Notes Class 10 History Chapter 1 The Rise of Nationalism in Europe

Notes For All Chapters History Class 10 CBSE

1. Introduction: Frédéric Sorrieu’s Vision (1848)

• In 1848, Frédéric Sorrieu, a French artist, made 4 prints showing his utopian vision of a world of democratic and social republics.
• First Print:
  • People of Europe and America march towards the Statue of Liberty.
  • Liberty = female figure holding:
    • Torch of Enlightenment.
    • Charter of the Rights of Man.
  • Broken symbols of absolutism (monarchy, feudal power) on the ground.
• Nations shown with flags and costumes:
  • US and Switzerland leading (already nation-states).
  • France with tricolour.
  • Germany with black-red-gold (symbolizing hope of unification).
  • Austria, Italy, Poland, England, Hungary, Russia followed.
• From the skies: Christ, saints, angels bless the procession → symbol of fraternity.
• Key Idea: Nationalism in 19th-century Europe = a powerful force to end dynastic empires and create modern nation-states.

2. The French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation (1789)

• France under absolute monarchy before 1789.
• Revolution transferred sovereignty from king → citizens.
• Steps to build collective identity:
  • Concepts of La patrie (fatherland) & Le citoyen (citizen).
  • New tricolour flag replaced royal standard.
  • National Assembly elected by active citizens.
  • Hymns, oaths, and martyr memorials created national unity.
  • Centralized administrative system with uniform laws.
  • Abolition of internal customs duties.
  • Metric system of weights & measures adopted.
  • Regional dialects discouraged; Parisian French promoted as common language.
• Revolutionaries believed it was their mission to liberate Europe from despotism.
  • Jacobin clubs spread nationalism abroad.
  • French armies carried revolutionary ideas into Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy.

3. Napoleon and Nationalism

• Napoleonic Code (1804):
  • Abolished feudal privileges.
  • Equality before law.
  • Secured right to property.
• Reforms spread across Europe:
  • Abolished serfdom and feudalism.
  • Standardized weights, measures, currency.
  • Removed guild restrictions in towns.
  • Improved transport & communication.
• Mixed Reactions:
  • Welcomed at first as a liberator.
  • Later hated due to:
    • Heavy taxation.
    • Strict censorship.
    • Forced army conscription.
    • Lack of political freedom.

4. The Making of Nationalism in Europe

(a) Aristocracy

• Dominant class socially & politically.
• Owned estates in countryside + townhouses.
• Spoke French in high society.
• Connected through marriage.
• But numerically small.
• Majority = peasants, often under feudal obligations.

(b) New Middle Class

• Rise of industrial production and trade → industrialists, businessmen, professionals.
• Advocated end of aristocratic privileges.
• Supported ideas of national unity.

5. Liberal Nationalism

• Liberalism = Freedom + Equality before law.
• Demands:
  • End autocracy & clerical privileges.
  • Constitution + parliamentary government.
  • Freedom of press.
  • Free markets, free movement of goods.
• Limits of Liberalism:
  • Only property-owning men had right to vote.
  • Women excluded.
• Economic Liberalism Example:
  • Before 1834 → German region had 39 states, each with its own currency & barriers.
  • A merchant faced multiple taxes & measurement systems.
  • Zollverein (1834):
    • Formed by Prussia, joined by most German states.
    • Abolished tariff barriers.
    • Reduced currencies from 30+ to 2.
    • Promoted national economic unity.
  • Railways spread economic nationalism.

6. New Conservatism after 1815

• Napoleon defeated (1815).
• Congress of Vienna held by Austria’s Chancellor Metternich.
• Aims: Restore monarchies, undo Napoleonic changes.
• Treaty of Vienna (1815):
  • Bourbon monarchy restored in France.
  • France lost annexed territories.
  • Kingdom of Netherlands (incl. Belgium) created in north.
  • Genoa added to Piedmont (south).
  • Austria got northern Italy.
  • Prussia got parts of Saxony & Rhine.
  • Russia got Poland.
  • German Confederation of 39 states remained.
• Conservative Regimes:
  • Autocratic.
  • Censorship of press, books, plays.
  • No criticism of monarchy allowed.
• But liberal-nationalists opposed them.

