Start of Nationalism
The Bourbon dynasty ruled over an empire (that had not yet become a country) known as France. Its society was split into three ‘Estates.' The Church was the first Estate, the nobles were the second, and the poor urban and rural masses were the third. There was a massive difference between the rich and the poor, and the 1st and 2nd estates had ‘privileges' that allowed them to avoid paying taxes while the poor had to.
The French Revolution eliminated the feudal system, as well as serfdom, ‘privileges,' and expanded voting rights, among other things. Napoleon then instituted changes that echoed the idea of a modern nation, such as a strong central administration, standard weights and measures, currency, and a national language, among other things.
Chapter 1 the rise of nationalism in Europe is the most important one. Let us look at history the rise of nationalism in Europe in detail from this article.
Frédéric Sorrieu Vision of World
In 1848, a French artist named Frédéric Sorrieu made a series of four prints depicting his vision of a future populated by democratic and socialist republics. The rise of nationalism in Europe’s important points can be given as follows:
The first print depicts a long train of European and American individuals passing by the Statue of Liberty and paying reverence to it. On one hand, a female figure carried the Enlightenment torch, and on the other, the Charter of the Rights of Man.
The shattered remains of the symbols of absolutist institutions can be seen in the foreground on the land.
In Sorrieu's utopian vision, the world's population is divided into various nations, each with its own flag and national clothing.
The United States and Switzerland lead the procession, followed by France and Germany. The Germans are followed by the people of Austria, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Lombardy, Poland, England, Ireland, Hungary, and Russia.
Christ, saints, and angels look down from above on the scene. They have been utilized by the artist to represent global fraternity among nations.
During the nineteenth century, nationalism arose as a powerful force that changed Europe's political and mental landscape. The creation of the nation-state was the eventual result of these changes.
History of the Rise of Nationalism in Europe
The French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation
In 1789, the French Revolution brought in nationalism, and political and constitutional changes resulted in the monarchy's sovereignty being transferred to a body of French citizens. Various measures and practices, such as the concepts of la patrie (fatherland) and le citoyen, were introduced (the citizen). The tricolour was chosen to replace the previous French flag.
Napoleon destroyed democracy in France, and the Napoleonic Code of 1804 eliminated all privileges based on birth, established equality before the law, and guaranteed the right to property.
The Making of Nationalism in Europe
Germany, Italy, and Switzerland were separated into kingdoms, duchies, and cantons, each with its own rulers.
The Aristocracy and the New Middle Class
Politically and socially, the aristocracy was the dominant class on the continent. The majority of the population was made up of peasants. In the second half of the eighteenth century, England began to industrialize. New social groupings developed, including the working class and the middle class, which included industrialists, businessmen, and professionals.
What did Liberal Nationalism Stand for?
The word "liberalism" comes from the Latin word "liber," which means "free." Property-owning men were the only ones who had the right to vote and be elected. Political rights were prohibited to all males without property and all women.
On Prussia's suggestion, a customs union, or Zollverein, was founded in 1834, with most German states joining. The number of currencies was reduced from over thirty to two once tariff barriers were abolished.
A New Conservatism after 1815
In 1815, European governments were led by a conservative spirit. Conservatives supported the monarchy, the Church, social hierarchies, property, and the preservation of the family.
The end of feudalism and serfdom, as well as a modern army, an efficient bureaucracy, and a dynamic economy, may strengthen Europe's autocratic monarchy.
Representatives from the European powers — Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria – convened in Vienna in 1815 to draught a European settlement.
France lost the countries it had annexed under Napoleon, and the Bourbon dynasty was restored to power.
The freedom of the press was one of the key issues raised by the liberal-nationalists who opposed the new conservative order.
The Revolutionaries
Let us look at the rise of nationalism in Europe explanation in the revolutionaries.
Many European countries founded secret societies in 1815 to train revolutionaries and spread their ideas. The fight for liberty and freedom was fought by revolutionaries who opposed monarchical forms.
