Although we are going to talk about the political and social movements of the 19th century (1815-1871), cannot be understood without putting in the background a series of events that would cause the appearance of new ideological, economic and social movements. These transformations will be the ones that mark the beginning of a profound change in all of Europe that would soon be transferred to America, contemporary history is born and with it new policies and a new social class.
Political and Social Situation Late 18th century and Early 19th century
As we have already discussed in Bourgeois Revolutions: Causes, Characteristics and Consequences – Secondary Agenda, the French Revolution (1789) and thes Napoleonic Wars 1799 – 1802, had led to the birth of new ideas such as liberalism, nationalism and even a fledgling socialism in all Europe. As a consequence of this, the nobility begins to lose privilegesthe absolutist kings are deposed and a new society begins its journey.
With the appearance of the first industrial Revolution at the end of the 18th century, it meant a before and after at all levels, Europe was transforming socially, technologically and economically. With the appearance of the first industries, society began to settle in the cities, workers who worked tirelessly at low cost. Industries such as textiles, ceramics, food, metallurgy, coal, needed a large amount of workforce. They worked in precarious conditions, where:
- There were no regulations Regarding the relationship between workers and employers
- strenuous days of hard work, between 12 and 14 hours a day
- Abusive jobs based on profitability and efficiency
- The incorporation of children in the industrymore profitable because they were more submissive and their salary was much lower.
All this work situation made the workers will rise up demanding improvements and rights, giving rise to the beginning of the labor movement that developed fundamentally in the first years of the 19th century.
Political Movements in the XIX Century
The Restoration
With the fall of napoleon, new crises arise. Europe is in the midst of a revolutionary process, The Liberal Revolution, The Industrial Revolution and the Bourgeois Revolutionthis delicate moment is used by the European monarchies to claim their rights to the throne, the divine right of kings against national sovereignty or of the people, where the general will was the origin of sovereignty.
The Congress of Vienna (1815), it meant the meeting of all the absolutist monarchies, among which were Ferdinand VII of Spain, John VI of Portugal, Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, Ferdinand I of Austria, Frederick William IV of Prussia, Charles X of France, among others, in order to re-establish European borders and restore the ideologies pre-Napoleon policies that is, the divine right of the throne against national sovereignty where sovereignty resides in the people, by and for the people.
At the Congress of Vienna it was intended reset the borders and prevent major armed conflicts from occurring again, such as the French Revolution and the subsequent Napoleonic Wars. To achieve this, we resorted to principle of interference or interventiona compromise by which the absolute kings could help each other in case of uprising or threat of revolution.
Were created new alliances as the triple alliance formed by Austria, Prussia and Russia (1815-1825), later Great Britain joined this alliance, called Quadruple Alliance. In 1818 France was incorporated forming the Quintuple Alliance. This period was called Restoration.
In 1814, he returned to Spain Ferdinand VII who had remained in exile. Initially, the king would abide by the Cadiz Constitution of 1812intended to rule by Parliamentary monarchya constitution drafted by the Spanish Liberals, he opted for the restoration of absolutism and therefore the persecution of liberals. This fact meant new revolts and the return of the liberals supported by the military during the so-called Liberal triennium (1820-1823).
Ferdinand VII requested help from the Holy Alliance who sent the French expeditionary force called The Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis, which would once again give absolute power to Ferdinand VII.
It was not until 1848, with the revolution of 1848, when monarchs were forced to abdicate or abide by the new formulas such as the parliamentary or constitutional monarchy, which limited their power. It is the principle of democratic states, in France restored the Republic. In some European countries, the revolution did not take place as in Russia, where absolutism continued in the hands of Nicholas I, in Spain Isabel II, although with constant liberal revolts and in Britain the monarchy was maintained but with reforms, coinciding with the Victorian age.
Revolution of 1820
They begin in Spain, as we have seen, and in Germany, these revolutions demand liberal reforms and rise up against the newly established absolutism. In Germany fight for one constitutional monarchyMeanwhile in Spain Riego’s uprising manages to institute the Liberal trienniumalthough it did not last long since, as we have seen with the arrival of the One Hundred Thousand Sons of San Luis, the absolutism of Ferdinand VII was re-imposed in 1823.
While Spanish colonies fight for their independence unlike the new North American States that incorporate the liberalism to its new political institutions. While Portugal infected by the Spanish liberal revolution, manages to maintain his liberal regime.
The Revolution of 1830
New revolutions appear in Europe, the uprising of the Orleanists and the republicans in Paristhey succeed which will mean the abdication of the last French Bourbon king, Charles X. In his place, Louis Philippe, belonging to the house of Orleans, is proclaimed.
Belgium gains independence from the Netherlands hitherto kingdom of the Netherlands, the Central states of the Germanic Confederation they will also be whipped by revolutionary ideas just like the states of central Italya revolution that also triumphed in Poland. In this way liberalism triumphs in Western European countries.
The Revolution of 1848
The revolution of 1848 has different characteristics to the previous two, since on this occasion it is not the enlightened thoughts that promote change but the working classes. Now it is not about fighting for a constitution but for the rightsamong which universal suffrage, democracy or freedom of information will stand out.
This revolution spread rapidly throughout Europe, being Marx one of his activists more revolutionary since it is part of the Communist Party Manifesto written in 1848 in London together with Engels. a manifesto in which charges voraciously against capitalism incipient in the face of a radical change in society at the time, this change can only be understood if it comes hand in hand with worker unit.
The first workers’ government emerged in 1871 after the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War and the absence of power. It is at this moment when the call occurs commune of parisa social revolution that leads to elections in Paris, creates a Communal Assembly Composed pro-Proudhonians and internationalists among those who are related to Marx. This first experience was crushed by the army in what is known as bloody week.
Social Movements in the XIX Century
So many political changes are also reflected in the society of the nineteenth century, appearing new social classes who will lead the real change, the disappearance of estate societies iprevailing up to now.
The Bourgeoisie fully acquires the leading rolea bourgeoisie capitalist and industrial who every day sees his wealth grow in front of to the proletariat, new social class resulting from industrialization. The proletariat begins to rebel against its own exploitation.
cities are boominggrow at the same rate as the industry needs workers and a new urban configuration emerges, according to the social classes that inhabit them. Rich neighborhoods and poor neighborhoodsthe first inhabited by the bourgeoisie and the second are crowded neighborhoods of workers. The cities begin to need other types of workers such as doctors, teachers, civil servants, etc., the so-called tertiary sector that creates a new social class, the Middle class.
Another characteristic of the society of the moment is the cultural diffusionprimary education becomes compulsory for combat illiteracy and as an immediate consequence, greater dissemination of information with the multiplication of newspapers and magazines. In Germany and France, universities will be the cultural center more important.
You may also be interested in: