Nationalism in Europe

Flashcards covering key concepts related to nationalism and the political landscape of Europe in the 19th century.

What is nationalism and what are its core components?

Nationalism is the political and social ideology based on the belief that a group of people with a shared identity should govern themselves as a sovereign state. its core components typically include:

• Common Heritage: A shared history and collective cultural memory.
• Unified Language: A primary language that facilitates communication and national literature.
• Geographic Territory: A specific 'homeland' that the group claims as its own.
• Shared Culture: Common customs, values, and often religious beliefs.

How is a 'nation' specifically defined in the context of the 19th century?

A nation is defined as a cultural entity consisting of a group of people who feel a sense of unity and belonging. Key aspects include:

• Shared Identity: A collective 'we' feeling that distinguishes the group from others.
• Imagined Community: The idea that members feel a connection to one another despite not knowing everyone personally.
• Cultural Bonds: Unity forged through arts, symbols, and shared social norms rather than just political borders.

What are the structural and political characteristics of an empire?

An empire is a large, hierarchical political system in which a central power (the metropole) or a single ruler exercises control over multiple diverse regions and ethnic groups. Key features include:

• Cultural Heterogeneity: A diverse mix of languages, religions, and ethnicities.
• Top-Down Authority: Governance is imposed by the core power rather than originating from the consent of the governed.
• Expansive Borders: Empires often seek to grow by absorbing new territories and cultures.

What is the fundamental distinction and source of tension between an empire and a nation?

The distinction lies in the basis of political legitimacy and social cohesion:

• Cohesion: A nation is held together by internal cultural unity and shared identity, whereas an empire is held together by central authority over diverse populations.
• Sovereignty: Nationalism promotes 'popular sovereignty' (rule by the people), which directly clashes with the imperial model of 'centralized sovereignty' (rule by a monarch or distant state).
• Centrifugal Forces: National identity often causes minority groups within an empire to rebel in favor of creating their own independent nation-states.

Which major empires controlled Europe during the 19th century and what were their primary challenges?

1. Austro-Hungarian Empire: Struggled with a 'mosaic' of ethnic groups (Germans, Hungarians, Slavs, Italians) demanding autonomy.
2. Ottoman Empire: Faced internal decay and nationalist uprisings in its Balkan territories, earning it the nickname 'The Sick Man of Europe'.
3. Czarist Russian Empire: Governed an immense territory of diverse peoples through strict autocracy and 'Russification' policies.
4. British and French Empires: While maintaining national unity at home, they managed vast overseas colonies that later faced their own nationalist movements.

What factors and historical developments catalyzed the rise of nationalism in 19th century Europe?

• The French Revolution: Popularized the idea that the 'nation' (not the king) was the source of all power.
• Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon's conquests spread revolutionary ideals but also provoked a backlash, leading conquered peoples (like Germans and Spaniards) to unite against French rule.
• Industrialization: Improved communication, higher literacy rates, and the growth of the middle class allowed national ideas to spread more quickly through print media.
• Political Fragmentation: The existence of many small states with shared languages (especially in Germany) created a desire for political consolidation.

How did nationalism lead to the unification of Germany and Italy?

Nationalism acted as a unifying force that merged smaller, separate states into single, powerful nation-states by 1871:

• Italy (The Risorgimento): Driven by leaders like Mazzini, Cavour, and Garibaldi, who used a combination of diplomacy and military campaigns to unite the peninsula.
• Germany: Engineered by Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who utilized a policy of 'Blood and Iron' and a series of strategic wars to unify the German states under the Prussian crown.

What specific trends and events defined the European political landscape during the 19th century?

• Frequent Revolutions: Specifically the waves of 1830 and 1848 (the 'Springtime of Peoples') where citizens demanded national rights and reform.
• Modern Warfare: Conflicts like the Crimean War and the Franco-Prussian War shifted the balance of power.
• State-Building: The transformation of traditional monarchies into modernized states with national education, armies, and bureaucracies.

What is liberalism and how did it interact with the goals of nationalism?

Liberalism is a political philosophy that advocates for constitutional government, individual rights, and civil liberties. In the 19th century, it was closely linked to nationalism because:

• Constitutionalism: Liberals wanted written laws to protect rights, which required a stable national framework.
• Self-Determination: Both ideologies supported the idea that a people should have the right to choose their own government and laws within their own sovereign borders.

What role did the revolutions of 1848 play in the evolution of European nationalism?

The revolutions of 1848 served as a massive, though largely unsuccessful, push for nationalist and liberal goals across the continent. Their role included:

• Spreading Ideals: Even though they were crushed by monarchies, the desire for independent nationhood remained ingrained in the public consciousness.
• Exposing Weakness: They highlighted the fragility of multi-ethnic empires like Austria.
• Transition to Realpolitik: The failure of these idealistic