What caused the 1848 revolutions accross europe?
Between 1848 and 1852, revolutions rocked most of western and central Europe with exceptions such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Britain. The immediate cause was the economic hardship of 1846 and 1847. This hardship stemmed from the failure of the potato and wheat crops throughout much of Europe. The consequent rise in food prices drove demand for other products down and thus hurt the emerging industrial sectors as well. In addition, cholera spread through Europe in 1848 and 1849. Early industrialization strengthened the middle classes, who embraced liberalism and nationalism. Industrial developments also threatened the livelihoods of the many craftworkers who became instrumental in the early phases of the revolutions. Industrialization and economic hardships were not sufficient causes, however. Britain and Belgium, the most advanced industrial nations, avoided revolution by adopting liberal forms of government in the years preceding 1848 and expanding the franchise to include many o
