The Revolutions of 1848

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

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2. Introduction

   • Roger Price

   Pages 1-4

3. Social Systems

   • Roger Price

   Pages 5-15

4. The Background Causes of Revolution in 1848

   • Roger Price

   Pages 17-33

5. ‘Revolution’ as an Event

   • Roger Price

   Pages 35-42

6. Defining the Limits of Revolution: Post-revolutionary Conflict

   • Roger Price

   Pages 43-84

7. Counter-revolution

   • Roger Price

   Pages 85-93

8. Conclusions

   • Roger Price

   Pages 95-100

9. Back Matter

   Pages 101-116

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1848 saw an unprecedented wave of revolutions. The social order appeared shaken to its foundations. Even those countries, like Britain which did not experience revolutions endured severe political crises. Yet within months established elites were able to re-assert themselves, and to take advantage of their entrenched position within bureaucracies and armies. This book seeks to analyse the causes of both revolution and reaction. It aims to set political events with the context of a Continent undergoing complex processes of transition from essentially pre-industrial economic and social structures, towards more modern urban-industrial systems. It considers why, after 1848, except in the exceptional circumstances of war, governments were better able to prevent the development of revolutionary movements.

• Britain
• revolution
• social structures

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