Secondary Source Consider Question

The Revolutions of 1848

Consider: According to Weiss, the social and economic causes of the revolutions; how Weiss supports his conclusion that it is misleading to label these revolutions liberal.

       Weiss shows in this document that the social and economic causes of the revolutions were that the artisans and peasants wanted to keep the old traditions. They were also feeling violated because in many cases their status had changed by liberal capitalism. Weiss supports his conclusion that it is misleading to label these revolutions liberal by saying that the liberals that eventually came to power didn't want revolution they wanted reform. Also, the liberals didn't represent all of the middle class, and there was no mass following for liberals in Europe