Introduction:-
During nineteenth century the idea of Nationalism emerged as a force which brought huge changes in the political and mental world of Europe. The French Revolution of 1789 paved the way for modern nation- state in French. Frederic sorrieu, a French artist, in 1848 prepared a series of four prints visualising his dream of a World made-up of democratic and Social Republics.
1. The first print shows the people of Europe and America marching in a long train and offering homage to the statue of liberty as they pass it.
2. On the earth in the foreground lie the shattered remains of the symbols of absolutist institutions.
3. In sorrieu's utopian vision, the people of the world are grouped as distinct nations, identified through their flags and national costume.
4. The procession was led by the United States and Switzerland, followed by France and Germany.
Following the German people are the people of Austria, the kingdom of the two sicilies, Lombardy, Poland, England, Ireland, Hungary and Russia.
5. From the heavens above, Christ, saint and angels gaze upon the scene. They have been used by artist to symbolise fraternity among the nations of the world.
The French Revolution and the idea of the Nation state:
French Revolution of 1789 was the first clear expression of nationalism.
To emphasise the nation as a United community the French Revolution introduced new ideas like
La patrie ( the father land) and le citoyen ( the citizen) , and a new French flag amongst the French people.
It introduced a centralised administrative system with uniform law for all citizens.
Regional dialects were discouraged and French became the common language in the country.
New hymn composed and oaths taken.
Internal customs duties and dues were abolished.
Napoleon code:
Napoleon destroyed democracy in France, but he incorporated revolutionary principles by introducing Civil code of 1804, which came to be known as the Napoleon code.
*The code removed all privileges based on birth.
* Equality before law was established.
* Simplified administrative measures.
* Abolished feudal system.
* Freed pheasants from serfdom and manorial dues.
* Guild system was removed and transport and communication system improved.
Napoleon took away political freedom, increased taxes, imposed censorship and forced people to join French army.
The making of Nationalism in Europe:
Germany, Italy and Switzerland were divided into kingdoms, duchies and Cantons whose rulers had their autonomous territories.
Some important factors led to the rise of nationalism in Europe are...
• The rise of new middle class.
• The spread of the ideology of liberalism.
• The new spirit of conservatism and the Treaty of Vienna.
• The rise of Revolutionaries.
The Aristocracy and the New Middle class:
The Aristocracy was the dominant class on the continent politically and socially. They owned estates and property both in countryside and town houses.
Industrialisation began in England in the second half of the eighteenth century. New social groups came into existence. A working class population and middle classes made up of industrialist, businessman, doctors, teachers and other professionals.
Liberal Nationalism:
The term ' Liberalism' means Free. For the new middle classes, liberalism stood for freedom for the individual and equality of all before the law.
In France, the right to vote and to get elected was granted exclusively to property-owning person.Men without properties and women were excluded from this right. In the economic sphere, liberalism stood for the freedom of markets and the abolition of state-imposed restrictions on the movement of goods and capital.
In 1834 , a customs union or zollverein was formed at the initiative of Prussia and joined by most of the German states. The Union abolished tarriff barriers and reduced the number of currencies from over thirty to two.
A new Conservatism after 1815:
In 1815, European governments were driven by a spirit of conservatism. It means holding the traditional views.
Conservatives believed in monarchy, the Church, social hierarchies, property and that the family should be preserved.
They thought that, a modern army, an efficient bureaucracy, a dynamic economy could strengthen the autocratic monarchies of Europe.
Treaty of Vienna (1815) :
In 1815, representatives of the European powers - Britain, Russia, Prussia and Austria met in Vienna to draw up a settlement for Europe.
The Bourbon dynasty was restored to power and France lost the territories it had annexed under Napoleon.
The Revolutions: 1830-1848:
In July 1830 , Bourbon king were overthrown by the liberal revolutionaries who installed a constitutional monarchy with Louis Philippe at its head. The July Revolution sparked an uprising in Brussels which led to Belgium breaking away from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1821 Greeks struggled for independence.
The Romantic Imagination and National feeling:
* Culture played an important role in creating the idea of the Nation. Art and poetry, stories and music helped to express and shape nationalist feelings.
*Language also played an important role in developing nationalist sentiments.
