Rise of Nationalism in Europe Notes

 Rise of Nationalism in Europe Notes

1.The idea of the nation and the French revolution 

2. The making of nationalism in Europe 

3.The age of revolutiona:1830-48

4. The making of Germany and Italy

5. Visualising the Nation

6. Nationalism and Imperialism 

1. The idea of the nation and the French revolution 

Nation --

One in which the majority of its citizens came to develop a sense of common identity and shared history or descent. 

The common identity did not come from common language, race , religion rather it was built on common struggles and symbols. 

French revolution 

The first clear expression of nationalism came in Europe with the French Revolution in 1789.The revolution transferred the power to a body of French citizens. 

They took the following steps to create a sense of common identity 

1. The idea of La Patrie (The fatherland) and Le Citoyen (the citizen) was introduced.

2. A new French flag, tricolour was chosen to replace the royal flag. 

3. French language was encouraged whereas regional languages were neglected. 

4. Internal custom duties and dues were abolished. 

5. A uniform system of weights and measures was adopted. 

6. A centralised administrative system waa put in place and uniform laws for all citizens were formulated. 

7. New hymns were composed, oaths taken and martyrs commemmorated all in the name of the nation. 

Mission 

The revolutionaries declared their mission to free the people of other European countries from absolute monarchy. And they were welcomed by the people of those countries. 

Napoleon's Rule

He introduced many reforms in France which were also exported to the conquered nations. Some of them are :

a) The civil code of Napoleon (1804)

It is also known as Napoleonic code ,which had the following main provisions :

   i. Equality before law 

   ii. Right to property 

   iii. Removal of privileges based on birth 

b) Transport and communication systems were improved. 

c) Guild restriction were removed in the towns. 

Reaction to the Napoleon's rule

In France

Peasants, workers and new businessmen liked his rule as they enjoyed new found freedom. 

In conquered region

➡️Initially people welcomed French armies as a enabler of liberty. 

➡️ The welcome very soon converted into anger and dissatisfaction because of :

   a) Increase in taxes

   b) Forces recruitment into army

   c) less freedom of speech 

2. The making of Nationalism in Europe

2.1 Absence of the nation States 

2.2 Types of people in Europe 

2.3 Meaning of liberal Nationalism

2.4 New conservation after 1815 

2.5 The Revolutionaries

2.1 Absence of Nation-States in mid 18th century

In the 18th century Europe was divided into many Kingdom ruled by their autonomous rulers. 

  The people within the territories did not share a collective identity. They spoke different languages belong to different ethnic groups and had different history. 

E.g:- Austria-Hungary was ruled by the Habsburg empire. They ruled many different regions and peoples.

Conclusion:- The only thing that bounded them together was a common allegiance to The Empire.

2.2 Types of people in Europe 

a) Aristocrats 

b) Peasants

c) Middle Class 

#Aristocrats 

➡️ They were socially and politically dominant group despite being minority in size.

➡️ They owned a lot of lands in both towns and villages.

➡️ They were United by a common way of life.

➡️ They spoke French language with each other and their families were often connected by ties of marriage.

# Peasants

➡️ They formed majority of population but had less status than that of aristocrats.

➡️ They did not own much land, whether they were tenants and used to cultivate the field owned by rich people.

# Middle Class 

➡️ The rise in industrial production led to the emergence of a new Class called middle class.

➡️ The middle-class included Industrialist, Businessman and professionals.

➡️ They believed in the idea of liberal nationalism.

2.3 Liberal Nationalism 

The liberal ideas that could bring national unity was called liberal nationalism .

Meaning 

a)  For  New Middle Class : 

➡️ Freedom of Individual 

➡️ Equality before law 

b)  Political meaning :

➡️ Concept of the government by consent

➡️ A constitution and representative government through parliament. 

c) Economic meaning :

➡️ Abolition of all restrictions on the movement of goods and capital. 

#Demands in Germany 

➡️ During the 19th century this was a strong demand of the emerging middle class especially of Germany. 

➡️ Germany was comprised of 39 states and each had their separate units of weight and measurement and had different currencies. 

➡️ This was considered as obstacle to the business by middle class. So they made a union to abolish all internal duties. 

#Zollverein 

It was a custom union formed at the initiative of Prussia in 1834.

Provisions

➡️ The union abolished tariff barriers and reduced the number of currencies from over 30 to 2.

➡️ This step was called a step in national unification. 

2.4 A new conservatism after 1815

After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 in the battle of waterloo, the new European governments were driven by a spirit of conservatism.

