14. 1848 looked like being a pivotal year, but it ended up being little more than 12 months of violence, revolutions and finally famine.
During the spring and summer of 1848, the people of Europe rose up. The year came to be known as the Year of Revolution, with movements demanding change in numerous countries, most notably in France, the states that would become Germany, Denmark and Austria and Hungary. In all, the records show that 50 different nations were affected by the unrest. Tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people were killed as the streets of Europe’s historic capitals flowed with blood. However, whether it was all worth the sacrifice remains the source of much historical debate.
The French monarchy did indeed fall (again), while many of Europe’s middle classes earned greater representation. However, in many places, the old orders clung onto power having made just a few token concessions. Moreover, the heightened nationalism would bubble under for decades to come, eventually being unleashed with a vengeance during the First World War – indeed, one of the main consequences of the 1848 uprisings was the foundation of the powerful German confederation. What’s more, 1848 also represented the height of the Irish famine which left hundreds of thousands dead and caused many millions to leave their homeland for good.