Nationalism: Germany and Latin America

Congress of Vienna

1815, in Vienna, Austria.

Meeting of countries that Napoleon had previously conquered.

Reason: to undo the changes Napoleon had introduced in the prev-conquered territory.

CoV’s conservative reaction to the influence of Napoleon

• opposed Enlightenment ideas

In the areas where Napoleon influenced, people wanted

• Equality for all men, which would lead to new opportunities in gov’t, and the nobles would lose power.

After Napoleon, the CoV restored old ideas:

• put back the absolute monarchy

• empires controlled multiple nationalities

• limitations back on indv. rights

New ideas (nationalism, liberalism) continued to clash with old ideas throughout the 1800’s in Europe

How was nationalism opposed to the decisions made at the CoV?

The CoV decided that ppl had too much freedom, so after Napoleon, they oppressed ppl by appointing one absolute leader and joining nationalities into singular states, removing freedoms from groups of ppl.

Conservatism

preserving old ideas/traditions

• absolute monarchies

• empires ruling over many nationalities

• limitations on individual rights (speech, religion, etc.)

Nationalism

the belief that one’s greatest loyalty should be to a nation of people who share a common culture and history

ex. German, Brazilian, Chinese, etc.

Liberalism

the continuation of the Enlightenment idea that people should have a say in gov’t.

there was a push for constitutional monarchies and voting rights for wealthier male populations.

Conservative vs. Liberal Nationalism

Conservative Nationalism:

• Key Focus: Traditional authority, monarchy, and unity.

• Advocates: Often aristocrats, monarchs, and those who sought to preserve the status quo.

• Goal: To unite the German states under a strong, centralized monarchy, often led by Austria or Prussia, but without necessarily extending democratic reforms.

Liberal Nationalism:

• Key Focus: Constitutionalism, individual rights, and popular sovereignty.

• Advocates: Middle-class liberals, intellectuals, and reformers.

• Goal: To create a unified Germany through democratic and constitutional means, with a focus on civil liberties, legal equality, and a parliamentary system.

How was German nationalism conservative?

They took over land and regained control over the nationalist groups that had been created.

How did war lead to German unification?

The border state of Holstein was dangerously close to Prussia. They needed to fight Austria to gain the land back and unify Germany.

Who gained and lost power due to German nationalism?

Gained

• Prussia

• German Empire

Lost

• Denmark

• Austria

• German Confederation

• smaller German states

• France

Describe the new government established by German unification.

federalist:

• power shared b/t state and nat’l gov’t

• political parties developed

• some voting rights

Prussia

• strongest German state

• liberals differed over whether to support a republic or a constitutional monarchy

Otto van Bismarck

• leader of German unification

• led Prussia (Germany’s strongest state)

• prime minister of Prussia

• Wars against Austria and France caused weaker German states to unite with Prussia

• Germany completely unified in 1870

• Philosophy: believed that it was Prussia’s responsibility to lead Germans to unification.

• Pushed to increase power of Prussian military. He knew that brutality would be the only way to win unification in the war.

  • liberal parliament wouldn’t fund him, so he dismissed assembly and collected taxes anyway.

• strong conservative speech at Nat’l Assembly

Wilhelm I

• New king of Prussia (1862)

• Appointed Bismarck to Prime Minister of Prussia.

• promised a constitution but never wrote it

• went back on many promises

• banned things that supported democracy

Realpolitik (textbook)

the politics of reality. basically, realistic ideas that can still shape politics without much radical reform.

Zollverein

• the alliance between German states to trade. Promoted strong economy.

• also removed taxes on trades between German states

• encouraged businesspeople to support unification, encouraged building of railroads too

Danish War

1864

• Denmark gave the territory of Holstein and Schleswig to Austria and Prussia after the war. Prussia would control Schleswig and Austria controlled Holstein. This meant Austria had a bit of land inside Prussia.

Austro-Prussian War (7 weeks’ war)

• Bismarck promised Italian PM territory of Venetia if they gave Prussia support.

• B also persuaded Napoleon III to keep France neutral if war broke out b/t German states

• sent troops to Holstein to provoke Austria, A declared war

• Wilhelm blamed Austria for starting war, adding to the growing support for Prussia

  • appealed to the people’s sense of nationalism

• Prussian army defeated Austrians in 7 weeks

• treaty that ended was dissolved German confederation and forced Austria to surrender Holstein

• Bismarck and Wilhelm used the victory to persuade remaining states to join the North.

Franco-Prussian War

• southern German states were still not included in the North German Confederation

• Prussia and France disputed Alsace and Lorraine

  • sparked feelings of nationalism in German states

  • states supported Prussia and northern states in the war vs France

• 1871, Bismarck successful victory for Prussia

• peace treaty with France declared unification of Germany

Second Reich/German Empire

• Germany prospered after 1871

• Under leadership of Wilhelm and Bismarck, G became a strong empire

• Known as Second Reich b/c First was the Holy Roman Empire

• new German govt was federalist

  • power shared b/t state and nat’l gov’t

  • political parties developed

  • some voting rights

Kulturkampf

Struggle for culture - Bismarck believed Roman Catholic Church was a threat to his gov’t. Believed gov’t, not church, should control education and other aspects of culture. Bismarck passed laws to limit the influence of CC in Germany.

