Peoples spring

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The Spring of Nations or the spring of peoples is a 19th-century since Ludwig Borne popular (1786-1837) liberal slogan for the struggle for freedom and national unity in all European countries. The road to independence that the Soviet republics, previously oppressed by the central power, began with Mikhail Gorbachev , is sometimes referred to as the Spring of Nations . In addition, the term Arab Spring is a reference to the springtime of the 19th century.

term

Since the pre- March period, the people's spring has quickly become a popular metaphor for the revolutionary demands of the 19th century. As a seasonal symbol, spring denotes freedom. The spring of nations contains three constitutive terms that make it up. These are national unity, political freedom and international solidarity. The connection in the national and international struggle against the Restoration was just as decisive .

origin

Ludwig Börne

The term “Völkerfrühling” first appeared in 1818 in Ludwig Börne's newspaper “ Die Wage ”. Even before the time of the revolutions, he predicted the coming of the peoples' spring. Furthermore, the term and its connection with nature is expressed in Börne's "Letters from Paris". 1830–1831, Börne's letters were a compendium of political imagery for the pre-March period due to his early liberal ideas . The July Revolution in France in 1830 inspired Börne and other liberals to a new national consciousness . According to Börne, the accompaniment of spring was a symbol for the revolutions that were experienced and those to come.

Jordanus Brunow

In 1831 the Hoffmann und Campe publishing house published “The Spring of Nations and His Heralds”. The stated author was Jordanus Brunow, whose real name was Franz Servais August Gathy. In his opinion, the events of the July Revolution also had a certain influence on the circumstances in Germany in the 19th century.

Historical context

At the time when the term “people's spring” was first used, Europe was riddled with unrest. In most European countries there was a pre-revolutionary mood for several reasons.

In 1815 the Congress of Vienna met , at which a restoration of the conditions before the French Revolution was sought. The German Confederation was brought into being at the congress , an amalgamation of 37, later 35, sovereign German states including Austria and Prussia . Austria held the chairmanship of the "Bundestag", which met in Frankfurt am Main. The German bourgeoisie did not agree with this German Confederation as a loose confederation of sovereign states of the German royal houses. It strived for a unified Germany. In general, it can be said that the resolutions of the Congress of Vienna did not meet with the goodwill and approval of the politically interested population.

In 1817 500 academics came together at the Wartburg to peacefully protest against the nature of the princely rule. At this time, a national feeling flared up in the German lands, and the movement of the people's spring also began in Germany.

In France, the “ July Revolution ” took place in 1830 , as the French population was not satisfied with the fact that the changes that had been made after the French Revolution of 1789 increasingly lost their effectiveness and that previous conditions threatened to arise. After the July Revolution, there were also isolated uprisings in the German Confederation, some of which resulted in liberal reforms. B. in the Kingdom of Hanover, where a constitution could be enforced. The Hambach Festival in 1832 was also a consequence of the July Revolution. Overall, however, the German population remained relatively calm. In 1848 the March Revolution took place in Germany .

Web links

  • Christoph Kleßmann: The “Spring of Nations” and German-Polish relations from 1831 to 1848 in Polish history books. ( library.fes.de PDF; 365 kB).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Erich Bayer (ed.): Dictionary of history. Terms and technical terms (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 289). 4th, revised edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 1980, ISBN 3-520-28904-0 , p. 533.
  2. ↑ a b Carsten Martin: "Freedom, O Spring of Nations" The collective symbols of the seasons in the political and lyrical discourse of the pre-March period (1815-1849). Dortmund, December 2004.
  3. ↑ Christoph Kleßmann: The "Völkerfrühling" and German-Polish relations from 1831 to 1848 in Polish history books. Pp. 190-195.
  4. ^ Anton Egner (Ed.): Time for history. Challenges of modernity . [Gymnasium (G8), upper level, Baden-Württemberg], Dr. A 1. Schroedel, Braunschweig 2010, ISBN 978-3-507-36805-7 .