🏛️ I. Emergence of Nationalism in Europe
🔵 Nationalism:
- Refers to a sense of common identity shared by people of a nation.
- Grew in the 19th century as people demanded sovereignty, freedom, and unity.
🟢 French Revolution (1789):
- Marked the first clear expression of nationalism.
- Transferred sovereignty from the monarchy to the French people.
- Introduced concepts like La Patrie (The Fatherland) and Le Citoyen (The Citizen).
- A new French flag (tricolour) replaced the royal standard.
- Nationalism spread through Napoleonic Wars, civil code of 1804 (Napoleonic Code).
🔴 Impact of the French Revolution:
- Abolished feudal privileges.
- Introduced uniform laws, weights, measures, and currency.
- Spread liberal and nationalist ideas across Europe.
🟠 Napoleon’s Rule and Reactions:
- Although Napoleon modernized administration, his military campaigns created resentment.
- People began to see him as a foreign oppressor, igniting resistance and national consciousness.
🟣 Role of Liberalism:
- Liberalism: Rooted in the freedom of individuals and equality before the law.
- In economic terms, it stood for free markets and removal of trade barriers.
- Inspired the middle class to demand national unification and parliamentary governance.
🟡 Conservatism after 1815:
- After Napoleon’s defeat, European powers met at the Congress of Vienna (1815) led by Metternich.
- Goal: Restore monarchies and suppress nationalism and liberalism.
- Created a new conservative order but failed to suppress the growing demand for nation-states.
🔵 Giuseppe Mazzini and Young Italy:
- Italian revolutionary who founded Young Italy movement.
- Believed that nations are natural units of mankind.
- Opposed monarchy and supported unified republican Italy.
🟢 Secret Societies:
- Formed by nationalists to spread revolutionary ideas.
- Worked against the conservative regimes and inspired mass movements.
🏞️ II. Unification Movements in Europe
🔴 Unification of Italy:
- Italy was fragmented into states under foreign control (Austria, Spain, France).
- Victor Emmanuel II, King of Sardinia-Piedmont, led the unification.
- Count Cavour, Prime Minister, used diplomacy and war to unify the north.
- Giuseppe Garibaldi led the Red Shirts to unify the south.
- In 1861, Italy was declared a united nation with Rome as its capital (1870).
🟠 Unification of Germany:
- Germany had 39 states under the German Confederation.
- Prussia led the movement for unification under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck.
- Bismarck followed a policy of “Blood and Iron” to achieve unification.
- Series of wars:
- Danish War (1864)
- Austro-Prussian War (1866)
- Franco-Prussian War (1870-71)
- 1871: Germany was unified and Kaiser William I became the emperor.
🟣 Unification of Britain:
- Unlike Germany and Italy, Britain’s unification was not through revolution.
- Was a result of gradual parliamentary measures.
- Before 18th century, England was dominant.
- Act of Union (1707) united England and Scotland.
- Ireland was forcefully integrated after repression of revolts.
- British identity was imposed, symbols like Union Jack, national anthem, and English language promoted.
🟡 Role of Culture in Nationalism:
- Romanticism: Cultural movement that emphasized emotion, folk traditions, music, and art.
- Artists and poets glorified the common people and their traditions.
- Grimm Brothers collected German folk tales to promote national identity.
- Folk dance, folk songs, and festivals were revived to strengthen nationalism.
🔵 Language as a Symbol:
- Became a powerful tool to unify people.
- In Poland, after Russian occupation, Polish language was banned in schools.
- People used Polish in churches as a form of resistance.
🟢 Economic Nationalism:
- Nationalists demanded economic unification.
- Zollverein (1834): Customs union initiated by Prussia which removed trade barriers between German states.
- Created a common economic space and boosted national feeling.
🔴 Revolutionaries of 1848:
- Series of uprisings across Europe demanding national and liberal rights.
- Middle class demanded constitutional governments, freedom of press, and universal suffrage.
- Though most revolts were suppressed, they left a lasting impact on nationalism.
🟠 Women and Nationalism:
- Women actively participated in movements through protests, writings, and cultural activities.
- Demanded political rights and suffrage, though were often excluded from formal political processes.
🟣 Failure of 1848 Revolutions:
- Lack of coordination and unity among revolutionaries.
- Monarchs reasserted power.
- However, they laid the foundation for future nationalist movements.
🟡 The Balkans and the Idea of Nation-States:
- Region of ethnic and cultural diversity.
- Comprised modern-day countries like Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, etc.
- Controlled by Ottoman Empire for centuries.
- Rise of nationalism led to conflicts and wars as each group sought independence.
- Known as the “powder keg of Europe” due to constant tension and conflict.
🔵 Nationalism and Imperialism:
- In the late 19th century, nationalism became aggressive and expansionist.
- Major European powers competed for colonies and global dominance.
- This intensified tensions, eventually leading to World War I.
🟢 Visualizing the Nation:
- Nations were personified through female allegories.
- France – Marianne (liberty, reason, justice).
- Germany – Germania (sword, crown, breastplate).
- These icons were used in posters, stamps, statues to create a national image.
🔴 Maps and National Identity:
- Historical maps depicted new nations and unified states.
- Were used as tools of political propaganda to foster unity and pride.
🧠 Key Takeaways for Students
🟠 Nationalism in Europe was driven by common identity, liberal values, and political revolutions.
🟣 The French Revolution was the spark that spread the idea of nationhood.
🟡 Unification of Italy and Germany reshaped the political landscape of Europe.
🔵 Cultural revival, economic reforms, and military strategy were instrumental in achieving unification.
🟢 The Balkan region highlighted the challenges of nationalism in multi-ethnic empires.
🔴 Nationalism evolved from liberating people to controlling others, leading to imperialism and war.
📚 Important Terms to Remember
- Nationalism – Love and pride for one’s nation; striving for its independence.
- Liberalism – A political idea emphasizing individual rights and freedom.
- Conservatism – Desire to restore traditional institutions and resist change.
- Unification – Bringing together fragmented states into one nation.
- Zollverein – German customs union that promoted economic unity.
- Romanticism – Cultural movement glorifying tradition, emotion, and folk culture.
- Allegory – Symbolic representation of ideas through images or figures.
- Balkan region – Area in southeast Europe known for ethnic diversity and conflict.
📝 Extra Points for Exams (One-Liners)
🔵 Mazzini founded Young Italy in 1831.
🟢 Napoleon’s Civil Code was introduced in 1804.
🔴 The Congress of Vienna took place in 1815.
🟠 Bismarck’s unification strategy was called Blood and Iron.
🟣 Grimm Brothers collected over 200 folk tales.
🟡 Act of Union in 1707 unified England and Scotland.