How did France’s conquest of Spain help fuel Latin American nationalism?

• Napoleon's conquest of Spain destabilized Spanish colonial rule in Latin America.

• The weakening of Spanish authority created an opportunity for independence movements.

• Local elites and creoles began demanding greater autonomy and challenging Spanish control.

• Revolutionary ideas from the French and American Revolutions inspired Latin American colonists.

• The political turmoil led to the emergence of nationalism and a growing sense of Latin American identity.

• Independence movements gained momentum, ultimately leading to the breakup of Spanish rule in the Americas.

How did changes in the US and France influence Latin America?

• Seeing the desires for revolutionary change in France and the American colonies, people in LA wanted freedom too.

• Having been under Spanish and Portuguese rule since the 15th century, it was time for change.

• Latin American people were angry at the French and the Spanish king’s harsh rule, leading to their revolutions.

Who were creoles? In what ways were they conservative/liberal?

Creoles were people of European descent (primarily Spanish or Portuguese) who were born in the colonies of the Americas, rather than in Europe. In the context of Latin America, creoles were distinct from peninsulares, who were Europeans born in Spain or Portugal and held higher social and political positions in the colonial system.

Conservative Creoles:

• Favored maintaining traditional social structures and hierarchies.

• Supported monarchical rule or strong central authority.

• Opposed drastic reforms that could disrupt the existing power balance.

• Relied on the Catholic Church for social control and moral guidance.

Liberal Creoles:

• Advocated for political reforms, including constitutionalism and representative government.

• Sought freedom from colonial rule and increased autonomy for the colonies.

• Inspired by Enlightenment ideas, promoted individual rights, equality, and democracy.

• Often supported republicanism over monarchy in the context of independence movements.

Why did indigenous peoples resent the creoles?

• creoles benefitted from forced-labor systems

• took control of indigenous lands

• indigenous ppl faced harsh working conditions and limited economic opportunities

• creoles viewed themselves as superior

• Indigenous people were excluded from political, social, and economic power controlled by creoles

• Creoles led independence movements but often maintained systems of exploitation after gaining power from the peninsulares.

• Indigenous peoples saw that creole-led revolutions brought little real change to their status or conditions.

How were enslaved Africans inspired by what Blacks had done in Haiti?

• Successful Rebellion: Haiti demonstrated that enslaved people could overthrow colonial powers and gain freedom.

• Empowerment: Haiti’s victory gave enslaved Africans hope that they could fight for their own liberation.

• Spread of Revolutionary Ideals: Ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity inspired enslaved people across the Americas.

• Fear Among Slaveholders: The Haitian Revolution terrified slaveholders, as it threatened to incite similar revolts.

• Cultural and Political Impact: Haiti’s success influenced resistance movements in other enslaved communities.

Who were the peninsulares?

Europeans born in Spain or Portugal and held higher social and political positions in the colonial system than creoles.

What was the goal of the wealthy leaders of Latin American revolutions? What did they not seek?

didn’t want change in class system bs they wouldnt benefit

How was Francisco de Miranda the “intellectual father” of the Latin American independence movements?

What did Miranda and Simon Bolivar accomplish?

How was the Mexican quest for independence different from other nations? What was Miguel Hidalgo’s role? How was Hidalgo’s vision ultimately not fulfilled?

What was Jose de San Martin’s role in contributing to the independence of Argentina, Chile and Peru?

What countries did Simon Bolivar help liberate? Why did he think they were not ready for a republican government?

What obstacles did newly-liberated nations face? What did they fail to accomplish?

What were similarities and differences among Latin American countries in terms of how they were impacted by nationalism?

Miguel Hidalgo

Jose Maria Morelos

mestizos

Iguala Plan

Agustin de Iturbide

What were the initial attitudes of higher social classes towards independence from Spain?

How did certain social classes unite for a radical independence movement?

How did independence actually take place?

What problems did Mexico face once it became independent?

Simon Bolivar

Francisco de Paula

Santander

What aspects of Spanish rule especially upset many Latin Americans? What problems led Spain to institute these policies?

What was Bolivar’s role in the struggle for independence of South American nations?

What nations were part of Gran Colombia?

What was Bolivar’s vision for all of South America?

What was the conflict between Santander and Bolivar that led to the division into two political parties?

How did Gran Colombia divide into multiple countries? (After coming together, what survived after GC fell?)

What problems were faced by each of the new nations that had been part of Gran Colombia?

King John VI

Dom Pedro

Pedro II

Why was the Brazilian drive for independence weaker than in Spanish-ruled colonies?

What changes were brought about when King John VI moved to Brazil?

What led to the desire for Brazilian independence? How did Brazil become independent?

Who had the most power when Brazil became independent?

What were different views for Brazil’s future once it became independent?

What changes took place under Pedro II’s guidance?

What caused the Brazilian monarchy to fall?

What two major changes were breaks with Brazil’s past?