The Rise of Nationalism in Europe class 10 Quick Revision Notes

Short Notes: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe

1. Frederic Sorrieu’s Vision (1848):

• Sorrieu’s prints depicted a utopian world of democratic and social republics.
• The first print showed people from Europe and America paying homage to Liberty
• Liberty was personified as a woman holding the torch of Enlightenment and the Charter of Rights of Man.
• Nations were identified by flags and costumes; shattered symbols of absolutist institutions lay in the foreground.

2. Nationalism in the 19th Century Europe:

• Nationalism led to the transformation of Europe from multi-national dynastic empires to nation-states.
• A nation-state was defined by common identity, shared history, and sovereignty of its people.

3. French Revolution and Nationalism (1789)

• Sovereignty transferred from monarchy to French citizens.
• Symbols of collective identity:
  • Ideas of la patrei (fatherland) and le citopen (citizen).
  • Tricolour flag, National Assembly, and new national hymns.
  • Uniform flag, abolition of customs duties, and promotion of the French language.
• French mission: To liberate Europe from despotism and promote natioalism.

4. Napoleon’s Role

• Napoleonic Code (1804):
  • Ended privileges by birth, ensured equality before the law, and secured property rights.
• Reforms in conquered territories:
  • Abolition of feudalism and serfdom, standardised laws, and improved transport and communication.
  • Benefits for peasants, artisans, and businessmen.

5. Mixed Reactions to French Rule:

• Initial enthusiasm in regions like Holland and Switzerland.
• Hostility arose due to high taxes. censorship, and forced conscription.

6. Europe in the Mid-18th Century:

• No nation-states; regions were divided into kingdoms, duchies, and cantons.
• Diverse ethnic groups, languages, and cultures existed within empires like the Habsburg Empire.
• The only unifying factor was allegiance to the emperor.

7. Social and Political Structure:

• Aristocracy: dominant but small group; shared a common lifestyle and spoke French.
• Peasantry: Majority population; worked as tenants or serfs on vast estates in Eastern and Central Europe.
• Middle Class: Emerged with industrialisation; supported liberal ideas of equality and freedom.

8. Liberal Nationalism:

• Derived from the Latin liber (free).
• Advocated freedom of the individual, equality before the law, and representative government.
• Favored free markets, uniform laws, and removal of trade restrictions.
• Limited suffrage; political rights were restricted to property-owing men.

9. Conservatism after 1815:

• Congress of Vienna (1815): Restored monarchies and redrew boundaries to maintain balance of power.
• Conservatives sought to preserve traditional institutions (monarchy, Church, social hierarchy).
• Imposed censorship and suppressed liberal movements.

Role of Revolutionaries:

• Secret societies opposed autocracy and fought for nation-states.

Guisseppe Mazzini:

• Founded Young Italy and Young Europe.
• Advocated unification of Italy into a single republic and inspired similar movements in Europe.
• Described as a threat by conservatives like Metternich.

10. Revolutions across Europe

• 1830:
  • Bourbon kings overthrown in France; Louis Philippe installed as constitutional monarch.
  • Belgium gained independence from the Netherlands after an uprising inspired by the French July Revolution.
  • Greek War of Independence (1821-1832) against the Ottoman Empire; supported by European nationalists. treaty of Constantinople (1832) recognized Greece as an independent nation.

11 Romanticism and Nationalism

• Culture played a vital role in fostering nationalism through art, poetry, music, and folklore.
• Romanticism:
  • Focused on emotions, intuition, and shared cultural heritage.
  • Johann Gottfried Herder emphasized discovering true culture among common people (das volk).
• Language and Folk Culture:
  • In Poland, national sentiments were preserved through music and the Polish language.
  • Use of Polish symbolized resistance against Russian dominance.

12. Hunger, Hardship, and Revolts

• Economic Hardship:
  • Overpopulation led to unemployment and migration to cities.
  • Rural workers faced feudal dues; urban artisans competed with cheap machine-made iports.
  • Bad harvests and rising food prices worsened poverty.
• 1845 Silesian Weavers’s Revolt:
  • Workers protested against reduced payments by contractors; violence erupted, leading to army intervention.

