The Springtime of Nations
As 1845 dawned , many of those in power believed it would be a year like any other. The French would hate the Prussian, the Prussian the French, and the world would move forward,. Yet this common wisdom would not hold, for in April, revolution would spread across the continent.
The Stability of the French King
The revolutions began in Paris, where people called for an end to the excesses and inaction of the monarchy, crying for a voice in their nation. One that had been largely deprived of them in the recent years. They marched on the residence of the King and demanded that the King agree to give more powers to the elected government and distance himself further from the governance of the nation It was this demand that many in palace derided believing the king would only become a mere figurehead, stripped of all power, becoming a mere canary in a gilded cage.
[-1 Stability if Demands not Met]
In the Germanies revolutionary sentiments was also fever-pitched. The people who angered by their oppressive governments. Governments who dictated and did not listen, governments who oppressed the man and did not grant him the freedom to live his own life. Revolts spread like wildfire fire in the German statelets as the people demanded that Germany be united as a single nation, and that the people be granted the freedoms of the press and assembly.
Many derided the Prussian Constitution currently under construction, calling it an affront to the common man, intent on repressing the common man under the boot the Junkers. Revolts broke out around the nation, particularly in the industrialized Ruhr, as many young men marched out of the workforce and gathered in the streets and demanded their rights and an end to the current unfairness of the Prussian system.
[-10 Industry until Revolts Quelled, -1 Stability]
In Bavaria, the surprisingly people gather to cheer the King an d hailed him for his liberalism and love for culture. They called Bavaria a model for all the Germanies, a nation were the common man had a voice, a nation were culture was valued over militarism, liberalism over repression!
[+1 Stability]
The German National Assembly
In May the revolutionaries and governments called for all the German States to send representatives to an National Assembly in St. Paul's Church in Frankfurt-am-Main. The assembly was called to discuss the future of Germany. Would Germany include portions of Austria, would Germany have a monarch, and how would such a state be confirmed. In the end from a parliament of 586 delegates, all save the Prussian and Austrian delegations, voted for the creation of a German State under the Bavarian King, A Bavarian Emperor! A state where the voices of the common man would be heard, and a benevolent monarch would serve as the font of power, reigning not but not ruling. Furthermore, as concession to the other German states, it was concluded that a federal structure would be adopted allowing the Germanies to maintain control of their local affairs yet, control national issues would be endowed in a new body, a parliament for all of Germans. With a lower house popularly elected and based on population while in the upper house, votes would be more equal. If the Bavarian King accepts this offer, he will become the German Emperor, a nation consisting of all the Germanies bar Prussia and German speaking lands of Austria.
[Will Bavaria lead Germany?]
The revolutionaries of Hungary
Revolution also swept the lands of the Habsburg Empire forcing the Imperial family to flee Vienna and retreat to Salzburg. The revolutionaries demanded the same rights as the revolts in Germany, and further demanded that the Kaiser immediately institute elections and have this elected body draft a new liberal constitution for the Empire. In Hungary, the Magyar nobility sensing the Emperor's weakness and still upset over the loss of lands to peasants. They would use this money incite revolts of Hungarian nationalism, closing traffic on the Danube. Revolts similarly occurred among the Poles and Ukrainians.
[-1 Stability, Hungary and Lodmeria-Galicia in Open Revolt]
Further South, the Italies also experienced revolution, with the revolutionaries calling for the same rights as those all over Europe. In Piedmont-Tuscany, this force revealed itself in widespread protests as the people demanded their rights, further South in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the revolutionaries managed to seize the royal family and forced them to abdicate the throne and go into exile. After they had departed the revolutionaries proclaimed the Republic of Two Sicilies, a nation formed to unite Italy.
[-1 Stability to Piedmont-Tuscany, Two Sicilies becomes a Republic]
Elsewhere, there were minor protests, as many peacefully demanded further rights in their respective parliaments, as in Denmark or the United Kingdom, or were quickly repressed as in Russia. Though in Iberia, this revolutionary fervor would inspire many to take up arms and join the revolutionary forces...
[Carlists boosted in Spain]
ORDERS DUE JANUARY 24th at 11:59 PM CST (GMT -6)
