Top 10 Events from the Isms and Revolutions
1. Social Darwinism
2. French Revolution of 1848
3. Frankfurt Assembly
4. Franco-Prussian War
5. Marxism
6. Romanticism
7. Conservatism
8. Liberalism
9. Nationalism
10. Socialism
- Social Darwinism was the act or belief that Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection could be applied to social issues, which was supported by the middle class.
- Late 1800s, early 1900s
- Social Darwinism led to material for thinkers, such as Herbert Spenser, to explain why some people succeed and further themselves especially in a social class system.
2. French Revolution of 1848
- The French Revolution of 1848 was a successful revolution that occurred while Louis Philippe was in power.
- 1848
- As a result, Louis Philippe abdicated himself from the throne, France entered the Second French Republic, and Louis Napoleon came into power.
3. Frankfurt Assembly
- The Frankfurt Assembly was an elected group of Prussian officials who attempted to unify the German States.
- 1848-1849
- The Frankfurt Assembly was a strongly nationalistic group that attempted to make the German States into one being, but waited to long in their planning and ended up failing.
4. Franco-Prussian War
- The Franco-Prussian War was the conflict between France and Prussia that was instigated by France.
- 1870-1871
- The war launched Prussia into being a European power. The war was strategically started through the telegrams that were messed with to give false information.
5. Marxism
- Marxism was the social and economic ideology that summarized Karl Marx’s socialistic beliefs.
- (19th century)
- Marxism addressed the ideas that social class conflict was the history of society, that the proletariat would overthrow the bourgeoisie, and mostly just followed the ideas stated in The Communist Manifesto.
6. Romanticism
- Romanticism was an artistic movement that was a rebellious response to order and was characterized by strong emotions, unlimited creativity, and the unexpected.
- 1750-1840’s
- Famous romantic artists including Beethoven, Wordsworth, and Victor Hugo contributed to Romanticism that attempted to change the culture in a rebellious act towards Enlightenment and classical ideals.
7. Conservatism
- Conservatism is a political view that is characterized by more limited freedom or thinking.
- (Early 1600s)
- Conservatism was more about firm government control, did not exactly embrace change, and was associated with people such as Metternich and the countries he controlled.
8. Liberalism
- Liberalism is a political view, based around the ideas of liberty and equality, most obvious in the French Revolution and the American Revolution.
- (18th and 19th century)
- Liberalism is focused specifically around specific rights, democracy, laissez faire economics, and social equality; Liberalism was tolerated to a certain point by conservatives and was mostly criticized for its economic ideas.
9. Nationalism
- Nationalism is a political view whose origins are most evident in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars, and is centered on the idea of a unity of characteristics between people.
- (19th century)
- Nationalism often led to people wanting to form an independent state, was successful for its ability to have definition between specific boundaries of the types of people, and eventually caused conflict between other countries because of opinions of superiority.
10. Socialism
- Socialism is and was a radical political view that started in France, whose early ideas were centered around economic planning, economic equality, and strict regulation on property possession.
- (1815-)
- Socialism was an attack on capitalistic ideas or ideas of individualism, and included people and countries such as France and Karl Marx.