1848 Revolutions
Whilst there were individual reasons giving rise to each of the revolutions of 1848 there were some common themes pertaining to all of them. General living conditions had been poor for some time, and an increase in industrialisation had led to overcrowding in cities, extensive child labour, and workers toiling long hours to create wealth in which they rarely shared.Poor harvests in the years prior to 1848 led to discontent amongst the working classes, while the middle classes wanted better representation in government. As well as the French revolution in 1789, a more recent (though only temporarily successful) revolution in 1846, where peasants in Cracow, in what was then the Austrian Empire, slaughtered over 1,000 nobles and declared the . . .
The divide between rich and poor continues to grow in a capitalist society. city a socialist republic, may have rekindled the realisation of the power of the masses (Austrian soldiers later reclaimed the city). Some specific factors were: o Universal suffrage, particularly in France. Beginning in Sicily in January, the sense of empowerment amongst the lower and middle classes spread to France, Germany, Italy, and the Austrian Empire. Overcrowded cities and poor hygiene led to illness amongst all classes, with only the wealthy able to overcome it. The job focus was shifting more and more towards the cities. Though most revolutions eventually failed and led to more repression, the snowball effect must not be underestimated. Though living conditions in general had never been good, both classes, with the help of Socialism, were beginning to realise they deserved more than what they had. This means that any person over the age of 18 is entitled to vote in elections. In February of 1848, Louis Blanc (and his socialist supporters) guided what was the only permanently successful revolution of the year, leading to the establishment of the Second Republic and universal suffrage. The upper middle class and nobility had no complaints against a system that allows the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer. Industrialisation was rising, putting some people out of work and meaning others had to work harder, for longer, creating wealth in which they rarely shared.
Common topics in this essay:
Employment Industrialisation, , Louis Blanc, Austrian Empire, Disease Overcrowded, Sicily January, Literacy Education, middle classes, wealth rarely shared, extensive child labour, austrian empire, rarely shared, extensive child, poor harvests, wealth rarely, universal suffrage, amongst classes, successful revolution, child labour, |
Acceptance Essays
