Between the German revolution of 1848 and that of 1918, the parallel is interesting: in both, the laboring-classes played a prominent part; and, in both, the industrial problem came up for solution. During the recent revolution, the employees gave expression to their belief that the industrial freedom of the factory system was making them slaves of the capitalists. In 1848 the mastercraftsmen of Prussia opposed the liberal Prussian law of 1845, because they believed that it was demoralizing industry. They could think of high standards only in terms of the guild system. Journeymen and apprentices, however, were in favor of retaining industrial freedom. Factory-employees and day-laborers, though inadequately organized, were surprisingly unanimous in their demands for regulation. Obviously there was discontent among the working classes of Prussia in 1848. This discontent was largely due to the fact that Prussian industry was passing through a transitional stage. To show the degree of industrial freedom introduced into Prussia by the law of 1845, to note the reaction of the various classes of workingmen, and to trace the policy of the Government, resulting from the petitions and protests of 1847 and 1848, is the purpose of this monograph.