The Age of Revolutions: 1830-1848

Here we are providing Topicwise Notes for CBSE Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 1 The Rise of Nationalism in Europe. In this article, you will find notes on The Age of Revolutions: 1830-1848 followed by questions and answers. Students are suggested to go through complete article.

The Age of Revolutions: 1830-1848

• The period between 1830-1848 is symbolised with the age of revolutions. The first upheaval took place in France in July 1830. The Bourbon kings were now overthrown by liberal revolutionaries. Louis Philippe was made a constitutional monarch. Belgium got separated from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.
• The Greek war of Independence started in 1821.
• It created nationalist feelings among the educated people in Europe.
• Their struggle for Independence began in 1821 and got support from the Greeks living in other European countries.
• Finally, the Treaty of Constantinople of 1832 recognised Greece as an independent nation.

The Romantic Imagination and National Feeling

• Romanticism, cultural movements develop a sense of nationalism through art, poetry, stories, music and past experiences.
• They promote emotions and mystical feelings to create a sense of oneness and love for nation. Johann Gottfried Herder, a German philosopher created a spirit of nationalism through folk songs, folk poetry and folk dances.
• Karol Kurpinski of Poland created nationalist feeling through his operas, music and folk dances.
• Language too played a major role in developing nationalist sentiments.
• Poland was occupied by Russia and people fought for their language and culture.

Hunger, Hardship and Popular Revolt

• The 1830 s were the years of great economic hardship in Europe. The first half of the nineteenth century saw an enormous increase in population all over Europe which gave rise to unemployment.
• Population from rural areas migrated to the cities to live in overcrowded slums.
• Small producers in towns were often faced with stiff competition from imports of cheap machine-made goods from England.

• In those regions of Europe where the aristocracy still enjoyed power, peasants struggled under the burden of feudal dues and obligations. The rise of food prices or a year of bad harvest led to widespread pauperism in town and country.
• Food shortages and widespread unemployment brought the population of Paris out on the roads.

The Revolutions of The Liberals: 1848

• In 1848 , a revolution led by educated middle class professionals, businessmen, and prosperous artisans.
• They demanded a creation of a nation state on parliamentary principles, a constitution, freedom of press and freedom of association.
• On 18 May 1848, 831 elected representatives marched in the Frankfurt parliament in St. Paul Church to draft the Constitution, headed by monarchy.
• The Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia rejected the crown; the assembly was disbanded.
• Political rights to men were controversial.
• Women had formed their own political associations, founded newspapers and taken part in political meetings and demonstrations. Despite this they were not given the right to vote.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q.1. Name the regions of Europe where liberal nationalism spread.

Ans. Germany, Italy, Ireland and Poland.

Q.2. What is Romanticism?

Ans. Romanticism was an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century.

Q.3. What were the ideas of romantic artists and poets on nationalism?

Ans. Romantic artists and poets generally criticised the glorification of reason and science and focused on emotions, intuition and mystical feelings. Their main aim was to unite the people and to create the feeling of nationalism.

Q.4. Name the famous romantic philosophers.

Ans. (i) Johann Gottfried Herder of Germany (ii) Karol Kurpinski of Poland

Q.5. Where did the weavers revolt in 1845 ?

Ans. In Silesia, a Province of Prussia in north-east Germany.

Q.6. What changes were brought in France after the events of February 1848?

Ans. (i) France brought about the rejections of the monarch.
(ii) Republic based on universal male suffrage.

Q.7. What were the demands of liberal middle class revolutionaries?

Ans. They demanded the creation of nation states on Parliamentary principles:
(a) A Constitution
(b) Freedom of the Press (c) Freedom of association

Q.8. Which right of women was denied in the Frankfurt Parliament?

Ans. The right to vote.

Q.9. Why did France take up the idea of civilising mission during mid-nineteenth century? Give one reason.

Ans. Because they wanted to spread their religion and custom all over the world. For this, they made the people of their colonies to learn their language-French.

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