1. Nationalism
Main Idea: In the 1800s, nationalism sparked revolutions across Europe. New nations, such as Germany and Italy, formed along cultural lines. Absolute monarchies fell. These nationalist revolutions forever changed the map of Europe – and Europe’s balance of power.

2. Nationalism
Nationalism, or devotion to one’s national group or country, rose in Europe during this time period causing many revolutions.
At the Congress of Vienna, following the French Revolution, Prince Metternich of Austria sought to maintain a favorable balance of power amongst the European countries and establish monarchies.
The Congress of Vienna created national boundaries that ignored national groups and placed members of different ethnic groups under the same power.

3. Italian Unification
Italy had not been unified since the Roman Empire was in place during ancient times.
Although everyone spoke the same language the peninsula was broken up into smaller states – each with their own government.
Much of Italy was ruled by three main European powers – Austria, the German Hapsburgs, and the French – this angered many Italians.
Italian leader Giuseppe Mazzini believed that Europe needed to redraw the boundaries set by the Congress of Vienna.
Italians united behind this message and began leading rebellions by declaring war on the European power over their region.
Many of the rebellions were unsuccessful.
Camillo di Cavour founded a nationalist newspaper called Il Risorgimento, or rebirth, calling for independence from Austrian control.
Cavour worked to gain powerful allies – such as the French and were able to regain control of Northern Italy from the Austrians.

4. Italian Unification
Giuseppe Garibaldi joined Giuseppe Mazzini’s movement as the military leader.
He was exiled to South America due to his nationalist tendencies by other European powers and returned to Italy with the guerilla warfare tactic.
Garibaldi and his red shirts, or Garibaldi’s followers, used guerilla warfare to conquer the rest of Italy from the European powers.
Italians voted to unify in 1861 uniting Italy under King Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia.
Following unification Italy experienced many challenges:
Widespread poverty due to unemployment which led to people emigrating to the United States.
Government needed to pass reforms to encourage industrialization and infrastructure.
Government formed military alliances with Austria-Hungary and Germany.

5. German Unification
Similar to Italy, Germany was not a unified nation in , but did have a common language and culture.
The German’s were currently organized into the German Confederation which aided nationalism.
There was also an economic alliance amongst the German states called the Zollverein, or customs union, that allowed for the removal of tariffs on products traded between the German states.
German liberals in the state of Prussia revolted against the government in support of a government that was based on enlightenment ideals – either a republic or constitutional monarchy.
Frederick Wilhelm IV, the German king quickly promised a constitution, but eventually took back his promises to the people – he never wrote a constitution.

6. German Unification
Otto Von Bismarck was the led Germany toward unification using his political philosophy realpolitik, or ruling government based upon practical or realistic policies rather than idealistic.
Wilhelm I the new Prussian prime minister chose Bismarck as his prime minister.
Bismarck’s realpolitik policies pushed Prussia to increase the power of the Prussian military that could be used to unite Germany.
Austria was a leader in the German Confederation and had influence over many of the German states that opposed Prussia’s leadership.
Bismarck instigated a war with Austria, the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Prussians were able to defeat the Austrians within seven weeks.
The Germans also defeated the French for the territory of Alsace and Lorraine in the Franco-Prussian War which led to true German unification.

7. German Unification
In the years following German Unification Germany prospered under a federalist government, or a government in which power is shared between the state and national government.
Following unification Germany experienced many challenges:
Many restrictions on voters.
Struggle between the Catholic Church and the government over the power of the church in government.
Built up infrastructural improvements such as railroads, coal mines, and steel factories.
Germany entered into political alliances with Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Russia.

8. Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans
Austria-Hungary formed a dual-monarchy in which Austria and Hungary became two separate, equal states ruled by one monarch – Franz Joseph I.
There were many divisions amongst the different nationalities within Austria-Hungary.
The German Austrians and the Hungarian Magyars did not speak the same language or share a culture.
There were many ethnic minorities within the Dual-Monarchy that sought self-government.
The Ottoman Empire could no longer defend itself against independence movements or external threats.
There were many different ethnic and religious groups within the Ottoman Empire that all desired independence.