Belgian Revolution

Belgian Revolution

By: Amelia Seidel

What is it?

• A Revolution in the 1830s

• It led to the secession of the Southern provinces of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and establishment of the independent Kingdom of Belguim

Revolutionary Leaders

• Maurice-Jean de Broglie – French nobleman, bishop of Ghent, STRONG hatred towards the house of Orange

• Prince William (King William II, later) – although it was against the family, he took the side of the Southern Provinces

Main Causes

• The treatment of the Southern Provinces

• Religious differences between Southern and the Northern Provinces

• Dutch’s domination over the political, economic, and social institutions

• Under-representation for the Southern Provinces

Goals

• Southern Providences secession from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands

Roles in Revolution

• Elites – Prince William sided with the Southerners. Other royalty like his brother and father favored the Northerners

• Religions – The differences between the Southern and Northern religions were not great. Southern was ‘pure’ Catholic. Northern was mainly Catholic.

• Military – King William I used his military influence to try and regain power by force

Leaders’ Support & Popularity

• Prince William was popular in the Southern Provinces

• King William I was not popular anywhere. His people saw his rule as tyrannical

• Prince Fredrick was not very popular anywhere but the Northern Provinces benefited from him

Participation of People

• In late August, 1830 a riot broke out after a patriotic opera in honor of the birthday of King William I (he was disliked by the people)

• Dislike of each other and division of the citizens because of unfair taxes and under-representation

Promotion of Causes

• Maurice-Jean de Broglie created a law for the Southern Provinces that forbid Catholic bishops from following the government

• Talk about the riots that broke out after the Opera in August, 1830 promoted the causes of the Southern Provinces

Post-Revolution Leaders

• In Netherlands: Dutch royalty, William I

• In Belgium: The newly-formed government,

Power Shifts

• To start off, the Dutch King William I controls all power. Both in the military and politically

• Extremists take power in August 1830 after royalty tries to stop riots by force

• The power splits when the Southern Providences secede

• Dutch royalty tries to regain power over Belgium after the Ten Days Campaign (invasion of Belgium) in August 1831

Opposite Forces

Southern vs. Northern ProvincesPrince William vs. William I, Prince Frederick

• The King and one of his sons, Prince Frederick, were not well-liked by the people

• Though they weren’t liked, they did have some influence in the military