CHALLENGING
CONSERVATISM
Early 19th century
BIG IDEAS
Revolutions of 1848 challenged the
conservative order and led to the
breakdown of the Concert of Europe
LIBERAL REFORM IN GREAT BRITAIN
Whig and Tory parties run by aristocrats
Corn Laws (1815)  conservatism
 Can not import foreign grain unless home prices are too high
 Protect the aristocracy
Battle of Peterloo  call for reforms (met with
violence)
Reform Bill of 1832  liberalism
 Established the House of Commons just as important as the House of
Lords
 12% of males given the vote (before 8%)  middle class urbanists
and small farmers
Corn Laws repealed in 1846
REVOLUTIONS OF 1830
France (liberalism)  July Revolution
 Against the conservatism of Charles X  Louis Pilippe
put into power
 Number of voters increased (but still based on finances)
Polish Rebellion (nationalism)  resistance
of Russian control (crushed)
1848 REVOLUTIONS – FRANCE
Causes
 Louis Philippe’s reign (conservative)
 Economic depression
 Crop failures
Results
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New constitution  Republic of France (liberal)
Universal male suffrage (radical)
End of death penalty (liberal)
Abolition of slavery in colonies (liberal)
Freedom of press (liberal)
Workshops  established to provide jobs for unemployed (radical)
Infighting
 Workers demanded more rights (radical/socialist)  crushed
 Moderates (middle class) won
 Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (president)  eventually becomes emperor
1848 REVOLUTIONS – PRUSSIA
Wanted to establish liberal constitutional
monarchy and unite German states (liberal &
national)
King Frederick William IV  abolished censorship
and help with unity
Frankfurt Assembly
 Elected by universal male suffrage (radical)
 Prepare new constitution for united Germany
 Moderates v. working class (liberals v. radical/socialists)
Failed
1848 REVOLUTIONS – AUSTRIA
Hungary (nationalism)
 Wanted own legislature while still under Hapsburg
monarchy (commonwealth)
 Emperor Ferdinand grants legislature, separate national
army and control over foreign policy and budget
Other ethnic groups begin demanding
rights  infighting between liberals and
radicals
Rebellions crushed and Hungary’s rights are
revoked
REVOLUTION IN SOUTH AMERICA
Causes (liberal)
 Enlightenment
 Creoles wanted representative government
 Napoleon’s invasion of Spain led to it’s instability
Juntas  organization of creoles led
military leaders
Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin lead
Spanish America to independence