Nationalism Unit Objectives Understanding the development of Nationalism and its impact

Nationalism The strong belief that the interests of a particular nation-state are of primary importance. Also, the belief that a people who share a common language, history, and culture should constitute an independent nation, free of foreign domination (unification) Beyond just mere “patriotism”

Impacts of Nationalism Nationalism brought individual kingdoms in Italy and Germany together to form modern nations Nationalism made people and their leaders proud of their new nations and want to do whatever was necessary to make them strong

Because of nationalism, national leaders became less likely to compromise when there was a dispute with other nations—they did not want to look weak to the other nations or to their own people New nations built up their militaries and all the powers of Europe felt they were the strongest and were eager to prove it on the battlefield

Failed Revolutions Several failed revolutions in Europe led to the movement to form new modern nations The Crimean War led to the collapse of the Concert of Europe, an agreement that had kept things stable in Europe for decades The collapse of the Concert of Europe led to the unification of Italy and Germany

The Unification of Italy

Piedmont was a large northern Italian kingdom King Victor Emmanuel: BECAME KING IN 1849 Camillo di Cavour: NAMED PRIME MINISTER IN 1852

Cavour’s policies Economic growth: TO BUILD A LARGE ARMY Alliance with Louis-Napoleon of France: NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO DEFEAT AUSTRIA ON OWN Provoked Austria into a war: TO GAIN LAND FOR PIEDMONT

Giuseppe Garabaldi Garabaldi unified several southern kingdoms of Italy, then voluntarily joined Piedmont In 1861 a new nation-state of Italy was formed with King Emmanuel II as its king Italy gained control of Venetia in the north as a result of siding with Prussia in a war between Prussia and Austria Italy gained control of Rome and it became the capital after the French withdrew troops from Rome during the Franco-Prussian War

The Unification of Germany

Background Germany was made up of several German, Austrian, and Prussian kingdoms Germany was the last of the major European powers to unify due to economic divisions, political divisions, religious differences, and the Thirty Years War (Catholics vs Protestants)

Four main steps toward German unification 1. Congress of Vienna (1815):   MEETING THAT ESTABLISHED A GERMAN CONFEDERATION (LOOSE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT STATES) Austria and Prussia were the two most powerful German states and neither really wanted unification because they each feared losing power to the other—Prussia emerged as the stronger of the two because it had a stronger economy

2. Wilhelm (William) I became King of Prussia (1861) Goals:   BUILD STRONG GOVERNMENT AND ARMY TO UNITE GERMANY UNDER CONTROL OF PRUSSIANS -Opposed by many Prussian Nationalists who wanted Prussia to maintain its independence from other German states

Otto von Bismarck became Prime Minister: MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR GERMAN UNIFICATION   -Bismarck shared Wilhelm’s ideas and believed in Realpolitik: THE RIGHT OF A NATION TO DO WHATEVER IT HAS TO DO TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS

3. Seven Weeks War: WAR WITH AUSTRIA TO CREATE NEW GERMAN STATE UNDER CONTROL OF PRUSSIA—PRUSSIANS WON

4. Franco-Prussian War   Bismarck baited Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III) into a war by expanding Germany’s power—he knew Louis Napoleon would see that as a threat and try to check Germany’s power

Results of the war: -PRUSSIA WON THE WAR SURPRISINGLY EASILY -THE VICTORY CONVINCED THE REST OF GERMAN STATES TO JOIN A NEW PRUSSIAN NATION CALLED GERMANY -WILHELM WAS NAMED “KAISER” (EMPEROR), BISMARCK NAMED “CHANCELLOR” (TOP POLITICAL LEADER)

Conflicts between Catholics and Protestants continued—Bismarck supported the Protestants for most of his time in office and passed many laws against Catholics   Germany industrialized leading to a socialist workers’ movement that Bismarck at first tried to suppress and later tried to win the support of

End of Bismarck’s power Wilhelm II became King (Wilhelm I died, his son Frederick III served as king for 100 days and also died; Wilhelm II was Frederick’s son and Wilhelm’s grandson) -Type of government Wilhelm II believed in:   ABSOLUTE MONARCHY -Impact on Bismarck: STRIPPED OF MUCH OF HIS POWER -Bismarck’s response: HE RESIGNED

Impact of Bismarck on Germany: TURNED GERMANY INTO STRONG, INDUSTRIAL WORLD POWER; GERMAN PEOPLE FRUSTRATED THAT HE SUPRESSED DEMOCRACY