Definition : It is a political philosophy that believes in preserving the traditional institutions like monarchy ,church, property etc.

Treaty of Vienna 

Participants : Britain, Russia, Prussia and Austria 

Leader : Duke metternich (Austrian Chancellor) 

Place :Vienna

Objective : Undo most of the changes initiated by Napoleon. 

Terms :

a) Bourbon dynasty was restored in power in France. 

b) A series of states were set up on the boundaries of France to prevent French expansion in the future. 

c) German confederation of 39 states were left untouched and rest of others were given to the different participating nations. 

#Rule of the conservatives 

➡️They did not like criticism and dissent. 

➡️Therefore they restricted freedom of press and of expression. 

2.5 The Revolutionaries

➡️Due to fear of oppression the revolutionaries went underground and formed secret societies. 

Objective : 

➡️To oppose monarchy in Europe. 

➡️ To fight for liberty. 

➡️ To fight for the creation of the nation-states.

e. g:- Guisseppe Mazzini 

➡️He was born in Genoa in 1807 and was sent into exile for doing the revolution. 

➡️ Thereafter he founded two secret societies  ----- Young Italy and Young Europe. 

➡️ He believe in the unification of Italy under a democratic government. 

Note - He was described as "the most dangerous enemy of our social order "by metternich. 

3. The age of revolutions : 1830-48

 3.1 July Revolution 

 3.2 The Greek War of Independence 

 3.3 The romanticism and the story of Poland 

 3.4  Hunger, hardship and popular revolt 

 3.5  Silesia Revolt 

3.1 July Revolution 

The first upheaval (उथलपुथल) took place in France in July 1830.That is why it is called July Revolution. 

In this revolution Bourbon kings were replaced with Louis Philippe as the head of the constitutional monarchy. 

Statement of Metternich 

           " When France sneezes, the rest of Europe catches cold."

Explanation : This statement was proven true when July revolution led to the uprising in Brussels. This resulted into Belgium breaking away from the Netherland.

3.2 The Greek War of Independence 

➡️Greece was under the ottoman empire since 15th century. 

➡️The struggle for independence begins in 1821 inspired by the revolutionaries of Europe. 

➡️ Finally in 1832, The Treaty of constantinople recognised Greece as an independent nation. 

Supporters : Greece living in exile 

                           And

                       West Europeans who had sympathies for the ancient Greek culture. 

3.3 The Romanticism and the story of Poland 

Romanticism : 

➡️A cultural movement which aims at developing nationalism through art and poetry, stories and music and language. 

➡️ This movement ignored science and reason and focused instead on emotions.

e. g:- German Philosopher Johann Gottfried claimed that true German culture was to be discovered among common people through folk song, poetry and dances. 

Story of Poland 

In Poland the national feelings were kept alive through music and language .

e. g:- Folk dances like mazurka and polonoise was used as a symbol of resistance.

Language as resistance

         When Russia occupied Poland, they tried to impose Russian everywhere and tried to remove polish language from all the sphere. 

This step was opposed by the clergy as they used polish language for all religious instructions. As a result a large number of priests were either put into jail or sent to Siberia. 

3.4 Hunger, Hardship and Popular Revolt 

➡️ In the first half of 19th century Europe was faced with enormous increase in population which created the problem of unemployment. 

➡️Small producers of textile faced tough competition with machine-made goods from England. 

➡️Peasants also struggled under the fuedal dues. 

In such a situation if crops failed, it would lead to widespread pauperism(कंगाली).

Example of Paris 

In 1848 France faced similar situation of food shortage and unemployment. This brought the people on road against the king. 

Result : 

➡️Louis Philippe was forced to flee. 

➡️Democracy was set up in France and all adult males above 21 were granted the right to vote.

➡️ This new government in France also gave the right to work to people.

➡️ For providing employment national workshops were set up . 

3.5 Silesia Revolt 

Participants ---- Weavers of Silesia Vs Contractors 

Reason  ----- Contractors supplied the raw materials to the weavers to prepare finished cloths . They reduced the payment after the work was done. 

How revolt began? 

➡️A large crowd of weavers marched towards the homes of the contractors and demanded the promised amount. 

➡️ The contractors threatened the weavers, which increased the anger of weavers. 

➡️ This led them to attack their houses ,smashed its window panes, furnitures etc. 

➡️ The contractors fled with their families to the neighbouring villages but was refused shelter. 

➡️ The contractors return with the army and in the clash 11 weavers were shot. 

4.1 Unification of Germany 

What is unification?

➡️ The process of joining two or more things together to become one is called unification.

Here unification refers to having Country ruled by a single ruler.

Why unification?

German felt that in order to secure themselves from foreign invasion they need to be strong and United. That is why German unification was needed.

 *Efforts for unification 

i) Frankfurt Parliament

• In Germany a large number of political Association came together in the city of Frankfurt and decided to vote for an all German national assembly.

• On 18 may 1848, 831 elected representatives marched to Frankfurt parliament.

• They drafted a constitution for a German nation to be headed by a monarchy. 

• The crownship on these terms was offered to the king of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm iv, but he rejected it. 

Result -- Very soon the opposition of aristocracy and military became stronger. In the end troops were called in and Assembly was forced to disband.

 This effort of unification failed finally.

ii) Otto Van Bismark

➡️ Russian King William I appointed Bismarck as its chief minister. He was credited for completing the process of unification with the help of Army and bureaucracy.

*War

• He fought wars with Denmark, Australia and France over 7 years and was victorious over all of them.

• Finally in, January 1871, the Prussian king William I was proclaimed German Emperor.

4.2 Unification Of Italy

During the middle of the 19th century Italy was divided into seven States out of which only one Sardinia-Piedmont was ruled by an Italian princely house.

➡️ The north was under the Austrian Empire, the centre was ruled by the Pope and the southern regions were under the domination of Bourbon kings of Spain. 

* Efforts for unification 

➡️ Guisseppe Mazzini put his effort to unify under a public but he was unsuccessful.

➡️ Cavour, the chief minister of Sardinia completed the process of unification with war.

➡️ He first of all took the northern part from Austrian Empire with the help of France.

➡️ Southern part of Italy was captured under the leadership of Guisseppe Garibaldi with the support of local farmers.

➡️ In 1861, Italy was unified under the Victor Emmanuel.

4.3 The strange case of Britain 

Why the unification of Britain is considered a strange case? 

   It is considered unique due to the following reasons :

The unification of Britain is considered a strange case.It can be validated by the following points:

a) It was not unified through war or revolution like Germany. 

b) It was a long drawn out process which means it did not happen in short period of time like Germany and Italy. 

c) Unlike Germany and Italy The Britain was unified by a parliament. 

Phases of Unification 

a)Dominance of England ---

Power was seized from monarchy in 1688 by English Parliament .The English Parliament took the responsibility of forming a nation state with England as its center.

b) Merging of Scotland -- The Act of Union (1707) formed ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain’. As the majority of the members of British Parliament were English members, a policy of repression was followed against catholic clans of Scottish Highlands.

c) Incorporation of Ireland ---In Ireland too similar policy was followed. There were Catholics as well as Protestants. Catholics were in majority but England tried to bring protestant in power. This resulted in the conflict but Catholic revolts were suppressed and ultimately in 1801, Ireland was merged into the United Kingdom.

e) The symbols of the new Britain – The British Flag (Union Jack), the national anthem (God Save Our Noble King), the English language – were actively promoted and the older nations survived only as subordinate partners in this union.

5. Visualising the Nation

     Meaning : -- Representing the nation with image is referred to as visualising the nation... Usually female figures were used to portray the nation.. 

A.   France  

           • The female allegory of Marianne was used in France. 

            • Statues of Marianne was erected in public squares , her images were marked on coins and stamps. 

            • This was done to remind the public of the national symbol of unity... 

        Features of Marianne :- Red Cap, The tricolor and The cockade... 

  B.   Germany 

      Similarly Germania became the allegory of the German nation. 

      Features of Germania

Features (Attributes)                  Meaning 

1. Crown of oak leaves.       Heroism 

2. Sword.                             Readiness to fight

3. Olive around the sword  Ready for Peace 

4.  Breastplate with eagle.   Strength 

5.  Broken chains.                Being Freed 

6. Tricolor Flag.                 Flag of liberalist 

7.   Rays of the rising sun.       Beginning of a new era

6. Nationalism and Imperialism

     Imperialism refers to the tendency of acquiring more and more land..... 

By the last quarter of the 19th century the feeling of nationalism was misused to fulfil the imperialist aims... 

# Balkans 

          • Balkans was a region of geographical and ethnic difference comprising modern day --- Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia  Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia etc.. 

  .• The people living in this region were known as Slavs.. 

# Reason for tension in Balkans 

       Balkan was under the control of the ottoman empire. The spread of romanticism made this region very very explosive. Gradually each Balkan state began getting independence. such a situation created interest in Big European power to control this region... And this finally led to a series of war resulting into the First World War.