Germany in revolution 1848-9 Flashcards
1
Q
What were the economic and social problems that caused the revolutions?
A
- increasing population, leading to urbanisation as countryside became densely populated
- majority of rural population were in poverty, working in agriculture on land belonging to Junkers
- feudal injustice
- towns became overpopulated, causing low wages
- insufficient housing, leading to unsanitary environments
- industrialisation, resentment towards automation
2
Q
What was the economic crisis of 1846-7?
A
- potato blight (main item in German diet)
- poor corn harvests
- growing population
- food riots
- sharp increase in food prices
- crown prince’s palace was stormed lol
- reduced consumer spending
- fall in demand for crafts and textiles
- redundancy, increased unemployment
- cut wages
- fall in standards of living
3
Q
How did the economic and social problems fuel nationalism?
A
Middle class Germans were…
- excluded from politics (government and military jobs taken up by nobility
- restrained from free expression by the police state
- wanted to be governed by a popularly elected assembly
4
Q
What happened in Baden in early 1848?
A
- liberals demanded freedom of press and assembly, militia (army made up of civilians), and a German national parliament
- these demands were presented to the Grand Duke of Baden, he refused to negotiate but formed a new ministry of liberal leaders, who implemented liberal demands
5
Q
What were the revolutions in Austria and its outcomes?
A
- 13 March
- Louis Philippe of France overthrown for a republic (French Revolution of 1848) sparked revolution in mass demonstrations in Austria
- widespread looting
- especially in working class areas
- Metternich’s fled to Britain
- army’s loyalty suspicious, withdrew from the capital
- artisans destroyed new machines / act against industrialisation, which they were threatened by
outcomes:
* radical CPS set up in Vienna
* Austria too occupied with internal affairs to try and exert control over Germany
6
Q
What were the revolutions in Prussia and its outcomes?
A
- 13 March
- demonstration of mostly self employed craftsmen, throwing stones at troops, led to open fire
- 14 & 15 March, protests demanding for maintainence of rights that belong to the people of the state
- 16 March, Frederick William agreed to a new German constitution, recall the United Diet and end censorship.
- 18 March, large crowd outside the palace, King appeared and was celebrated, then he ordered troops to clear the crowds, but 2 shots were likely accidentally fired, causing serious fighting, 230+ people died.
- 19 March, Frederick William hated bloodshed, wrote letter “To my dear Berliners” and distributed in early morning
- 21 March, rode through streets of Berlin wearing the black, red, and gold armband of liberal nationalists
- Berliners hoped/trusted that FW would become a constitutional monarch in support of the revolution.
7
Q
What happened after Frederick William left Berlin?
A
- rejoined his loyal army
- spoke of humiliation and that he was forced to make concessions to the people
8
Q
Describe the situation in Germany by April 1848?
A
- most German rulers gave into demands for more representative government
- little violence apart from Austria and Prussia
- mostly, revolutions were urban
- peasant uprisings were mostly against domineering landowners and Jewish people who were money lenders
9
Q
What was the Frankfurt Parliament?
A
- met in May 1848
- elected parliament, voters elected delegates, who voted representatives
- elected figures were largely middle class, of teachers, professors, lawyers and government officials (very educated group of people)
- moderate and liberal
- most of its members did not want violent revolutionaries
10
Q
What did the Frankfurt Parliament achieve?
A
- INITIALLY filled a power vacuum left by the revolutions
- June 1848, Provision of Central Power, an imperial regent elected by the parliament until a constitution is reached (largely ineffectual)
- Autumn 1848, The Fifty Articles: equality before the law, freedom of worship & press & from arrest without warrant, end to class discrimination
- December 1848, declared basic rights of the German people
- a constitution for a German Empire (finally) 28 March 1849
11
Q
What were the problems the Frankfurt Parliament faced?
A
- Grossdeutschland or Kleindeutschland? (German speaking provinces of Austria or no?), existing boundaries of the Confederation did not conform to logical definition of Germany
- lacking legal legitimacy, several European powers refusing to recognise them
- no loyal army
- divisions within themselves (radical minority and liberal majority)
- sincere and well-meaning leader Heinrich von Gagern, but lacking leadership authority
- Denmark absorbed Schleswig-Holstein, parliament look to Prussia for help, Treaty of Malmo, Prussia withdrew, sharp popularity drop for parliament
12
Q
Describe the failure of the Frankfurt Parliament
A
- 28 March 1848, elected Frederick William as Emperor of Germany, he refused the ‘pig crown’ with the ‘stench of revolution’
- Frederick also knew that accepting it would cause serious foreign policy implications and even lead to war with Austria and Russia
- 29 smaller states accepted the constitution, all the kingdoms rejected it
- many members of the parliament could not face the disappointments and went home
- radical democrats called for the new German parliament Reichstag, but to no avail
13
Q
Why did the Frankfurt Parliament fail?
A
- its members were idealists, spent too long discussing the new constitution, failed to grasp the opportunity of fully filling the power vacuum
- lacked power to enforce its decrees
- constitutional government and unified Germany could only be achieved on Austria and Prussia’s conditions
- Austria don’t want, Prussia want until the king’s power is compromised/limited then don’t want
- Frankfurt Parliament was never fully accepted by most of the states, who feared of losing their power and monarchical positions
14
Q
What was the Junker Parliament?
A
- League for the Protection of Landed Property
- Prussian landowners and nobles formed to defend their interests
- for the abolition of the Prussian Parliament and the dismissal of the liberal ministry
- hoped to modernise Prussia but insisted the reform must come from the king instead of the people
15
Q
What was the Prussian Constitution?
A
- Prussian Parliament dissolved
- 5 December, issued by Frederick William
- retained his divine right to rule, yet limiting his freedom to act
- well received in Prussia
includes:
* guaranteed Prussian freedom of religion, assembly, and association
* independent judiciary
* representative assembly, upper house elected by property owners, lower house elected by male suffrage
* voters in male suffrage divided according to amount of taxes paid
* king could suspend civil rights and collect taxes without reference to parliament in cases of emergency
* ministers appointed, dismissed by him, responsible to him ONLY
* king can alter constitution whenever
* king control army
