Interesting question :-) Romanticism was primarily a revolt against the reserved emotional nature of the Enlightenment and the overwhelming changes in society brought about by the Industrial Revolution. read more
The Romantic Era followed the Classical Era, dominated by composers Mozart and Haydn. While Beethoven began as a Classical composer, he soon found the the constraints of Classical era musical forms and expression insufficient for what he wished to express personally. read more
Another area in which we still feel Romantic influence is orchestration. Indeed, it is interesting that the orchestra's continued popularity is often tied to the performance of Romantic-era compositions (although many major orchestras play plenty of music from other eras). read more