Revolutions of 1848. Manuscript essay written in ink in a legible hand. Signed Charles Strong on the verso of leaf 2 and dated June 1849

1849. Folio. 330 x 200 mm., [13 x 8 inches]. 2 pp. of text. Folio sheet folded into quarters after writing; small tears at folds, expertly repaired, light tide marks and some soiling to the paper stock. Likely the student essay of Dr. Charles Henry Strong (1828-1912) who was from Girard, Erie, Pennsylvania. At age sixteen he attended the academy at Springfield, Pennsylvania and to years later he entered college at Girard, from which he was graduated in two years. Upon graduation Strong taught school in both Erie and Crawford County Pennsylvania for eight years. Strong eventually graduated (in 1858) from Cleveland Eclectic Medical College and spent the remainder of his career in medical practice in Sangamon County, Illinois. This essay, The Revolutions in Europe was probably written while a college student at Girard. The Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples, or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848. The revolutionary wave began in France in February, and immediately spread to most of Europe and parts of Latin America. Over fifty countries were affected. Strong wrote in part: "The year 1848 will ever be remembered as the beginning of a new and most important era in the history of the world . . . the commencement of a train of events which have shaken to their foundations all the governments of Europe...A long oppressed people urge it on - not the parasites of royalty, but the downtrodden working people . . . while now we contemplate these great political changes which disturb so greatly the peace of the world in general . . . we can not but observe the striking contrast between these disturbed countries and our own happy land... here we enjoy liberty, peace, and plenty.