While the
reasons why the revolutions of 1848 failed differed from country to country, there are some
common elements that doomed many of them. One was a lack of a unified message or cause of the
revolutionaries. This was the case in Germany, Poland, and Italy, where different elements had
different goals. Factions were unable to cooperate and present a united front against their
opponents, and their movements fell apart.
Another common cause of failure
was an inability to form a strong military resistance. For instance, while Hungary had initial
success in forcing out the Austrians, it was powerless to stand up against the massive Russian
army that invaded shortly thereafter.
Newly established republics also faced
economic hurdles. When it was established, the nascent Italian Republic was practically
bankrupt. To pay its much-needed military, the Italians simply printed more money, which
devastated the economy by leading to runaway inflation. Without a well-funded military,
the...
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