Europe Lit Afire



Liberty Leading the People

 France was once again the culprit for causing tumult. This time however, France lit the spark that grew into a roaring flame across the European continent. Seeking to increase their power and influence via obtaining the right to vote, the bourgeois in France overthrew Charles X and made Louis-Philippe the constitutional king. This revolution instigated the revolutionary outbursts in Europe that became collectively known as the Revolutions of 1848. Belgium refused to be united with the Dutch Republic and demanded independence. When Italy, under the leadership of Mazzini, attempted to free itself from the obviously more potent Austrians, it was pitifully defeated. Likewise, when Poland tried to call for its independence from Russia, it was swiftly crushed. Then, France did once more what it does best: revolt. Louis-Philippe eventually was forced to flee France and a provisional government was established through universal male suffrage. The Germanic states and the Austrian Empire soon joined the revolutionary frenzy. The Frankfurt Assembly, a prime example of what happens when the unorganized inferiors dare to supplant those ruling, futilely tried to create a Kleindeutsch and only created more confusion in Germany. In Austria, Louis Kossuth agitated for the independence of Hungary. With the aid of Russia, Hungary’s movements for independence were eventually quelled. Thankfully, while the rest of the primitive governments throughout Europe met fearsome opposition, the superior British parliament was able to satisfy the demands of the people while still preserving its unquestionable power. When the wealthy industrial middle class, of which I am part of, sought to become a vital part of the government, the British parliament, seeing the futility in denying the request of the ever-growing numbers, agreed and passed the Reform Act of 1832. Through this, though the upper-middle class gained power, the rest of the classes below us did not. Hence, though the government wisely shared power with those obviously capable enough to handle it, it did not weaken its function by allowing the uneducated to vote.