Friday, 15 December 2017

Nationalism in Europe



Nationalism in Europe
                                                                                 R.Ayyappan
Unification of Germany
Ø 1848 liberals tried to unite the Germany into one nation, but it was repressed by large landowners (Junkers) of Prussia, Monarchy and military.
Ø Prussia took the leadership to unite German confederations.
Ø With the help of Prussian army and Bureaucracy, the Chief Minister of Prussia Otto Van Bismark made attempt to unite the Germany.
Ø Three wars over seven years with Austria, Denmark and France ended in victory to Otto Van Bismark and completed the process of unification.
Ø In January 1871 the Prussian King William –I was proclaimed as the German Emperor.
Unification of Italy
Ø During the middle of the 19th century Italy was divided into seven states.
Ø Except the Sardinia – Piedmont was the only state ruled by the Italian Princely house.
Ø Rest of the states was ruled by Austrian Habsburg (North), Pope(centre) and Bourbon kings of Spain (South).
Ø Giuseppe Mazzini made a programme called Unitary Italian Republic in 1830. And formed secret society called Young Italy.
Ø The ruler of Sardinia – Piedmont the King Victor Emmanuel II wanted to unify the Italian states.
Ø His Chief minster Cavour led the movement of unification.
Ø Cavour able to defeat Austrian forces with the alliance with France 1859.
Ø Giuseppe Garibaldi marched towards South Italy and Kingdom of Two Sicilies with large number of peasants and drive out the Spanish rulers.
Ø In 1861 Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed as the King of United Italy.
Unification of United Kingdom of Great Britain
Ø British Isles were inhabited by the ethnic groups such as English, Welsh, Scot or Irish.
Ø English grow in wealth and political dominance.
Ø The English parliament seized the power from the monarch in 1688.
Ø The Act of Union between England and Scotland resulted the formation of  United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Ø The England dominated the Scotland.
Ø The British parliament was dominated with English members. Representation of Scotland was very less.
Ø The British tried to destroy the identity of Scotland culture and language.
Ø The Scottish was forbidden to speak the Gaelic language or wear their national dress.
Ø In Ireland English helped the protestants to establish their dominance over the Catholics.
Ø The revolt of Wolfe Tone (1798) was suppressed and Ireland was forcibly incorporated into United Kingdom in 1801.
Ø New Union Jack flag and the National Anthem “God save our noble king” were promoted.
Visualising the Nation
Ø Allegories were formed in Europe to represent their nations.
Ø Marianne, the female allegory represented the France. With red cape, the tricolor, the cockade. Marianne images were marked on coins and stamps.
Ø Germania, the female allegory represented the Germany. Germania wears a crown of Oak(heroism),sword(ready to fight), broken chain(Being freed)etc.,
The Balkan problem
Ø The Balkan region consists of lot of ethnic variations.
Ø It include the present day Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece and Serbia etc.,
Ø A large part of the Balkan region was under the control of the Ottoman Empire.
Ø The romantic nationalisam spread all over the Balkan region and led to the disintegration and ideas of nationalism.
Ø During the 19th century the Ottoman empire was disintegrated.
Ø The European nationalist in Balken region broke away from the control and declared independence.
Ø The Balkan people based on their history they tried to prove that they were independent in the past.
Ø Many small Balkan states were formed.
Ø Each state was jealous about the other and wanted to dominate other which led to the intense tensions and war.
Ø Big European powers like Germany, England, Austro-Hungary was keen enter into this region.
Ø The series of wars in this region finally ended in the First World War.
==============================================================

2 comments: