William served in the Peninsular War, was wounded at Waterloo, and led the Dutch army in the Belgian revolution after his father failed to approve his conciliation efforts. Called to the throne upon his father's abdication in 1840, William was immediately confronted with a financial crisis, which was solved by raising a "voluntary loan" among the people. A conservative leader, he resisted constitutional revision until the revolutionary spirit of 1848 induced him to grant what desired reforms? Discuss (http://forum.thefreedictionary.com/postst19594_William-II-Becomes-King-of-the-Netherlands--1840-.aspx)
Free Dictionary Encyclopedia