by a new constitution. Much like England, voting rights would slowly expand but only to members of the bourgeoisie who would come to dominate the government.
Anger in Paris culminated in July of 1830. Unemployment was rising and the King had suspended freedom of the press and dissolved his elected Chamber of Deputies. After 3 days of rioting and then organized rebellion Charles X abdicated the throne. Louis Philippe from the Orleans branch of the royal family was crowned King of the French and promised to rule by a new constitution. Much like England, voting rights would slowly expand but only to members of the bourgeoisie who would come to dominate the government.
Russia
- Tsar Nicholas I
- 1825 - Decembrist Revolt
- Continuation of serfdom
- Autocracy - Official Nationality and the Orthodox Church
- Polish Uprising - proof of Nicholas' fears, justified violent repression
Tsar Nicholas I inherited the throne after his older brother removed himself from the line of succession. Upon assuming the throne he immediately faced a revolt by a small group of officers and soldiers who had sworn allegiance to the older brother and presented demands for a Decembrist Constitution. After attempting to negotiate with them (his respected general was shot trying to give a public address to calm the situation) he ordered in artillery fire and crushed the rebellion. Nicholas I ruled autocratically or absolutely and called for policies of strict allegiance to himself, the Orthodox Church, and the Russian language. This led to repression and censorship in Russia. He frequently sent troops to assist Austria in putting down rebellions within their empire and held steadfastly to the conservative principles of the Congress of Vienna.
Conservatism Wins
Failed Revolutions of 1848
Revolutions of 1848
- France - Republic to Dictatorship - Napoleon III
- Habsburg Empire - Nationalist Revolts against Empire
- Italy - Mazzini and Garibaldi - French Intervene, crush new republic
- Germany - Frankfurt Parliament - nationalist efforts to unify
The Revolutions of 1848 started in France and eventually spread to over 50 countries in Europe and Latin America. While they were not coordinated efforts, they represented liberal and nationalist ideologies and sought to create independent and more democratic nation-states.
In France, the February Revolution of 1848 overthrew Louis Philipe and replaced the monarchy with an elected government creating the 2nd French Republic. This government was led by middle class or petty bourgeoisie which had been left out Louis Philippe's alliance with the traditional landed elite.
Rifts between the more radical working classes and the more conservative middle classes opened up in the disorder around the revolution a failure to solve unemployment and tax issues and caused the June Days Revolution. This resulted in the calling of an election where Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon III) won by an overwhelming majority and subsequently declared himself the Emperor of the Second French Empire.
In France, the February Revolution of 1848 overthrew Louis Philipe and replaced the monarchy with an elected government creating the 2nd French Republic. This government was led by middle class or petty bourgeoisie which had been left out Louis Philippe's alliance with the traditional landed elite.
Rifts between the more radical working classes and the more conservative middle classes opened up in the disorder around the revolution a failure to solve unemployment and tax issues and caused the June Days Revolution. This resulted in the calling of an election where Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon III) won by an overwhelming majority and subsequently declared himself the Emperor of the Second French Empire.
