Notes from 7/18/08

Dual Revolution

Economic changes and political changes influenced each other
Industry encouraged a middle class, who encouraged ideas about representative government
-Conservatism
-Liberalism
-Nationalism
-Socialism

Balance of Power

After Napoleon, countries wanted to ensure the end of conquest in Europe
Nations extended their powers in colonies and worldwide militaries, but no one nation dominated

Conservatism

blended traditionalist ideas and hopes for stability to protect institutions
Holy Alliance: Austria, Prussia, Russia repelled revolutionary thought through strict rule
Carlsbad Decrees: German censorship and spying
Austrian Prince Metternich thought liberalism would destroy the Austrian Empire
Liberalism and Nationalism

Liberalism

Focused on basic rights of man instead of the stability of the state
Encouraged protest and limited government
Believed the best economy was the least controlled

Nationalism

Each people had a national “identity” and politics should reflect that identity
Language, history, traditions, geography, religion, and other factors determined one's national
“Nation-states” united peoples under the guise of shared identity

Socialism

Early socialists felt the laissez-faire economy fostered selfishness and disunity
After the French Revolution, economic controls brought the nation out of poverty
Parasites/doers
Bourgeoisie/proletariat
Marx/Engles: The Communist Manifesto
Marx believed history was a series of class struggles
“Workers of the world unite”
By uniting, workers would eventually overtake the bourgeoisie and bring equality to the world

Reforms and Revolutions

Greece was controlled by the Ottomans
They kept their language and religion and became nationalistic
Britain, Russia, and France supported independence in 1830 and created a monarchy
In Britain, conservative Tories feared losing the country to a revolution in the 1830s
Battle of Peterloo: British government repressed those who protested against taxes, trade laws, and assembly laws
Reform laws allowed more representatives from working class, factory cities

Potato Famine Causes -- 1840s-50s

British laws against food trade made the Irish Potato famine worse
Racism and religious discrimination did not help, either
Rural poverty and strict landowning controls
Overproduction of potatoes and people
Strict laissez-faire economic rules
Results:
-1.5 million dead
-1 million emigrants
-Intense nationalist feeling united against Britain