13. 1848: The Revolution of Liberals

• France:
  • Monarch Louis Philippe abdicated; Republic established with universal male suffrage.
  • National workshops se up to address unemplyment.
• German Regions:
  • Frankfurt Parliament (May 1848) drafted a constitution for a unified Germany with a constitutional mocarchy.
  • King Friedrich Wilhelm IV rejected the crown; assembly disbanded due to lack of aristocratic and worker support.
• Women’s Role:
  • Actively participated in revolutions but were denied voting rights and excluded from decision-making.

14. Aftermath of 1848 Revolutions

• Conservatives forces suppressed liberal movements but could not restore the old order.
• Autocratic monarchies introduced reforms
  • Abolition of serfdom and bonded labour in Habsburg dominions and Russia.
  • Greater autonomy granted to Hungarians in 1867.

15. Germany: Can the Army Be the Architect of a Nation?

• Post-1848: Nationalism shifted from democracy/revolution to conservative state-building.
• German Unification:
  • 1848 attempt by liberals failed due to monarchy, military, and Junkers (landowers).
  • Prussia led unification under Otto von Bismarch.
  • Achieved through three wars (Austria, Denmark, France) over 7 years.
  • 1871: Proclamation of German Empire; William I crowned Emperor at Versailles.
• Prussian Dominance:
  • Unified Germany emphasized modernizing currency, banking, legal, land judicial systems.
  • Prussian models influenced the new German state.

16. Italy Unified

• Fragmentation: Italy had 7 states, diverse rulers (e.g. Habsburgs, Pope, Bourbons).
• Early Efforts:
  • Giuseppe Mazzini advocated for a unitary republic; formed Young Italy.
  • Revolutionary uprisings (1831, 1848) failed.
• Sardinia-Piedmont’s Role:
  • Led by King Victor Emmanuel II and Chief Minister Cavour.
  • Cavour’s Diplomacy: Alliance with France defeated Austria (1859).
  • Garibaldi’s Volunteers: Liberated southern Italy and drove out Spanish rulers.
  • 1861: Victor Emmanuel II declared King of united Italy.
• Challenges:
  • High illiteracy; masses unaware of nationalist ideology.
  • Peasants misinterpreted “Italia” as the king’s wife.

17. The Strange Case of Britain

• Gradual Nation Formation: No upheaval or revolution; evolved over time.
• England’s Dominance:
  • Act of Union (1707): United England and Scotland into the United Kingdom.
  • English parliament dominated; suppressed Scottish culture (e.g., banning Gaelic).
• Ireland’s incorporation:
  • Protestant dominance over Catholics with British support.
  • 1801: Ireland incorporated into the UK after failed revolts.
• British Identity:
  • Promoted English culture: Union Jack, national anthem, English language.
  • Older cultures became subordinate.

18. Visualising the Nation

• Personification of Nation: Nations were represented as female figures in the 18th-19th centuries to give a concrete form to abstract ideas.
• French Revolution:
  • Liberty: red cap, broken chain.
  • Justice: Blindfold, weighing scales.
• Marianne (France):
  • Symbol of unity; featured the red cap, tricolor, cockade.
  • Represented on coins and stamps; statues in public spaces.
• Germania (Germany):
  • Crown of oak leaves symbolising heroism.

19. Nationalism and Imperialism

• Shift in Nationalism: By the late 19th century, nationalism became narrow, intolerant, and aligned with imperialism.
• Balkan Region:
  • Included Slavic nations like Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, etc.
  • Controlled by the Ottoman Empire; disintegration led to nationalist tensions.
  • Balkan nationalities used history to justify independence claims.
• Conflict in Balkans:
  • Intense rivalry among Balkan states for territory.
  • European powers (Russia, Germany, England, Austro-Hungary) competed for influence.
  • Led to wars and eventually World War I.
• Anti-Imperial Movements:
  • Colonised nations opposed European imperialism and aimed to form independent nation-states.
  • Inspired by nationalism but developed unique forms suited to their contexts.
• Impact: Nationalism aligned with imperialism caused global tensions and wars.