Unification of Europe – Extra material

Nationalism is an ideology that emerged out of the Enlightenment and

French Revolution at the end of 18th century, nationalism's political potency
in contemporaneous world affairs is reinforced daily by global television
journalism.
Nationalism manifested itself during the classical period. Greek citizens
declared loyalty on their City state or Polls. When threatened by barbarian
Persians at Thermopylae, 300 Spartans sacrificed their lives for Greek
independence.
Roman citizens pledged loyalty to the Patria, the Republic, and finally
the Emperor. In the middle Ages, the feudal system created a social
hierarchy of King, lord, freeman and serf. By the early modern period,
feudalism bad matured into a dynastic nationalism; there was a need for
institutions, monarchies, and indigenous cultural uniqueness.
The key figures of the Enlightenment were all Rationalists.
Voltaire challenged the unquestioned authority of established religion
and revealed its hypocrisies and medieval superstitions.
Rousseau promulgated the notion that government should be based
on popular democratic choice' and therefore people would be truly
sovereign.
Nationalism involves a strong identification of a group of individuals.
Nationalism emphasizes collective identity - people must be autonomous,
united, and express a single national culture.
National flags, national anthems are considered sacred, as if they were
religious rather than political symbols. Deep emotions are used. Before the
development of nationalism, people were generally loyal to a city or to a
particular leader rather than to their nation.

At the beginning of the XIX century, Germany was not a united nation,
but a conglomeration of duchies and principalities, perhaps with a
common purpose, and a common language and culture, but separated
politically.
When Otto von Bismarck attained power in what became a united
Germany following the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, the Germans were
seemingly not concerned with anything more than some sort of economic
power over their part of Europe.
It was in the 19th century that nationalism became a widespread and
powerful force. During this time nationalism expressed itself in many areas
as a drive for national unification or independence. However, the
nationalism that inspired the German people to rise against the empire of
Napoleon I was conservative, tradition-bound, and narrow rather than
liberal, progressive, and universal. And when the fragmented Germany
was finally unified as the German Empire in 1871, it was a highly
authoritarian and militarist state.
After many years of fighting, Italy also achieved national unification
and freedom from foreign domination.
In the United States, where nationalism had evinced itself in the
doctrine of Manifest Destiny, national unity was maintained at the cost of
the Civil War. Nationalist conflicts had much to do with bringing on World
War I.
 THE UNIFICATION OF ITALY
19th Century Nationalism

"A country is not merely a geographic territory.... A country is the sense of

love which unites as one all the sons and daughters of that geographic
territory "(From Giuseppe Mazzini: A Memoir by E. A. Venturi)
Giuseppe Mazzini, was a leader in the struggle for Italian unification.

- The church and many Catholics favored a federation of Italian states

headed by the pope.
- acting independently, garibaldi led his 1,000 "red shirts" in conquering the
kingdom of the two sicilies (Sicily and Naples), in 1860.
- Garibaldi rashly wanted to march on Rome. This threat to the pope would
have provoked the French into fighting for the pope.
- The kingdom of Italy was proclaimed on March 17, 1861 with victor
Emmanuel ii its first king. Now only venezia and Rome were lacking from
completing Italian unity. In 1866, after Prussia’s victory over Austria at
sadowa, venezia was seized by Italy.
- Rome was finally added to Italy in 1870 when French troops, protecting the
pope, were withdrawn to fight in the franco-prussian war. Rome then
became the capital of Italy.
- Political/economic problems of the new nation.
- Italy was poor; overwhelmingly agricultural; had no coal or iron; and 3/4 of
the population was illiterate.
- Italy lagged in schools, railways and roads compared to other major
European countries.
- Southern poverty and traditions of local patronage and corruption hobbled
the new regime.

The unification of Germany

- In 1858, William I became the Prussian king.

- He appointed the most skillful diplomat and warrior of the second half of
the 19th century, Otto von Bismarck, as his prime minister of foreign affairs.
- Bismarck was to be the chief architect of a unified German nation.
- Bismarck said: "the great questions of the day will not be decided by
speeches and majority resolutions, but by blood and iron."
- Bismarck, did not believe in a liberal constitutional government so he
dismissed the parliament and ruled without it.
- He made the Prussian army into a modern, efficient war machine by
expanding it and equipping it with the latest weapons.
- His strategy to unify Germany involved three quick military steps:
1) War with Denmark
2) War with Austria
3) War with France
- Paris was then surrounded by German troops and held out under seize,
1871.
- The treaty was harsh. France lost two of its territories, Alsace and Lorraine.
- France was deeply humiliated and angered by this war and desired
revenge. The desire for revenge and to win back Alsace and Lorraine would
be one of the major causes of World War I.
- In France, napoleon iii and the second French empire was overthrown.
- The unification of German was complete on January 18, 1871. The German
empire, or second Reich (the first Reich was said to have been the Holy
Roman Empire) was chiefly the work of Bismarck who was made chancellor.

Growth of Great Britain

- Colonial expansion was encouraged in Africa and Asia.

- Industrial growth continued.
- Government was characterized by strong support for the Church of
England, the monarchy, and for British imperialism.
- In FOREIGN Policy, England was IMPERIALIST.
- Extended SUFFRAGE to the cities.
- Canada was given self-rule.
- Australia was added to the Great Britain Empire.