Giuseppe Mazzini, an Italian revolutionary born in Genoa in 1807, founded two additional secret societies, the first of which was Young Italy in Marseilles.
Second, in Berne, he created Young Europe, a group of like-minded young men from Poland, France, Italy, and Germany.
The Age of Revolutions: 1830-1848
The Bourbon Kings were deposed by liberal revolutionaries in July 1830, who founded a constitutional monarchy commanded by Louis Philippe. The July Revolution prompted an uprising in Brussels, which resulted in Belgium seceding from the Netherlands' the United Kingdom. Greeks fought for freedom in 1821.
The Romantic Imagination and National Feeling
Art, poetry, stories, and music all helped to the formation of the nation's concept: they helped express and create nationalist feelings.
Romanticism was a cultural movement that aimed to promote a specific type of nationalist spirit. The development of nationalist sentiments was also aided by the use of language.
Everyone was forced to speak Russian, and an armed rebellion against Russian rule erupted in 1831, which was eventually crushed.
Hunger, Hardship, and Popular Revolt
In the 1830s, Europe was facing economic difficulties. The first half of the nineteenth century saw massive population growth across Europe. Food price increases or a poor harvest year resulted in widespread pauperism in both town and country. Food shortages and widespread unemployment forced the people of Paris to take to the streets in 1848.
The Revolution of the Liberals
A revolution driven by the educated middle classes erupted in 1848. The creation of a nation-state based on parliamentary ideals— a constitution, freedom of the press, and freedom of association– was demanded by men and women in the liberal middle class.
In Frankfurt, a huge number of political organizations met to vote for an all-German National Assembly. 831 elected representatives marched to Frankfurt's St Paul's Church on May 18, 1848, to take their places in the Frankfurt parliament.
A monarchy ruled over the German nation's Constitution, which was subject to a Parliament. Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia, was offered the Crown, but he declined and joined other monarchs in opposing the elected assembly. The Parliament was dominated by the middle class, and a large number of women took part in the liberal movement.
Despite the fact that women created their own political organizations, founded publications, and joined political meetings and demonstrations, they were refused suffrage during the Assembly election.
The autocratic kingdoms of Central and Eastern Europe began to execute the reforms that had already transpired in Western Europe prior to 1815 in the years following 1848. In both the Habsburg and Russian dominions, serfdom and bonded labour were thus abolished.
The Making of Germany and Italy
Germany– Can the Army be the Architect of a Nation? After 1848, nationalism in Europe faded, and Germany and Italy united as nation-states. The movement for national unification was taken over by Prussia. Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian chief minister, was the architect of this process, which was carried out with the support of the Prussian army and bureaucracy.
Prussian King William I was proclaimed German Emperor in January 1871. The new German Empire was proclaimed during a convocation. The process of nation-building revealed Prussian state power's dominance. Germany's economic, banking, legal, and judicial systems were all modernized.
Italy Unified
Italy was divided into seven republics in the mid-nineteenth century, one of which, Sardinia-Piedmont, was ruled by an Italian princely house. Various rulers ruled over the various regions. Giuseppe Mazzini founded the Young Italy secret organization in the 1830s.
Chief Minister Cavour was at the head of the movement. Sardinia-Piedmont defeated Austrian forces in 1859. They marched into South Italy and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1860 and were successful in gaining support from the local peasants. Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed King of Italy in 1861.
The Strange Case of Britain
There was no British country before the eighteenth century, and Great Britain was the paradigm of a nation. As the country's riches, importance, and power expanded, it got more powerful.
The emergence of the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain' as a result of the Act of Union (1707) between England and Scotland meant that England could effectively impose its influence on Scotland. Ireland was forcibly absorbed into the United Kingdom in 1801. The flag of the United Kingdom (Union Jack), the national anthem (God Save Our Noble King), and the English language were all pushed as emblems of the new Britain.
These are the rise of nationalism in Europe important points and the growth of nationalism in Europe in detail.
