French Army troops firing on revolutionaries
The Spring of Nations, also known as the Revolutions of 1848, was a widespread revolutionary wave that occurred across Europe from 23 February 1848 to early 1849. Over 50 nations experienced revolutions, riots, and protests, and the revolutions led to the overthrow of the Kingdom of France, the establishment of a parliament in the Netherlands, the abolition of serfdom in the Austrian Empire, and the end of absolute monarchy in Denmark. Most uprisings were put down, including the failed independence uprising in Hungary, the rebellions by German nationalists across the German states, and the Italian revolt against the Austrians, but nationalist sentiment was spread among the peoples of oppressed nations. In addition, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published The Communist Manifesto that same year, sparking further unrest among oppressed workers in the major nations of Europe.