The Rise of Nationalism in Europe Class 10 Notes History -

Chapter 1
Frederic Sorrieu

Frédéric Sorrieu was a French artist. In 1848, he prepared a series of four prints visualising his
dream of a world made up of democratic and social republics.

 The first print represents the people of Europe and America marching in a long train,
offering homage to the Statue of Liberty as they pass through it. A female figure was
holding the torch of Enlightenment in one hand and the Charter of the Rights of Man
in the other.
 The shattered remains of the symbols of absolutist institutions were lying on the earth
in the foreground.
 Sorrieu had a utopian vision of a world where people were grouped as distinct nations,
identified through their national flags and costumes.
 The United States and Switzerland led the procession, followed by France and
Germany. The people of Austria, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Lombardy, Poland,
England, Ireland, Hungary and Russia, came after the Germans.
 Christ, angels, and saints are looking down on the scene from the heavens above. They
serve as a symbol of fraternity among the nations of the world.
During the 19th century, nationalism evolved as a force which drastically changed Europe’s
political and mental world. The nation-state ultimately emerged as a result of these changes.

French Revolution

In 1789, nationalism emerged with the French Revolution and the political and constitutional
reforms resulted in the transfer of sovereignty from the monarchy to a body of French citizens.
Many policies and procedures were implemented, including the concepts of la patrie (the
fatherland) and le citoyen (the citizen). The tricolour was chosen as the new French flag.

Napoleonic Code

Napoleon ruled France starting from 1799 to 1815. He gained absolute control and power in
the year 1799 by becoming the First Consul. The features of the Napoleonic Code or Civil
Code 1804 are as follows:

 Establishment of equality before the law.

 Under the Napoleonic Code, the right to property was secured.
 All birth rights and privileges were abolished.
 Guild restrictions were lifted.
Moreover, Napoleon actually took away the freedom of people by forcing them to join the
French army. Also, he imposed censorship, increased taxes, and took away political freedom.

New Middle Class

The new classifications were done based on the work, culture, and group of people. As a result,
three new classes were formed:
  The Aristocracy: It included people who owned lands, spoke French and were
connected by ties of marriage. They were, however, numerically a small group.
 Peasantry: The majority of the population was made up of this class.
 Middle Class: Since industrialisation, a new class came into being known as the
working class. It included artisans, industrialists, businessmen and so on.

Liberalism

 In 1848, a revolution was led by educated middle-class people. Men and women of the
liberal middle class demanded the creation of a national state on parliamentary
principles and the Constitution, which allows freedom of the press and freedom of
association.
 Many political associations came together in Frankfurt and decided to cast their vote
for an all-German National Assembly. On 18th May 1848, 831 elected representatives
arrived in the Frankfurt parliament convened in the Church of St Paul.
 They drafted a constitution for the German nation to be ruled by a monarchy governed
by a parliament. The Crown was offered to Frederick William IV, King of Prussia, but
he rejected it and joined other monarchs to stand against the elected assembly. The
middle classes dominated the Parliament, and a large number of women participated in
the liberal movement.
 Women formed their own political associations. Moreover, they founded newspapers
and took part in political meetings and demonstrations, but they were still denied
suffrage rights during the election of the assembly.
 As a result, in the years after 1848, the autocratic kings of Central and Eastern Europe
started enacting the changes that had previously been made in Western Europe prior to
1815. Thus, serfdom and bonded labour were abolished in both Russia and the
Habsburg dominions.

A New Conservatism After 1815

 In 1815, conservatism was the driving force behind the policies of European
governments. Conservatives supported the monarchy, the Church, social hierarchies,
property and the preservation of the family.
 It was believed that a modern army, an efficient bureaucracy, a dynamic economy, and
the abolition and elimination of feudalism and serfdom could strengthen the autocratic
monarchies of Europe.
 Furthermore, in 1815, the representatives of the European powers – Britain, Russia,
Prussia and Austria, met in Vienna to draft a settlement for Europe.
 The Bourbon dynasty was reinstated, and France lost countries it had gained under
Napoleon.
 The freedom of the press was one of the major issues taken up by the liberal nationalists,
who criticised the new conservative order.

The Revolutionaries

 Many secret societies were established in European states in 1815 to educate

revolutionaries and spread their ideology. The revolutionaries opposed monarchical
forms and fought for liberty and freedom.
 Giuseppe Mazzini, an Italian revolutionary, born in Genoa in 1807, formed two more
secret societies. The first was Young Italy in Marseilles, and the second was Young
 Europe in Berne, which included like-minded young men from Germany, Poland,
France, and Italy.

