The Rise of Nationalism in Europe

The Rise of Nationalism in Europe

The concepts of liberty, equality, fraternity and nationalism dominated the social
and political scene of Europe during the 19th century.

Utopian vision refers to a vision of a society that is so ideal that it is unlikely to

actually exist.

Absolutism refers to a system of rule with lot of uncontrolled power; an oppressive

monarchical government.

A plebiscite is a direct vote by which the people of a region are asked to accept or
reject a proposal.

French Revolution

The French Revolution was an influential event that marked the age of revolutions
in Europe.

After the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte emerged as the political leader
of France.

He introduced the civil code of 1804 known as the Napoleonic code.

Higher taxes, censorship and forced enrolment of people into the French army led
to Napoleon’s downfall.

Advent of Liberalism in Europe

During the mid-18th century, Europe was divided into small kingdoms and
principalities.

In the late 18th and 19th centuries, the middle class came into existence.

The middle class wanted the end of autocratic rule and form a people’s
government; this is where liberalism was born.

Liberalism implied freedom of markets, and unrestricted movement of goods and

capital.

Rise of Conservatism and Revolutionaries

The autocratic governments of Europe adopted the idea of conservatism after

Napoleon’s defeat in 1815.

Conservatism was a political philosophy that stressed the importance of tradition,

established institutions and customs.

The representatives of European powers met at Vienna after Napoleon’s defeat;

this meeting was known as the Treaty or Congress of Vienna.
After 1815, several liberals began working in secret societies to propagate
revolutionary ideas.

Age of Revolution [1830 to 1848]

The period between 1830 and 1848, Europe saw a series of revolutions in Italy,
Germany, Poland, Turkey and Ireland.

Silesian weavers revolted against their contractors in 1845.

A food shortage led to the peasant uprising in France in 1848.

After the French revolution, there was rise of a literary and cultural movement
called romanticism, which sought to develop nationalist sentiment.

Revolutions of Liberals and Women

The history of Europe between 1830 and 1848 was lined with many revolts and
uprisings.

Inspired by France, in Germany, Italy, Poland and the Austro-Hungarian Empire,

men and women of the liberal middle class began demanding a constitution, and
national unification.

In Europe, the conservatives tried their best to suppress the liberal movements, but
failed miserably.

Women’s rights were championed.

Liberal revolutionaries exhibited narrow mindedness in their attitude towards
women.

Nation State – Germany, Italy and Britain

Otto Van Bismarck, Chief Minister of Prussia, played a crucial role in the
unification of Germany.

On January 18, 1871, the Prussian King, Kaiser Williams I, was proclaimed the
German Emperor in Versailles.

Victor Emmanuel II, the King of Sardinia Piedmont, took up the responsibility of
unifying Italian states.

In seventeen hundred seven, the Act of Union between England and Scotland
resulted in the formation of the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain’.

Visualizing a Nation

During the 18th and the 19th centuries, several symbols were used by artists and
revolutionaries to depict abstract concepts.

Allegories were used to represent freedom and liberty.

The personification of a nation infused feelings of patriotism and nationalism in

people.
Nationalism and Imperialism

After 1871, there was a significant change in the concept of nationalism in Europe.

The major European powers began taking advantage of nationalism in Europe, to

materialize their aims for imperialism.

Rivalry among Russia, Germany, England and Austro-Hungary over the disturbed
Balkan region caused many wars including the First World War.