Kennington Common, London 1848 is venue for ''monster'' Chartist Rally (see web), being held against background of revolts, rebellions and revolutions throughout Europe and in Ireland, such becomes known as 'The Spring of Nations' In Wales a mysterious ''Son of Liberty'' puts up posters around Merthyr calling for a ''Mass Meeting'' but few turn up, no doubt Merthyr Tudful having already had two bloody Insurrections was not up for a third. Thus 1848 in Wales, is better known not as the year of ''The Spring of Nations'' but more as the year of the ''Infamous Blue Books'' with little sign of and further ''Welsh Insurrections'' as in 1831 and 1839. However, in it's own little way 1848 was to prove a bit of an early spring for the still, under politically advanced Welsh Nation. By 1848 Wales had witnessed much popular revolt and had just had it's ''Rebecca Rebellion'', the ''Tithe Wars'' of the 1880's were to come as were many militant strikes and bloody riots as at Tonypandy 1910 and Llanelli 1911. But never again a revolutionary rising, not untill that is 1968 and what has become known as Europes ''Year of Revolution '', for the most part ''Student Revolts''. However, in Wales in 1968, things were going beyond it's own form of ''Student Revolt'' with the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Cymraeg ''Language Struggle''. The Wales of 1968 were to witness bomb attacks and something a bit more threatening of another possible ''Welsh Insurrection'' against the imposition of an English Prince of Wales. Right then! get my drift? this present posting is no more than an ''In Development'' introduction to further wriiting on 1848 and 1968, with an appeal for your ideas and suggestions for maybe a conference on such, regards suitable way to mark in 2008, the 160th anniversary of 1848 and 40th of 1968. If any ideas or interested contact me at: gethin.apgruffyd@ntlworld.com (comments/articles to publish are welcome too)
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Gethin Gruffyd.
