Liberalism Dbq

Question 2 LEQ

The year of 1848 spanned revolutions across Europe from being suppressed by most of supreme powers. These revolutions were caused by the belief in liberalism which could simply be defined as liberty and equality. Liberalism’s first victory was in the French Revolution, but due to disasters that followed and Napoleon’s reign caused liberalism to grow slow elsewhere in Europe out of fear. People like Metternich and the Holy Alliance tried to preserve their old orders and suppress these revolutionary movements unknowing of the consequences. Liberalism had another effect among the people as it caused a social war with boldly calling it as “everybody or poor vs the rich”. Overall, these revolutions failed what they set out to do

with old orders remaining in place and conservatives dominating over the liberals who tried to overtake them.
There was three separate revolutions in 1848 with Great Britain avoiding that fate through reforms. The Holy Alliance established in September 1815 united Prussia, Russia, and Austria against any revolutionary movements to maintain peace around Europe. Nationalism spread across Europe causing a nation’s conscience among people with an unintended consequence with the events of the Greeks revolting against the Ottoman Turks providing future hindsight. Additional beliefs such as socialism and romanticism caused some middle and working class men to get similar liberal values since they were excluded from activities that only the aristocracy and very select wealthy middle class men were allowed to participate in i.e. voting. Political pressure and the hurt economy from bad harvests were all that was required to cause this unrest among the people. Each revolution proved to have potential in France, Prussia, and Austria, but missteps and harsh circumstances let their individual governments to triumph. Conservatism conquered liberalism, but these events caused hatred among the people which will grow over time.
These defeats could have even worsened the situation as for Napoleon’s nephew grew to power after the event restoring more of the old order. Despite the failures of these ambitious revolutions, their prior victories in Great Britain and the Constitutional Charter in France proved that liberalism has not been diminished in Europe. Liberal beliefs were spread among the people with people adjusting it for their class advancement, but they would spark arguments in a later date. These beliefs did not conquer the the revolutions or cause a turning point in their, but they would create Europe’s history in the future in the goals to have having liberty and equality.