Did you Know?
Artists in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries depicted countries as individuals and nations as female beings. Female figures portray themes such as Liberty, Justice, and the Republic during the French Revolution. Justice is a blindfolded woman carrying a set of weighing scales, whereas Liberty is a red cap or a broken chain.
Conclusion
Thus, in this article we have covered the rise of nationalism in Europe. This gives the students a much better understanding of the topic and how the growth of nationalism in Europe has taken place. The phase of the enlightenment as well as the French Revolution and various battles played a vital role in this. The French Revolution also became an inspiration for the other social movements in the world. It gave us the concept of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and our national movement for independence was also influenced by the Europe revolution.
FAQs on Rise of Nationalism in Europe
1. What were the main factors that led to the rise of nationalism in Europe?
Several key factors contributed to the rise of nationalism in Europe. The most important ones include:
- The French Revolution: It introduced powerful ideas like liberty, equality, and fraternity, and the concept of citizens having a collective identity.
- Rise of the Middle Class: As this new educated class grew, they opposed the aristocracy and sought national unity and governments based on popular consent.
- Spread of Liberalism: This ideology emphasised individual freedom, equality before the law, and the creation of unified economic territories.
- Role of Language and Culture: Romantics and cultural leaders promoted shared folk songs, poetry, and language to create a sense of common heritage and a unique national spirit.
2. What did 'liberal nationalism' mean to people in early 19th-century Europe?
For the new middle classes in 19th-century Europe, liberal nationalism stood for two main ideas. Politically, it meant the end of monarchy and aristocratic privileges, advocating for a government created by popular consent. Economically, it stood for the freedom of markets and the removal of state-imposed taxes and barriers that hindered the movement of goods and capital.
3. How did Romanticism and culture help create the idea of a 'nation'?
Romanticism was a cultural movement that criticised the focus on reason and science, focusing instead on emotion, intuition, and mystical feelings. It helped create the idea of a nation not through war or politics, but by building a sense of shared cultural heritage. Romantics like Johann Gottfried Herder claimed that true German culture was found among the common people (das Volk) through folk songs, poetry, and local traditions. This helped shape a collective identity and a national spirit.
4. What role did female allegories like 'Marianne' and 'Germania' play in building a national identity?
Artists in the 18th and 19th centuries found a way to represent the nation by personifying it as a female figure, known as an allegory. Marianne became the allegory for the French Republic, representing ideas like Liberty and Reason. Similarly, Germania became the symbol of the German nation. These figures gave an abstract idea like a 'nation' a concrete form, making it easier for people to identify with and feel a sense of unity.
5. Why was it so difficult to unify territories like Germany and Italy in the 19th century?
Unifying Germany and Italy was a major challenge primarily because these regions were politically fragmented. For centuries, they were patchworks of different kingdoms, duchies, and city-states, each with its own ruler and system. Furthermore, large parts of these territories were controlled by powerful foreign empires, such as the Austrian Habsburg Empire, which actively suppressed nationalist movements to maintain its own power and control over the regions.
6. How is a 'nation-state' different from a modern multi-national empire like the Habsburg Empire?
The main difference lies in their population and the source of their unity. A nation-state is one where the majority of its citizens share a common language, culture, and history, creating a sense of collective identity. In contrast, a multi-national empire, like the one ruled by the Habsburgs, was composed of many different ethnic groups who spoke different languages and had distinct histories. They were only held together by their common allegiance to a single emperor or ruler.
7. How did the meaning of 'nationalism' change by the end of the 19th century?
In the first half of the 19th century, nationalism was often associated with liberal and democratic ideals, aiming to create unified nation-states. However, by the last quarter of the century, nationalism became a more narrow and aggressive force. The major European powers began using nationalist sentiment to justify their imperialist ambitions, leading to intense rivalry over colonies, trade, and military might. This aggressive form of nationalism, especially in the Balkans, created severe tensions that eventually led to the First World War in 1914.
