A History of the Nineteenth Century, Year by Year. Volume 2 (of 3)

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26901

Title

A History of the Nineteenth Century, Year by Year. Volume 2 (of 3)

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume chronicles the turbulent years 1816–1850, capturing the transition from Napoleonic reaction to liberal revolution. It explores the rise of parliamentary government in France, the struggle for German unity, Italian independence, and the shifting economic landscapes of Britain and America, including the onset of industrial depression and sectional conflicts over slavery.

Summary up to 500 words

Volume Two of Edwin Emerson's *A History of the Nineteenth Century* chronicles the turbulent decades following the Napoleonic Wars, a period defined by the struggle between restored monarchies and rising liberal movements. In France, the era began with parliamentary rule under the Duc de Richelieu, fostering a literary revival led by Chateaubriand and the lyric poet Béranger, whose songs captured the spirit of the age. Conversely, southern Europe saw a reactionary turn; Spain reinstated the Inquisition, Naples suppressed Freemasons, and Germany, under Prince Metternich's influence, imposed strict censorship and feudal institutions, suspending universities and re-establishing serfdom in some regions. The German Confederation, established to maintain order, proved ineffective due to unfair voting structures that favored Austria and Prussia over the smaller states. This tension culminated in the revolutions of 1848. The collapse of Metternich's authority in Vienna sparked a wave of liberal uprisings across Europe. In Hungary, Kossuth demanded a constitution and independence, while in Germany, the Frankfurt Parliament attempted to unify the nation. However, the movement faced violent suppression, particularly in Baden, where revolutionary leaders like Friedrich Hecker were defeated by Prussian troops. Similarly, the Italian struggle against Austrian dominance was stifled by British and French opposition to a strong Italian state. Geopolitical instability extended to the Balkans, where Russia and Turkey intervened in Moldavia and Wallachia to suppress local revolts. In the Americas, the post-war depression deepened sectional divides in the United States. The debate over tariffs highlighted the conflict between the free-trade interests of New England and the slave-holding South's desire for a protected home market for cotton. This economic strife intensified the national debate over slavery, which was effectively legalized nationwide by the Supreme Court's nullification of the Missouri restriction. Culturally, the volume profiles significant figures reflecting the era's intellectual currents. Alfred de Musset's work exemplified romantic pessimism, while Charles Baudelaire's *Les Fleurs de Mal* pushed the boundaries of art with a worship of evil and the grotesque. Isidore Comte founded positivism, advocating for a society based on empirical science and social order. The volume concludes with the violent conflicts in Utah involving Mormon settlers and the ongoing political ferment that set the stage for the profound transformations of the mid-nineteenth century.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History