Why did the 1848 Revolutions fail?

Question 1

Lack of Organisation/Leadership

Answer 1

• Lack of leadership à Carlo Alberto was a leader but a rubbish one
• For example, he let the Austrian armies retreat into their stronghold – the famous ‘Quadrilateral’ à Consisted of four major fortresses at Verona, Mantau and Legnago – that dominated Lombardy
• Made it difficult for any army to effectively challenged Austrian Power
• “R.J.B. Bosworth, historian of modern Italy: “The revolutions of 1848 were hampered by a lack of leadership and a lack of coordination. The various revolutionary groups were unable to work together effectively, and as a result, their efforts were largely in vain.”

Question 2

Military/Foreign Intervention

Answer 2

• Lack of strong military à Austiran army had Josef
  Radetzky à Relied on the strong Quadrilateral.
• Piedmont’s army 1848 – 100,000 vs Austrian army 1848 – 400,000
• The Austrian army had the Lorenz Rifle – range of up to 800 metres.
• Piedmontese – smoothbore Muskets à Shorter range
• Austrian Army had modern artillery à 12 pounder cannons à Led to the loss of Piedmontese troops at Novara 1849
• Piedmontese troops trained for 3 years vs 6 years Austria.
• This idea is backed up by Lucy Riall à “The Revolutions of 1848 were doomed from the start because they were based on unrealistic expectations” à “Revolutionaries underestimated the strength of the forces that were arrayed against them”.