Distant Revolutions: 1848 and the Challenge to American Exceptionalism

Chronology of Events, 1848–1854

193 1848 12 January Revolt in Palermo 10 February Constitution in Naples 21 February Publication of Communist Manifesto in London 22–24 February Revolution in Paris Abdication of Louis Philippe, King of the French Proclamation of the French Second Republic Proclamation of the abolition of colonial slavery Establishment of national labor workshops 28 February U.S. Minister Richard Rush recognizes French Second Republic 2 March Universal manhood su≠rage proclaimed in France 3 March Louis Kossuth’s revolutionary speech for Hungarian selfgovernment 10 March U.S. Senate ratifies Treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, ending U.S.–Mexican War 13–15 March Insurrection in Vienna Prince Klemens von Metternich resigns 14 March Constitution in Papal States 15–20 March Violent “March Days” in Berlin Frederick William IV pledges national elections Prussia to be absorbed into a united Germany 18–22 March Five Days of Milan: insurrection there and in Venice, where republic is proclaimed Kingdom of Piedmont declares war on Austria 26 March Nicholas I condemns revolutionary events in Europe 10 April Chartist demonstration in London 12–20 April Republican uprising in Baden led by Friedrich Hecker Chronology of Events, 1848–1854 194 Chronology 23 April Popular elections to French national assembly 25 April Constitution announced for the Austrian empire 29 April Pope Pius IX proclaims Papal States’ neutrality 15 May Ferdinand suppresses Neapolitan parliament: collapse of revolt in Sicily 17 May Renewed insurrection in Vienna Hapsburg dynasty flees to Innsbruck 18 May German national assembly, elected by universal male su≠rage, meets in Frankfurt 22 May Prussian national assembly convenes Democratic Party convention, Baltimore 2–17 June Slav Congress in Prague Slavic uprising quelled by Austrian force under Prince Alfred Windischgrätz 7 June Whig Party convention, Philadelphia 23–26 June “June Days” violence in Paris Suppression of national workshops General Louis Eugène Cavaignac defeats the insurrection and becomes head of government 5 July Hungarian National Assembly meets in Pest 19 July Seneca Falls convention on women’s rights 29 July Young Irelander uprising fails in County Tipperary 9 August U.S. Minister Andrew Jackson Donelson appointed minister to “the Federal Government of Germany” Free Soil Party convention, Bu≠alo 12 August Austrian imperial court returns to Vienna 7 September Emancipation from serfdom in the Hapsburg Empire 17 September Austrian empire invades Hungary 21 September Outbreak of second republican uprising in Baden, led by Gustav Struve, who proclaims a “German Republic” 6–31 October Student and worker insurrection in Vienna Dynasty flees to Olmütz Insurrection quelled by Windischgrätz 7 November Zachary Taylor elected U.S. president over Lewis Cass and Martin Van Buren 9 November Austrians execute Robert Blum, of the Frankfurt Assembly, for supporting Viennese revolutionaries Chronology 195 16–25 November Insurrection in Rome Flight of Pius IX to Gaeta 2 December Abdication of Emperor Ferdinand of Austria, succeeded by Franz Joseph 5 December Military occupation of Berlin Prussian national assembly dissolved 10 December Presidential election in France: victory of Louis Napoleon 1849 21 January Popular elections in the Papal States for constitutional government 9 February Establishment of Roman Republic 4–7 March Constitution dictated in Austria, no special status given to Hungary 22 March Battle of Novara: Austrian troops defeat forces of Sardinia and Piedmont Charles Albert abdicates throne to Victor Emmanuel II 2–3 April Frankfurt Assembly produces all-German constitution and invites Frederick William IV to become German emperor; he rejects the o≠er 14 April Hungarian Parliament declares independence from Austria Recognition of German constitution by twenty-eight German states 16 April France sends troops against Roman Republic to restore Pius IX 6–17 June Under pressure from Prussian military, “Rump” of Frankfurt Assembly meets at Stuttgart, then dissolves 16 June Russian armies invade Hungary 18 June President Taylor nominates envoy to Hungarians 1–2 July Fall of Roman Republic 9–13 August Final defeat of Hungarian armies Kossuth abdicates to General Arthur Görgey and escapes to Turkey 28 August Fall of Venetian Republic to Austria 1850 29 January Henry Clay presents compromise measures to the U.S. Senate over issue of slavery 31 March Death of John C. Calhoun 196 Chronology 3–12 June First secession convention in Nashville 9 July President Taylor dies, succeeded by Millard Filmore 19 July Margaret Fuller, returning from Europe, drowns o≠ New York coast 18 September Compromise of 1850 passed by U.S. Congress, including the Fugitive Slave Act 11–18 November...