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# Europa en el siglo XIX después del Congreso de Viena: 1814-1848 ## The post-Napoleonic Era: The Congress of Vienna The victory of the anti-Napoleonic coalition was followed by the Congress of Vienna between 1814 and 1815. This meeting restored the borders that existed prior to the French Revoluti...

# Europa en el siglo XIX después del Congreso de Viena: 1814-1848 ## The post-Napoleonic Era: The Congress of Vienna The victory of the anti-Napoleonic coalition was followed by the Congress of Vienna between 1814 and 1815. This meeting restored the borders that existed prior to the French Revolution and re-established the absolute monarchies that had been overthrown by Napoleon's armies. ## The Holy Alliance At the same time, the Holy Alliance, a coalition of Prussia, Austria, and Russia, was formed. This alliance aimed to suppress any revolutionary movements that threatened the existing order in Europe. Despite these efforts, the ideas of the French Revolution continued to spread throughout Europe, influencing the bourgeoisie - entrepreneurs, merchants, intellectuals, etc. - who favored liberal ideas and believed they provided the best protection for their interests. ## France: The Birthplace of Revolution France would again be the site of revolution, as the bourgeoisie sought to remove the absolute monarchies from power, triggering revolutionary waves that had a widespread impact on the continent. ## The Bourbon Restoration and the Rise of the Middle Class In 1830, the French bourgeoisie succeeded in ending absolute monarchy by establishing a constitutional monarchy that still reflected the interests of the wealthy elite (through a limited franchise, i.e. the right to vote). However, this did not satisfy the ambitions of the middle class (the petite bourgeoisie and working class), who had been excluded from the political process once again. Their discontent grew, fueled by social and economic hardship. They demanded such things as the right to strike, shorter workdays, and universal suffrage (the right of all citizens to vote regardless of class or wealth). ## Europe in 1848: A Wave of Revolutions The discontent across Europe came to a head in 1848. A wave of revolutions swept the continent, sparked by economic hardship (famines, unemployment, and widespread poverty). The revolutionaries initially achieved success in many countries. However, the upper classes, including the bourgeoisie, reacted with force, using the power of the military to restore order. In most cases, the liberal reforms or moderate constitutional monarchies that these revolts sought to establish were short-lived. The old regimes, with the help of the military, managed to reassert their power. ## The Long Road to Democracy In the years that followed the 1848 revolutions, popular pressure continued to build for democratic reforms, eventually leading to a gradual expansion of rights and representation. The wealthy and powerful continued to hold the most power, but significant gains were made in the form of more inclusive and democratic institutions, culminating in the expansion of suffrage and the right to vote for all male citizens.