The Age of Revolution: 1830-1848

Liberal revolutionaries overthrew the Bourbon Kings in July 1830 and replaced them with a
constitutional monarchy commanded by Louis Philippe. The July Revolution triggered a revolt
in Brussels, which resulted in Belgium breaking away from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Greeks fought for their independence in 1821.

Making of Germany

Nationalism in Europe began to disassociate itself from democracy and revolution after 1848.
Germany and Italy came to be unified as nation-states. Prussia took over the leadership of the
movement for national unification. Otto von Bismarck was the architect of this revolutionary
process and carried it out with the help of the Prussian army and bureaucracy.

In January 1871, the King of Prussia, William I, was crowned German Emperor in a ceremony
held at Versailles. The nation-building process demonstrated the dominance of Prussian state
power. Modernising Germany’s financial, legal, and judicial systems were a top priority for
the new state.

Making of Italy

Italy was divided into seven states in the middle of the 19th century. Out of all the seven states,
Sardinia-Piedmont was ruled by an Italian princely house. All the regions were dominated and
ruled by different kings. In 1830, Giuseppe Mazzini formed a secret society referred to as
Young Italy.

The movement was led by Chief Minister Cavour. In 1859, Sardinia-Piedmont defeated the
Austrian forces. In 1860, they marched into South Italy, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
and ultimately succeeded in winning the support and help of the local peasants. In 1861, Victor
Emmanuel II was declared the king of united Italy.

Britain

Great Britain represented the nation. Prior to the 18th century, there was no British nation. The
nation became powerful as it slowly and gradually grew in wealth, importance and power.

The Act of Union (1707) between England and Scotland resulted in the formation and
introduction of the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain.’ It meant that England was able to
impose its influence on Scotland. In 1801, Ireland was forcibly incorporated into the United
Kingdom. The symbols of the new Britain, such as the British flag (Union Jack), the national
anthem (God Save Our Noble King), and the English language, were actively promoted.

Nationalism and Imperialism

By the last quarter of the 19th century, nationalism had lost its idealistic liberal democratic
sentiment. After 1871, the Balkan region was the main cause of nationalist tension in Europe.
The Slavs was the collective name for people who lived in the geographically diverse and
ethnically diverse region of the Balkans, which included modern-day Romania, Macedonia,
Croatia, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Slovenia.

The Balkans became a very volatile region due to the growth of romantic nationalism and the
fall of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire attempted to strengthen itself throughout the
19th century by modernisation and internal reforms but received very little success.

During this period, the European nations engaged in fierce competition over trade, colonies,
and naval and military strength. 1914 saw the devastation of Europe brought on by nationalism
and imperialism. Anti-imperial movements came into effect, but they struggled to form
independent national states. However, the idea of ‘national states’ was accepted, and everyone
agreed on the concept.

Important Questions and Answers

 What was the aim of the French Revolution?

The main objective of the French Revolution was to build a collective identity for the French
people. Moreover, ideas like Le Citoyen and La Patrie promoted the belief in a united
community that enjoys equal rights.

 Who was the “Hero of two worlds” and what was his role in the unification of
Italy?
Giuseppe Garibaldi was the ‘Hero of two worlds.’ According to his belief, Italy wouldn’t have
survived as a smaller state, and it needed to be unified. He formed two societies named Young
Italy and Young Europe.

 Name some of the features of conservative regimes.

Some of the features of conservative regimes are:

 Intolerant to criticism and dissent

 Autocratic
 Censored press
 Suppressed questions that challenged their legitimacy
 Write about a female allegory in the 19th century.
Marianne- She was given the Christian name Marianne in France, which helped to promote the
idea of a people’s nation. Republic and liberty served as inspiration for a significant
characteristic. Marianne statues quickly become unifying symbols.

 Explain the importance of national feeling and imagination.

The development of national sentiments depended on culture. Arts, poetry, music, and stories
sparked nationalist sentiment. Glorification of science was questioned, and it was replaced by
intuitions, sentiments and emotions. This romanticism aimed to create national sentiments.
Language also played a crucial role in developing national feelings.

