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Why and to what extent did the revolutions of 1848 fail
They were a small minority and feared popular revolt.
The leaders of the era were unpopular. Freidrich Wilhelm IV was indecisive and inconsistent and in April of the following year he refused the crown from the Frankfurt depututation. He changed his mind to suit the people who surrounded him at the time, as he was urged by advisors.
The violence was sporadic and mainly confined to cities and much of it was controlled and therefore was not a serious problem.
However, the revolutions cannot be classed as a total failure as although there were no immediate successes there were outcomes that in the long term would benefit Germany. The abolition of the remnants of feudalism meant that many workers were free to work in factories. There was the prospect of national unity and political participation. There was also a general impetus towards democracy and parliamentary government.