2.1 The constitutional reform of 1848

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

De koning is de baas

1814: NL: constitutional monarchy: Country with king and constitution. 

- no democracy. 

Still the king had a lot of power:

- King appoints/fires ministers

- ministers accountable to king.

- Parliament (Upper and Lower chamber ) no power

Conservatives

- maintaining the situation

-the king should be assisted by the elite

-believed too many changes had been made after the French revolution.

In 1840: King William II became king.

1848 

Many riots in Europe especially in France and Germany.

King William II was troubled and established a comittee to prepare a new constitution. This was led by Thorbecke.

1848: Constitutional reform and two main principles

Before 1848:

King has a lot of power

After 1848:

Influence of the people grew due to direct elections.

The power of the peoples's representatives (Upper and lower Houses grew. The king became less powerfull.

1848: Constitutional reform (p.31-32)

8 major changes:

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

King William III (son of II) refuses to cooperate (p32)

3 reasons why NL was still not fully democratic

1

2

3

Single-member district system

Until 1917, elections in the Netherlands were held through the single-district system. This meant you voted for a person and not a party.

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