The Rise of Nationalism in

Europe
Summary
 Let’s recall
❖During the 19th century nationalism emerged as a force in Europe.

❖ It brought about sweeping changes in the political and mental world of Europe
which resulted in emergence of the nation-state.

❖The French Revolutionaries introduced various measures and practices like, la

patrie (the fatherland) and le citoyen (the citizen) amongst the French people.

❖A centralised administrative system and a uniform law for all citizens was
introduced.

❖Napoleon had incorporated revolutionary principle by introducing the Civil Code

of 1804, which was known as Napoleonic Code.

❖There were no nation states in the mid-18th century Europe.

 Let’s recall
❖In the early 19th century, ideas of national unity were closely related to the
ideology of liberalism.

❖Liberalism stood for the freedom of markets and the abolition of state imposed
restrictions on the movement of goods and capital.

❖Following the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, European Governments were driven

by a spirit of conservatism.

❖The European powers who had collectively defeated Napoleon met at Vienna and
signed up the Treaty of Vienna in 1815.

❖Their main intention was to restore the monarchies that has been overthrown
by Napoleon and create a new conservative order in Europe.
 Let’s recall
❖Many regions like Italy, Germany, Ireland, Poland, the provinces of Ottoman Empire
has witnessed the age of revolution between 1830 to 1848.

❖The first upheaval took place in France in July 1830.

❖There was a struggle for independence in Greece. Finally, the Treaty of

Constantinople of 1832 recognised Greece as an independent nation.

❖ Romanticism was a cultural movement that tried to create a sense of a shared

collective heritage as a basis of a nation.

❖Some countries like Poland and Germany kept nationalist feeling alive through
music and language.

❖The 1830s were the years of great economic hardship in Europe

 Let’s recall
❖In 1845, there was a revolt of weavers in Silesia village against the contractors.

❖ In 1848 France, Germany, Italy, Poland etc demanded for a nation state based on
Constitution, freedom of the press and freedom of association.

❖Prussia under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck took initiative for the
unification of Germany.

❖After 3 wars for 7 years, against Austria, Denmark, France. Prussia won.

❖On 18th January, 1871, Chief Minister Otto von Bismarck proclaimed the new
German empire headed by Kaiser William I of Prussia.

❖The new state of Germany had a strong emphasis on modernising the currency,
banking, legal and judicial systems in Germany.
 Let’s recall
❖During the middle of the 19th century, Italy was divided into seven states.

❖Only Sardinia-Piedmont was ruled by an Italian Princely house.

❖The north was under Austrian Habsburgs, the centre was ruled by the Pope and
the southern regions were under the domination of the Bourbon kings of Spain.

❖Giuseppe Mazzini, Count Camillo de Cavour, Giuseppe Garibaldi took

responsibilities to unite Italy.

❖Due to their effort Italy was united in 1861.

❖Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed the king of United Italy.

 Let’s recall
❖There was no British nation prior to the 18th century.

❖The primary identities of the people in the British Islands were ethnic ones like
English, Welsh, Scot and Irish.

❖The Act of Union (1707) between England and Scotland resulted in the formation
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

❖Ireland was forcibly incorporated into the United Kingdom of Britain in 1801.

❖The symbols of the new Britain were the British flag (Union Jack),the National
Anthem (God save our Nobel King) and the English language
 Let’s recall
❖Artists in the 18th and 19th century started to personify nations as female
figures.

❖These female figures became known as allegory of nations, viz in France,

Marianne was the allegory and in Germany, Germania was the allegory.

❖The region included the present-day regions of Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece,
Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro.

❖People from this region were known as Slavs.

❖Each European power i.e., Germany, Russia, England, Austria Hungary wanted to
extend their control over the Balkans.

❖This led to series of war and finally the First World War.
 YEAR EVENTS

1789 ➢ The French Revolution occurred.

1797 ➢ Napoleon invaded Italy, Napoleonic Wars

began.

1804 ➢ Napoleonic Code was introduced

prohibiting privileges based on birth,
Upheld the equality before law.

1814-1815 ➢ Fall of Napoleon, the Vienna Peace

Settlement.
1821 ➢ Greek struggle for independence
began.

1824 ➢ Giuseppe Mazzini established

young Italy.
YEAR EVENTS

1832 ➢ Greece gained independence. The Treaty of Constantinople.

1834 ➢ Zollverein or the Customs Union was formed

in Prussia to abolish tariff barriers.

1848 ➢ Revolutions in Europe, Artisans, Industrial

workers and peasants revolt against
economic hardships, middles classes
demand Constitutions and representative
governments .

1859 ➢ Sardinia-Piedmont and France

defeated Austria.

1861 ➢ Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia-

Piedmont became king of Italy.
 YEAR EVENTS

1859-1870 ➢ Unification of Italy.

1865-1871 ➢ Unification of Germany.

18 Jan, 1871 ➢ Kaiser William I became the king of

United Germany.

1707 ➢ The Act of Union- between England

and Scotland.

1801 ➢ Ireland was forcibly included the

United Kingdom of Britain.
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