nationalism in europe

• Nation (State):

  • A large number of people of mainly common descent, language, history, inhabiting a territory bounded by defined limits and forming a society under one government is called a nation
• Frederic Sorrieu and his visualization:

  • In 1848, Frederic Sorrieu, a French artist, prepared a series of four prints, visualizing his dream of a world made up of ‘democratic and social republics’
  • The first print shows the people of Europe and America marching in a long train, offering homage to the Statue of Liberty
  • Sorrieu's Utopian vision groups people of the world as distinct nations, identified through their flags and national costumes
• The French Revolution and the idea of Nation:

  • Growth of nationalism in France
  • Introduction of various measures and practices created a sense of collective identity among the people
  • Change of monarchy and establishment of a republic, creation of a new assembly
  • Rise of Napoleon and his reforms
  • Revolutionaries help other people of Europe to become a nation
• The making of Nationalism in Europe:

  • Germany, Italy, and Switzerland were divided into Kingdom, duchies, and cantons with autonomous rulers
  • Uses of different languages
  • Rise of the middle class
  • Industrialization in England, emergence of a working class and liberalism
  • New conservatism after 1815 and preservation of traditional institutions
• Unification of Italy:

  • Giuseppe Mazzini played an important role in the unification of Italy
  • Formed a secret society called ‘Young Italy’ in Marseilles
  • Succeeded in destroying Austrian forces in 1859 with the help of Sardinia-Piedmont under Chief Minister Cavour
  • Victor Emmanuel II proclaimed as King of United Italy in 1861
• Unification of Germany:

  • Germany was divided into a number of states in the 18th century
  • Prussia was most powerful, dominated by big landlords known as Junkers
  • Prussian King rejected the offer of unification proposed by Frankfurt Assembly
  • Otto Von Bismarck led the movement for unification of Germany through wars with Denmark, Austria, and France
  • Prussia's victory over France led to the proclamation of Kaiser William as the new German Emperor in 1871
• Visualizing the Nation:

  • Marianne and Germania were female allegories used to represent the nation in the 19th century
  • Marianne symbolized liberty and republic in France
  • Germania wore a crown of oak leaves symbolizing heroism in Germany
• Napoleonic Code:

  • Abolished privileges based on birth, established equality before the law and secured the right to property
  • Simplified administrative divisions
  • Abolished feudal system and freed peasants from serfdom
  • Removed guild restrictions in towns
  • Improved transport and communication systems
• Nationalism and Imperialism:

  • Last quarter of the 19th century saw nationalism becoming a narrow creed with limited ends
  • Nationalism aligned with imperialism was a cause of World War I
  • Idea of a Nationalism was universal, but the concept of a National State was accepted everywhere