Hoorcollege 3 (8-4) Revolution and Reform
Idea of change is essential to modernity. All societies change, but modern societies: changes
accelerate, changes are more fundamental. Nationalists often claim that nation-states are the
framework for modernity.
Revolution -> fast
Reform -> more steady change
Key Questions
- Why were there revolutionary waves c. 1820, 1830 and 1848 – but not after 1850?
- How did socialists and anarchists react to revolutionary weakness after 1850?
- Why were ‘reforms’ so important throughout the 19 th century? What were objectives and methods
of reform?
Which conditions are needed for revolution?
- Economic crisis -> economic downturn leads to hunger, dissatisfaction.
- Critique from all layers of society.
- Support of the army could be critical for the success of a revolution.
- A leader.
- General acceptance or sympathy to be powerful.
- What kind of rule was there before?
French Revolution
- Powerful memory.
- Blueprint how a revolution can be done.
- A warning to the anti-revolutionaries, how to react to or counter a revolution.
- Idea has spread around the world, not just European.
Southern European Revolutions of 1820-1823
- Spain: military mutiny led to adoption of a liberal constitution.
- Revolution spread to Portugal, Kingdom of Two Sicilia’s and Piedmont-Sardinia.
- Reception in other countries such as France and Germany.
- Crackdown by Habsburg Empire in Italy and by France in Spain.
- Anti-revolutionary character. Still empires that could intervene.
Revolutions of 1830
- France: Charles X’s reactionary politics plus economic downturn led to unrest.
- Collaboration between liberals and radicals -> political critique, lower-class protest, street battles.
- Bourbon monarchy was replaced by liberal duke who became King Louis Philippe -> ‘The Bourgeois-
king’.
- Principle of dynasty broken -> everybody can become king. Elite made the monarch.
- Boost to liberals and democrats in Europe.
- Germany: gatherings, press emergence.
- Belgium: breakaway from the Netherlands.
-> Model spreading, concern for conservatives and monarchs across Europe.
- La liberté guidant le people -> romantic painting of the Paris street battles, woman as figure of
liberty and revolution.
Idea of change is essential to modernity. All societies change, but modern societies: changes
accelerate, changes are more fundamental. Nationalists often claim that nation-states are the
framework for modernity.
Revolution -> fast
Reform -> more steady change
Key Questions
- Why were there revolutionary waves c. 1820, 1830 and 1848 – but not after 1850?
- How did socialists and anarchists react to revolutionary weakness after 1850?
- Why were ‘reforms’ so important throughout the 19 th century? What were objectives and methods
of reform?
Which conditions are needed for revolution?
- Economic crisis -> economic downturn leads to hunger, dissatisfaction.
- Critique from all layers of society.
- Support of the army could be critical for the success of a revolution.
- A leader.
- General acceptance or sympathy to be powerful.
- What kind of rule was there before?
French Revolution
- Powerful memory.
- Blueprint how a revolution can be done.
- A warning to the anti-revolutionaries, how to react to or counter a revolution.
- Idea has spread around the world, not just European.
Southern European Revolutions of 1820-1823
- Spain: military mutiny led to adoption of a liberal constitution.
- Revolution spread to Portugal, Kingdom of Two Sicilia’s and Piedmont-Sardinia.
- Reception in other countries such as France and Germany.
- Crackdown by Habsburg Empire in Italy and by France in Spain.
- Anti-revolutionary character. Still empires that could intervene.
Revolutions of 1830
- France: Charles X’s reactionary politics plus economic downturn led to unrest.
- Collaboration between liberals and radicals -> political critique, lower-class protest, street battles.
- Bourbon monarchy was replaced by liberal duke who became King Louis Philippe -> ‘The Bourgeois-
king’.
- Principle of dynasty broken -> everybody can become king. Elite made the monarch.
- Boost to liberals and democrats in Europe.
- Germany: gatherings, press emergence.
- Belgium: breakaway from the Netherlands.
-> Model spreading, concern for conservatives and monarchs across Europe.
- La liberté guidant le people -> romantic painting of the Paris street battles, woman as figure of
liberty and revolution.
