What were the causes for the revolution by the liberals in 1848 ? Describe its events and effects.
(1) Causes : The February revolution of 1848 in France had brought about the abdication of the monarch. A republic based on universal male suffrage was proclaimed. This had a effect on the liberal middle classes in other parts of Europe – Germany, Italy, Poland and Austro-Hungarian Empire. (2) Demands : Liberal middle classes demanded constitutionalism with national unification. They demanded the creation of a nation state on parliamentary principles i.e., a constitution, freedom of the press and freedom of association. (3) Results : The revolutions of the liberals in 1848 were suppressed by the autocratic- monarchs but even then these revolutions made the monarchs to realise that the old order could not be restored. The autocratic monarchs in the Central and Eastern Europe introduced changes that had taken place in Western Europe before 1815. Serfdom and bonded labour were abolished both in Habsburg dominions and in Russia. More autonomy was granted to the Hungarians in 1867 by the Habsburg monarchs. Dualism was established. Austria-Hungary was to consist of two distinct independent states
