1848 was a turning point in the history of mankind, when people got together and changed the way of thinking forever. The Spring of Nations brought Revolutionary ideas in socialism, nationalism and democracy. It gave the modern man a sense of what he needed and what he wanted and above all, a united nation created one of the greatest countries in the history of the World:
The Federation of Switzerland, the first modern democratic states in Europe was born.
A Short History Lesson
At the end of the Sonderbund civil war which lasted 27 days, a new federal constitution was drawn up by Johann Conrad Kern (1808–1888) of Thurgau and Henri Druey (1790–1855) of Vaud. This new constitution was declared on 12th September 1948 and the Federation of Switzerland as we know today was created.
In the same year, a series of political upheavals throughout Europe took place which still remains the most widespread revolutionary wave in European history.
A List of Most Important Events of 1848
- California Gold Rush: James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter’s Mill, in Coloma, California.
- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish The Communist Manifesto (Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei) in London.
- The French Second Republic is proclaimed by Alphonse de Lamartine, in the name of the provisional government elected by the Chamber.
- The March Disturbances break out in Sweden.
- Hungarian Revolution of 1848
- Berlin barricade and culmination of the German revolutions of 1848–49
- The Republic of San Marco comes into existence in Venice.
- Wallachian Revolution
- Romanian revolutionary government led by Ion Heliade Rădulescu.
- The Hungarian national revolutionary parliament starts to work.
- One of the successes of the Revolutions of 1848, the Swiss Federal Constitution enters into force, creating a federal republic, and one of the first modern democratic states in Europe.
- Battle of Pákozd: The Hungarian revolutionary army, led by János Móga, defeats the Croatian army of Josip Jelačić, forcing him to retreat towards Vienna.
- In Boston, Massachusetts, the first medical school for women, The Boston Female Medical School opens.
- A new Constitution of the Netherlands drafted by Johan Rudolph Thorbecke, introducing representative democracy, is proclaimed.
- Slavery is abolished in Réunion