The Rise of Nationalism in Europe

Europe fought against conservatism, monarchs and nobles to gain independence. The making
of Italy and Germany in the 19th century by Giuseppe Mazzini started a revolution against the
monarchs.
The French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation
Nationalism came into effect with the French Revolution in 1789. The political and
constitutional transformations led to the transfer of sovereignty from the monarchy to a body
of French citizens. Various measures and practices were introduced and launched, such as the
ideas of la Patrie (the fatherland) and le Citoyen (the citizen). A new French flag, the tricolour,
was selected to replace the former royal standard. Napoleon destroyed democracy in France
and imposed a monarchy. In 1804, Napoleon abolished privileges based on birth and introduced
the Napoleonic Code, a codified system.

The Making of Nationalism in Europe

Germany, Italy and Switzerland were further divided into kingdoms, duchies and cantons
whose rulers had their autonomous territories, rights and powers. Moreover, the emergence of
the new middle class took place in this era.

The Aristocracy and the New Middle Class

 The Aristocracy: The members of this class were united by a common way of life. They
owned land in the country, spoke French, and their families were often connected by
ties of marriage.
 Peasantry: Peasants made up the vast majority of the population.
 Middle class: A new class developed as a result of the Industrial Revolution and the
establishment of industries in urban areas. They began to rule urban areas, earning the
title of the middle class.

What did Liberal Nationalism Stand for?

The term ‘liberalism’ derives from the Latin word liber, meaning free. The right to vote and
get elected was granted exclusively to people who owned property. Men and women without
property were not allowed to vote and were not given any political rights.

A customs union was formed at the initiative of Prussia in 1834, which was joined by most of
the German states. The union eliminated tariff barriers and decreased the number of currencies
from over thirty to two.

A New Conservatism after 1815

The Revolutionaries

The Age of Revolutions: 1830-1848

The Romantic Imagination and National Feeling

 Culture played a crucial role in creating the idea of a nation, such as art and poetry,
stories and music, which helped express and shape nationalist feelings.
 Romanticism was a cultural movement which was brought into the limelight to develop
and shape a particular form of nationalist sentiment. Moreover, language also played
an important role in developing nationalist sentiments.
  After the Russian occupation, the Polish language was banned from schools and
replaced with Russian. An armed rebellion against Russian rule occurred in 1831 but
was ultimately put down.

Hunger, Hardship and Popular Revolt

Europe went through great economic hardship in 1830. The first half of the 19th century
witnessed an immense increase in population all over Europe. Widespread pauperism was
caused by either an increase in food prices or a poor harvest year. In 1848, food shortages and
widespread unemployment brought the population of Paris out on the roads.

The Revolution of the Liberals

While the poor workers and starving peasants revolted for their rights, a new revolt of the
educated middle class was underway. The liberal middle class took advantage of the situation
and pushed their demands for the creation of a nation-state along with the freedom of the press
and freedom of association. 831 elected representatives marched in a procession on 18th May
1848 to take their places in the Frankfurt parliament convened in the Church of St Paul.

The Making of Germany and Italy

Germany- Can the Army be the Architect of a Nation?

Otto von Bismarck, the Chief Minister, was the architect of the revolutionary process of
unifying Germany and Italy. He carried out the process with the help of the Prussian army and
bureaucracy.

In a ceremony held at Versailles in January 1871, William I, the King of Prussia, was crowned
German Emperor. The nation-building process demonstrated the dominance of Prussian state
power. The currency, banking, legal and judicial systems in Germany were modernised.

Italy Unified

In the middle of the 19th century, Italy was divided into seven states. During the 1830s,
Giuseppe Mazzini began a program for the unification of the Italian Republic. He also created
a secret society named “Young Italy.” Due to the failure of the revolutionary movements in
1831 and 1848, Sardinia-Piedmont and its monarch King Victor Emmanuel II were given the
responsibility of bringing the Italian nations together through war. The ruling class in this area
saw a united Italy as a chance for them to achieve political and economic domination.

The Strange Case of Britain

The formation of Great Britain was not the result of any revolution. There was no British nation
prior to the 18th century. The primary identities of the people who lived in the British Isles
were ethnic ones – such as English, Welsh, Scot or Irish. Each of these ethnic groups has its
own political and cultural traditions. However, as the English nation rapidly increased in
wealth, significance, and strength, it was able to exert more influence on the other nations of
the islands. The means by which a nation-state with England at its core came to be formed was
the English parliament, which had seized authority from the monarch in 1688 following a
protracted conflict.
Visualising the Nation

In the 18th and 19th centuries, artists found a way out by personifying a nation. They portrayed
a country as if it were an individual. Nations were depicted as female characters. The female
form used to personify the nation aimed to give the nation’s abstract idea a concrete form. In
other words, the female character evolved into a national allegory.