National Unification, European Society, and Imperialism

Nationalism

• Nationalism is a political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often in opposition to foreign influences.

Italian Unification

• The movement that consolidated various states of the Italian Peninsula into the single state of Italy between 1859 and 1870.

  • Key figures: Giuseppe Garibaldi, Count Camillo di Cavour, and King Victor Emmanuel II.

  • Important events: The Expedition of the Thousand, the Second Italian War of Independence.

Otto von Bismarck and German Unification

• Otto von Bismarck was a Prussian statesman who played a crucial role in unifying Germany in the late 19th century.

  • Known for his policy of "blood and iron" and employing Realpolitik to achieve his goals.

  • Engineered wars to galvanize German states against external enemies, leading to unification in 1871.

Prussia

• A powerful German state that was a leading force in the German unification process.

  • Bismarck originated from Prussia, utilizing its military strength and administrative efficiency.

Realpolitik

• A political practice based on practicality and power rather than moral or ideological considerations.

  • Bismarck was a significant proponent of Realpolitik, focusing on the end results rather than the means used to achieve them.

Reich Kaiser

• The title used for the Emperor of the German Empire after unification in 1871.

  • The first Reich Kaiser was Wilhelm I, symbolizing the unity of German states under Prussian leadership.

Kulturkampf

• A conflict between the German government and the Catholic Church concerning the control and influence of education and appointments.

  • Bismarck initiated Kulturkampf with the aim of reducing the Church's political power in Germany.

Negative Integration

• A process that involves unifying states or nations by identifying a common enemy or opposition.

  • In German unification, negative integration included creating unity among German states against France.

Positive Integration

• A unifying process focused on building common institutions and shared national identity beyond merely opposing a common enemy.

  • Example includes promoting cultural and economic cooperations among German states after unification.

Second Industrial Revolution

• A period of rapid industrial growth and technological innovation spanning from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.

Second Industrial Revolution vs. First Industrial Revolution

• The First Industrial Revolution (late 18th to early 19th century) was characterized by the shift from agrarian economies to industrialized ones, primarily in textiles and steam power.

• The Second Industrial Revolution introduced advanced steel production, chemical processes, and electricity, leading to new industries like automobiles and telecommunications.

Bessemer Process

• An industrial process for the mass production of steel from molten pig iron.

• Developed by Henry Bessemer in the 1850s, it revolutionized steel manufacturing by allowing for the production of stronger and cheaper steel, enhancing construction and transportation.

Thomas Edison

• An American inventor and businessman, known for developing the electric light bulb, phonograph, and motion pictures.

• Established the first functional electric power distribution system, making electricity widely available for commercial and residential use.

Revolution in Communication: Phone, Radio

• The invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 transformed personal and business communication.

• The development of radio in the early 20th century, notably by Guglielmo Marconi, allowed for wireless communication across distances, changing the media landscape.

Automobile

• The automobile revolutionized personal transport and became a symbol of innovation and modernity in the 20th century.

Karl Benz

• A German engineer and inventor, recognized for creating the first practical automobile powered by an internal combustion engine in 1885-1886.

Henry Ford

• An American industrialist known for founding the Ford Motor Company and creating the first automobile assembly line in 1913.

• His use of the assembly line technique significantly reduced production costs and increased efficiency, making cars affordable for average Americans.

Wright Brothers

• Orville and Wilbur Wright, American aviation pioneers who are credited with inventing and building the first successful powered aircraft, the Wright Flyer, in 1903.

Electricity

• A core component of the Second Industrial Revolution, electricity transformed industries and daily life, facilitating new technology and improving productivity.

Internal-Combustion Engine

• A key technological advancement, it powered motor vehicles, airplanes, and other machinery, providing greater efficiency compared to steam engines.

Assembly Line

• A production system that breaks down manufacturing into simple tasks, enabling workers to specialize and significantly increasing production speed.

Mass Production

• The manufacturing of large quantities of standardized products, often using assembly lines, leading to lower costs and increased availability of goods for consumers

New Imperialism: Civilizing Mission

• New Imperialism refers to the late 19th and early 20th-century expansion of European powers into Africa and Asia, driven by economic interests, nationalism, and the belief in a civilizing mission.

"The White Man's Burden"

• A concept popularized by Rudyard Kipling's poem, suggesting that it is the responsibility of white Europeans to educate and civilize non-Western people.

