(A) 1848, in many European countries a revolution led by the educated middle classes was underway along with the revolts of the poor, unemployed, peasants and workers.
In France, in February 1848 Emperor abdicated the throne and a republic based on universal male suffrage was proclaimed.
In other parts of Europe such as in Germany, Italy, Poland, the Austro Hungarian Empire – men and women of the liberal middle classes demanded a Constitution along with national unification. They took advantage of the growing popular unrest to push their demands for the creation of a nation-state on parliamentary principles – a constitution, freedom of the press and freedom of association.
In German speaking areas a large number of political associations (members were middle class educated professionals, businessmen and well off artists) came together in Frankfurt and decided to vote for an All German National Assembly. On18th May 1848, 831 elected representatives assembled in the Frankfurt parliament convened in the Church of St. Paul. They drafted a Constitution for the German nation to be headed by a constitutional monarch. Under these conditions they offered the crown to Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia but he rejected it and joined other monarchs to oppose the elected assembly. The parliament which was dominated by the middle class ignored the demands of the artisans and workers and consequently lost their support. Finally, troops were called in and the assembly was forced to disband.
The issue of extending political rights to women was a controversial one. A large number of women had participated actively in the liberal movement. Women had formed their own political associations, founded newspapers and taken part in political meetings and demonstrations. Despite this they were denied suffrage rights during the election of the German National Assembly. When the Frankfurt parliament convened in the Church of St Paul, women were admitted only as observers to stand in the visitors’ gallery. So one feels the period of 1848 was considered as a phase of the Revolution of the Liberals in Europe.
(B) The Balkans was a region of geographical and ethnic variation comprising modern-day Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro whose inhabitants were broadly known as the Slavs.
A large part of the Balkans was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. The spread of the ideas of romantic nationalism in the Balkans together with the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire made this region very explosive.
One by one, its European subject nationalities broke away from its control and declared independence. The Balkan states were fiercely jealous of each other and each hoped to gain more territory at the expense of the others.
Matters were further complicated because the Balkans also became the scene of big power rivalry. During this period, there was intense rivalry among the European powers over trade and colonies as well as naval and military might.
Each power – Russia, Germany, England, Austro-Hungary – was keen on countering the hold of other powers over the Balkans, and extending its own control over the area. This led to a series of wars in the region and finally the First World War.