Question

Why workers in Europe were against capitalism and regime?

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20 points :):)​

Answer 1

Answer:

For the first time in history the working class had shown itself as an independent force in society. It had in the revolutionary turmoil, imposed its own demands on the government. It fought a four day battle on the barricades in defence of its interests. Independent in the sense that they did not follow the political leadership of the liberal bourgeoisie that is the political leadership of the private owners of the means of production, the capitalists.

With the failure of either of the major contending classes to gain secure control of society, the capitalists turned to the rule of the army. The army took power into its own hands but guaranteed peaceful and profitable conditions for capitalist expansion. This situation is known as Bonapartism after Napoleon Bonaparte who performed the same role for the bourgeoisie in 1799.

The workers had been easily defeated as they had put their faith in a government talking shop called the Luxembourg Commission. While workers talked with the boss's representatives the capitalists were preparing to physically crush the workers' movement.

Following the defeat of the revolutions of 1848 a period of reaction followed. Industry grew quickly and production dramatically increased. In the process small peasants went to the wall and small business (the petty bourgeoisie) were hit badly, but the size of the working class increased.

England become the workshop of the world. France was developing, but small scale development still dominated.

In this situation the labour movement made little progress. Wages were high, and there was little unemployment. The unions were organised along narrow craft lines. They were conservative and fearful of political action, and they were prepared to support the liberal bourgeoisie. In 1859 a crisis broke out and the capitalists sought to put the burden of the crisis on to the backs of the workers. There were many strikes particularly in the building trades in 1859/60. These forced the unions to organise on a larger scale and in 1861 the first London Trades Council was formed