Quinine

• A medication derived from cinchona bark, effective in treating malaria, which facilitated European colonization in tropical regions by reducing the death toll from diseases.

Communication and Transportation Technologies

• Innovations such as the telegraph, steamships, and railroads improved connectivity, speeding up the movement of troops and resources during colonization.

Minié Ball (Bullet)

• A conical bullet that increased the range and accuracy of rifles, making conflicts more deadly and impactful during imperial wars.

Machine Gun

• An important advancement in military technology that provided European forces with a significant advantage in speed and firepower during colonial conflicts.

Cecil Rhodes

• A British imperialist, businessman, and politician in southern Africa, known for promoting the expansion of the British Empire and the concept of British superiority.

Scramble for Africa

• The rapid colonization of Africa by European powers from the 1880s to 1914, leading to significant territorial divisions and conflicts among the colonizers and colonized peoples.

Belgium's King Leopold II & Congo

• Leopold II's personal control over the Congo Free State resulted in exploitation and atrocities against the local population, symbolizing the brutal realities of imperialism.

Ethiopia

• The only African nation that successfully resisted colonization, defeating Italian forces at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, symbolizing African resistance to imperialism.

Liberia

• Founded by freed American slaves as a colony in Africa, Liberia became a symbol of African self-governance amidst European colonialism.

Sepoy Mutiny in India

• A widespread but ultimately unsuccessful uprising against British rule in India in 1857, leading to significant changes in British policies in the region following its suppression.

Queen Victoria

• The British monarch during the height of the British Empire, she symbolized imperial power and expansion, with India being referred to as the "jewel in the crown" of British rule.

Sphere of Influence

• A concept in imperialism where a foreign power claims exclusive rights to trade and investment in a particular area, limiting the sovereignty of local governments.

Boxer Rebellion in China

• An anti-foreign, anti-colonialist uprising that occurred in China from 1899 to 1901, aimed at ending foreign influence and interference in Chinese affairs.

Meiji Restoration in Japan

• A period of rapid modernization and industrialization in Japan (1868-1912) that transformed the country into a competitive imperial power, impacting its relations with Western nations and surrounding Asian countries.

Feminism & Women's Suffrage Movement

• A social, political, and cultural movement advocating for the rights and equality of women, focusing on issues such as voting rights, education, and employment.

Feminism

• A broad movement advocating for women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Its forms have evolved but primarily focuses on issues concerning women's autonomy and rights.

Mary Wollstonecraft

• An early advocate for women's rights, author of "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792), arguing that women are not inferior to men but appear so due to a lack of education.

Emmeline Pankhurst & Suffrage

• A prominent British suffragette and activist who founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), leading militant campaigns for women's suffrage in the early 20th century.

Suffragist vs. Suffragette

• Suffragist: A person advocating for the extension of the right to vote to women through peaceful, lawful means.

• Suffragette: A term used to describe women in the UK who participated in more militant actions to obtain the right to vote, particularly those in the WSPU.

"Women in White"

• Refers to women who campaigned for women's rights and suffrage in the early 20th century; this term symbolizes purity, virtue, and the fight for equality.

Florence Nightingale

• A pioneering nurse and social reformer known for her role in reforming nursing practices and establishing nursing as a respectable profession for women, also advocated for women's rights and education.

Antisemitism & Zionism

• Antisemitism: Prejudice, hostility, or discrimination against Jews.

• Zionism: A nationalist political movement that emerged in the late 19th century advocating for the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Antisemitism

• Historical form of discrimination against Jews, manifesting through social, legal, and economic practices leading to persecution and violence.

Jewish Emancipation

• The process during the late 18th and 19th centuries through which Jews gained civil rights and became integrated into modern nation-states, though it was met with varying degrees of resistance and antisemitism.

Pogroms

• Organized massacres and violent attacks against Jewish communities, prevalent in Eastern Europe, often fueled by economic, social, and political tensions.

Theodor Herzl

• An Austro-Hungarian journalist regarded as the founder of modern Zionism, he advocated for the establishment of a Jewish state as a solution to antisemitism.

The Jewish State (1896)

• A pamphlet written by Theodor Herzl proposing the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine as a response to growing antisemitism in Europe.

Zionism/Jewish Nationalism

• A movement promoting the re-establishment of a Jewish nation in Palestine and self-determination for the Jewish people, emphasizing cultural and national identity alongside religious