19 th Century European Nationalism

1. 19th Century European Nationalism

2. Nationalism • Described aspirations for national independence or unification • Threatened to break up multi-national empires (Austria) • Pulled together fragmented states such as Germany & Italy • Extreme nationalism went beyond patriotism into the area of arrogance, hatred, and racism.

3. Characteristics of Nationalism • Sought to turn cultural unity into self-government • Common language, history, culture, religion, geography, and enemies would bring about unity and common loyalties. • Supported by liberals • Immediate origins were in the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars.

4. Characteristics of Nationalism • Johann Gottfried Herder (1744-1803): regarded as father of modern nationalism • Saw every cultural group as unique and possessing a distinct national character—Volksgeist—evolving over many centuries. • No one culture is superior to another • His ideas led to the notion that every nation should be sovereign and contain all members of the same nationality.

5. Impact of Nationalism • Greek Independence- 1820s • Serbian independence- 1820s • Spanish revolt: 1822 (unsuccessful) • Russian revolt: 1825 (unsuccessful) • Polish revolt against Russian control: 1830 (unsuccessful)

6. Impact of Nationalism • Belgium: 1830 successful revolt against Dutch rule • France: 1830 established constitutional monarchy • Nationalist uprisings throughout the Italian and German regions

7. 19th Century European Liberalism

8. Origins of 19c Liberalism Term first used in the 1820s to convey the following: • Enlightenment values of rationalism and freedom of the individual • Distrust of the military • Republicanism or constitutionalism • Against hereditary privilege and distrust of aristocracy • Belief in constitutions

9. Origins of 19c Liberalism • Distrust of religious organizations and clergy • A secular state • Free speech and free press • Anti-slavery • Legal equality • Promotion by merit • Laissez-faire economics, anti-tariffs

10. Characteristics • Reformist and political rather than revolutionary in character • Supported largely by bourgeoisies, middle class, businessmen

11. “Moderate” Liberalism • Favored the idea of the sovereignty of the people, but… • Government should rest on the organized consent of at least the most important sections of the community. • An extension of the franchise to include all men of property. • Exclude the working class!

12. “Moderate” Liberalism • A good constitutional monarchy was the best form of government. • Valued liberty more than equality. • Confidence in man’s powers of self-government and self-control. • Freedom of the press. • Free right of assembly. • Written constitutions.

13. “Moderate” Liberalism • Economic policies: • Laissez-faire economy. • Free trade. • Lower tariffs. • Against the right of the working class to organize into unions. • The general progress of humanity would emerge from the growth of wealth and from science and inventions.

14. “Moderate” Liberalism • Established churches & the landed aristocracy were obstacles to the advancement of civilization. • Orderly change by legislative process. • A dislike of wars, conquests, a standing army, and military expenditures. • Hated the idea of revolution!

15. Liberalism in Economics • Adam Smith in Wealth of Nations • David Ricardo: “iron law of wages” • Plentiful supply of workers would keep wages low, to the disadvantage of the working class. • Thomas Malthus: believed human population would outstrip the food supply resulting in massive famines.

16. Impact of Liberalism • Inspired various revolutionary movements of the early 19th century • Influenced revolutions in France in 1830 and 1848 • Liberalism became embodied in over ten constitutions secured between 1815 and 1848 in the states of the German Confederation.

17. Impact of Liberalism • Influenced reform measures in Britain from the 1830s into 20th century. • Inspired German student organizations and impacted Prussian (and later German) life in the late 19th century. • Resulted in some mild reforms in Russia in the early 20th century.

18. Challenges to Liberalism • From above  the conservative upper class. • From below  socialism/Marxism. • From organized religions. • From militarism and imperialism. • From economic upheavals: • Irish Potato Famine [1845-1852]. • Great Depressions [1873-1896].