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1848 German Revolution Facts & Worksheets

Also called the March Revolution, the 1848 German Revolution was initially part of the Revolutions of 1848 that broke out in many European countries.

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Also called the March Revolution, the 1848 German Revolution was initially part of the Revolutions of 1848 that broke out in many European countries.

See the fact file below for more information on the 1848 German Revolution or alternatively, you can download our 25-page 1848 German Revolution worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EVENTS THAT LED TO THE REVOLUTION

  • The growing discontent of the people with the political and social order imposed by the Congress of Vienna led to the outbreak in 1848 of revolution in the German states.
  • Public unrest began to grow in the face of heavy taxation and political censorship. Worse, a severe economic depression halted industrial expansion and aggravated urban unemployment in all areas, resulting in famine.
  • The lower class society, who were severely affected soon began to protest, leading to expanded dissent against the government.
  • Activism for liberal reforms spread through many of the German states, which had distinct revolutions.

WIDENING REVOLUTION

  • Meanwhile, hunger riots and violence in several of the states resulted in the regime of the bourgeois king Louis-Philippe being overthrown by an insurrection in Paris on February 22–24, 1848.
  • Sympathetic revolutions spread from France across Europe and soon reached Austria and Germany that began with the large demonstrations on March 13, 1848, in Vienna.
  • On March 15, 1848, the subjects of Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia vented their political opinions through violent rioting in Berlin.
  • The demands Germany made were for an elected representative government and for unification.
  • To preserve their status, the princes and rulers, including Wilhelm, conceded in the demand for reform.
  • The unrest began to reach Baden, Germany so the government began to increase its army and sought assistance from neighboring states.
  • To suppress the revolts, they arrested Joseph Fickler, the leader of the Baden democrats. The arrests resulted in outrage and protests. A full-scale revolt broke out on April 12, 1848.
  • While the revolt was temporarily suppressed, a resurgence appeared the next year.
  • During the Palatine Uprising in May 1849, provisional governments were declared in both the Palatinate and Baden.
  • Baden was supported by its citizens while the Palatinate army and upper citizens received no aid. The new Palatinate government had no organized state or funding.
  • Losing battles such as the Battle of Kirchheimbolanden showed how difficult it was to obtain independence especially when Palatine heard of the Prussian Army coming to suppress them.
  • Two of the notable figures in the uprising were Frederick Engels and Karl Marx. Both worked as journalists until the company was shut down because it was known to have been supporting the revolutionary government.
  • Engels joined citizens at the barricades of Elberfeld in the Rhineland, preparing to fight the Prussian troops expected to arrive against the uprising; meanwhile Marx headed off to Paris.
  • Eventually, the Prussians defeated the revolutionary army, and the survivors crossed over the frontier into the safety of Switzerland.

FAILURES OF THE REVOLUTION

  • Back in Berlin, the Prussian aristocrats including Otto von Bismarck and generals had regained power.
  • The Berlin riot in March 1848 had only temporarily ceased their power. General von Wrangel led the troops who recaptured Berlin for the old powers, and King Frederick William IV of Prussia immediately rejoined the old forces.
  • The achievements of the revolutionaries of March 1848 were scrapped in all of the German states and by 1851, Frankfurt Assembly’s Basic Rights had also been abolished.
  • The revolution collapsed because of the divisions between the various factions in Frankfurt, the caution of the liberals, the failure of the left to gather popular support, and the superiority of the monarchist forces.
  • The Revolution of 1848 failed in its attempt to unify the German-speaking states because the Frankfurt Assembly reflected personal interests of the German upper class.
  • The members were unable to form coalitions and push for specific goals. Some wanted to draft a constitution to present to the monarchs, but the smaller group of radical members wanted the assembly to declare itself as a law-giving parliament.
  • The assembly declined into debate. The democratic and liberal forces in Germany of 1848 were soon confronted with the need to build a nation state with a workable constitution and governance at the same time, which overtaxed them.
  • When order was restored, the king of Prussia, having refused the title of emperor offered to him by the Frankfurt Assembly, aimed to achieve German unity by the union between the German princes.

1848 German Revolution Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the 1848 German Revolution across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use 1848 German Revolution worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the 1848 German Revolution which was initially part of the Revolutions of 1848 that broke out in many European countries.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • The 1848 Revolutions
  • Karl Marx & Germany
  • Get to Know Germany
  • Speaking German
  • Mapping Germany
  • Reasons to Revolt
  • Effects of Revolution
  • A Reflection
  • Germany after Revolution
  • Revo-Wordfind

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Link will appear as 1848 German Revolution Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 1, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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