Hunger, Hardship and popular Revolt:
Europe faced economic hardship in the 1830s.The first half of the nineteenth century saw an enormous increase in population all over Europe.
The rise of food prices or a year of bad harvest led to widespread Pauperism ( poverty) in town and country.
In 1848 food shortages and widespread unemployment brought the population of Paris out on the roads.
The Revolution of Liberals:
In 1848, a revolution led by the educated middle classes was underway. Men and women of liberal middle class demanded creation of a nation- state on parliamentary principles - a Constitution and freedom of association.
A large number of political associations came together in Frankfurt to vote for an all German National Assembly. On 18 may 1848,831 elected representatives marched to take their places in the Frankfurt parliament convinced in the Church of St Paul.
The Constitution drafted for German nation was headed by a monarchy, subject to a parliament. The crown was offered to Friedrich wilhem IV, king of Prussia but he rejected it and joined other monarchs to oppose the elected assembly. The Middle Class dominated the Parliament and a large number of women Participated in liberal movement.
Women formed their own Political associations, founded newspaper and took part in political meeting and demonstrations, but they were still denied suffrage rights during the election of the Assembly.
The making of Germany and Italy
Unification of Germany ~
- In Germany, nationalist feelings were widespread among middle class, who in 1848 tried to unite the different regions of the German Confederation into a Nation- state governed by an elected Parliament.
- These effort were suppressed by the monarchy and military and the landowners in Prussia.
- The national unification was taken under by the leadership of Prussia.
- Otto-von Bismark of Prussia played the role of a main leader in act of nation- building.
- 1871 Kaiser William I was declared as the new Emperor of a new Empire.
- The unification of Germany established Prussian dominance in Europe.
- Currency, banking, legal and judicial systems were introduced by the New German Empire.
Unification of Italy
- During the middle of the 19th century, Italy was divided into seven States. Out of which only one state Sardinia Piedmont was ruled by an Italian Princely House. All other regions were dominated by different Kings.
Contribution of famous personalities
1. Giuseppe Mazzini
Around 1930's Giuseppe Mazzini formed a secret society called Young Italy and also Young Europe in Berne. Matternich described him as 'the most dangerous enemy of our social order
2. Count Camillo de Cavour :Count Cavour the chief minister of Sardinia Piedmont led the movement for the unification of Italy. In 1859 , Sardinia Piedmont defeated Australian forces.
Giuseppe Garibaldi:He was a central figure in the unification of Italy. In 1833 he met Mazzini and joined the young Italy movement. In 1860 he led the famous expedition of the thousand to South Italy with his 'Red shirt' army.
Proclamation of Unification of Italy in 1860 marched into South Italy and the kingdoms of the two Sicilies and succeeded in winning the support of the local peasant.
In 1861 Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed king of United Italy.
The Growth of Great Britain:
Prior to the eighteenth century there was no Britain nation. The nation became powerful as it steadily grew in wealth, importance and power.
The Act of Union (1707)
Between England and Scotland resulted in the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. It means in effect that England was able to impose its influence on Scotland.
In 1801, Ireland was forcibly incorporated into the United Kingdom
A new British nation was formed. The symbol of new Britain were British flag( union Jack), the National Anthem ( God save our Nobel King) and the English language.
Visualising the Nation:
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries artists represented a country as a person and nations as female figures. During the French Revolution, female figures portray ideas such as Liberty, Justice and the Republic. Liberty is represented as a red cap, or the broken chain.
Nationalism and Imperialism:
Nationalism no longer retained after the last quarter of the nineteenth century. After 1871,the most tensioned area was called the Balkans a region comprising modern day Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro.
Ottoman Empire made the Balkans region explosive and all through the nineteenth century they strengthened themselves through modernisation and internal reforms. Due to various conflicts the Balkan became an area of intense conflict.
During this period, intense rivalry built among the European powers over trade and colonies as well as naval and military might which led to a series of wars in the region and finally the first world War.
In 1914 , Europe was disastered because of Nationalism, aligned with imperialism. Anti-imperial movement were developed but they all struggled to form independent nation- States. But the idea of 'nation- state' was accepted as natural and universal.
