Revolutions of 1848

The revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the springtime of the peoples or the springtime of nations, were a series of <a href="/facts/Revolution/WxyxIpIb">revolutions</a> throughout Europe over the course of more than one year, from 1848 to 1849. It remains the most widespread <a href="/facts/Revolutionary_wave/nYeWC2KW">revolutionary wave</a> in <a href="/facts/European_history/UwUVuaUH">European history</a> to date.
The revolutions were essentially <a href="/facts/Democracy/3tLdVS1C">democratic</a> and <a href="/facts/Liberalism/nj54a01U">liberal</a> in nature, with the aim of removing the old <a href="/facts/Monarchy/Kg1vY7tt">monarchical</a> structures and creating independent <a href="/facts/Nation-state/1T5FVEJP">nation-states</a>, as envisioned by <a href="/facts/Romantic_nationalism/YCwgydvb">romantic nationalism</a>. The revolutions spread across Europe after an initial revolution began in <a href="/facts/Sicilian_revolution_of_1848/hI9v2GqM">Italy</a> in January 1848. Over 50 countries were affected, but with no significant coordination or cooperation among their respective revolutionaries. Some of the major contributing factors were widespread dissatisfaction with political leadership, demands for more <a href="/facts/Participation_(decision_making)/oujuu4FW">participation</a> in government and democracy, demands for <a href="/facts/Freedom_of_the_press/9RLTKfod">freedom of the press</a>, other demands made by the <a href="/facts/Working_class/vX7fPNBo">working class</a> for economic rights, the upsurge of <a href="/facts/Nationalism/IECpIhm0">nationalism</a>, and the <a href="/facts/European_potato_failure/2doAvmdw">European potato failure</a>, which triggered mass starvation, migration, and civil unrest.
The uprisings were led by temporary coalitions of workers and reformers, including figures from the middle and upper classes (the <a href="/facts/Bourgeoisie/Ho3RUrlA">bourgeoisie</a>); however, the coalitions did not hold together for long. Many of the revolutions were quickly suppressed, as tens of thousands of people were killed, and even more were forced into exile. Significant lasting reforms included the abolition of <a href="/facts/Serfdom/HyajBMeR">serfdom</a> in Austria and Hungary, the end of <a href="/facts/Absolute_monarchy/bw15yYtX">absolute monarchy</a> in Denmark, and the introduction of <a href="/facts/Representative_democracy/svAbpym5">representative democracy</a> in the Netherlands. The revolutions were most important in France, the Netherlands, <a href="/facts/Kingdom_of_Italy/X5hxYBvF">Italy</a>, the <a href="/facts/Austrian_Empire/AnAU9bdG">Austrian Empire</a>, and the states of the <a href="/facts/German_Confederation/HWeIcxok">German Confederation</a> that would make up the <a href="/facts/German_Empire/lwQutJyN">German Empire</a> in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The wave of uprisings ended in October 1849.

Revolutions of 1848 open-in-new

Revolutions of 1848