7. Revolutionaries and Secret Societies

• Many liberals went underground due to repression.
• Giuseppe Mazzini (Italy):
  • Founded Young Italy in Marseilles (1831).
  • Founded Young Europe in Berne.
  • Believed God intended nations to be natural units.
  • Inspired revolutions across Europe.
  • Seen as dangerous by Metternich: “the most dangerous enemy of our social order.”

8. The Age of Revolutions (1830–1848)

(a) Revolutions of 1830

• France: Bourbon kings overthrown.
• Louis Philippe made constitutional monarch.
• Belgium broke away from Netherlands.
• Greek War of Independence (1821–1832):
  • Against Ottoman Empire.
  • Supported by exiled Greeks & Western Europeans.
  • English poet Lord Byron joined.
  • Treaty of Constantinople (1832): Greece became independent.

(b) Role of Culture

• Romanticism:
  • Cultural movement → emphasized emotions, folk traditions.
  • Johann Gottfried Herder: true German culture in folk songs, dances (Volksgeist).
• Grimm Brothers:
  • Collected German folktales → promoted common culture.
• Poland:
  • Nationalism expressed through music and language.
  • After Russian rule imposed Russian language, Polish clergy used Polish in church services.
  • Language became resistance symbol.

(c) Hunger and Hardship

• 1830s–1840s → population rise, unemployment, food shortages.
• Silesian Weavers’ Revolt (1845):
  • Weavers protested against low wages.
  • Attacked contractors.
  • Army fired, 11 killed.

(d) Revolutions of 1848

• France: Monarchy of Louis Philippe overthrown, Second Republic established.
  • All adult males got suffrage.
  • Right to work guaranteed.
  • National Workshops created jobs.
• Germany (Frankfurt Parliament):
  • 831 representatives met at Church of St. Paul.
  • Drafted constitution for united Germany.
  • Offered crown to King Friedrich Wilhelm IV → he rejected it.
  • Parliament dissolved by force.
• Women’s Participation:
  • Formed political clubs, newspapers.
  • Demanded political rights.
  • Still denied suffrage → only observers in Frankfurt Parliament.

9. The Unification of Germany

• 1848 liberal attempt failed.
• Prussia took leadership.
• Otto von Bismarck (chief minister) led unification through wars and diplomacy.
• 3 wars in 7 years:
  • Denmark.
  • Austria.
  • France.
• Result: German unification under Prussian King William I.
• 1871: Proclaimed German Emperor at Versailles.
• New state emphasized modernization of economy, currency, banking.

10. The Unification of Italy

• Italy divided into 7 states.
  • North: under Austrian Habsburgs.
  • Central: under Pope.
  • South: under Spanish Bourbon kings.
  • Only Sardinia-Piedmont ruled by Italian dynasty.
• Mazzini: tried unification through revolution (failed).
• Count Cavour (Prime Minister of Sardinia-Piedmont):
  • Diplomatic alliance with France → defeated Austria (1859).
• Giuseppe Garibaldi:
  • Led volunteer army (Red Shirts).
  • Conquered South Italy & Two Sicilies.
• 1861: Victor Emmanuel II declared King of United Italy.
• 1870: Rome added → Italy unified.

11. The Strange Case of Britain

• No single “British nation” before 18th century.
• Different ethnic groups: English, Welsh, Scots, Irish.
• Steps:
  • 1707: Act of Union between England and Scotland → United Kingdom.
    • English dominated Parliament.
    • Suppressed Scottish culture.
  • Ireland:
    • Catholics vs. Protestants.
    • English supported Protestants.
    • Revolts suppressed.
    • 1801: Ireland forcibly incorporated.
  • British Symbols: Union Jack (flag), National Anthem, English language promoted.

12. Visualising the Nation

• Nations personified as female figures (allegories).
• France: Marianne
  • Red cap of liberty.
  • Tricolour flag.
  • Statues, coins, stamps used as national symbols.
• Germany: Germania
  • Crown of oak leaves (heroism).
  • Sword (fight).
  • Olive branch (peace).
  • Rays of rising sun (new era).
  • Black-red-gold flag (liberal nationalists).

13. Nationalism and Imperialism

• By late 19th century, nationalism grew aggressive.
• Balkans → “Powder keg of Europe.”
  • Ethnic diversity: Greeks, Bulgarians, Albanians, Croats, Serbs, etc.
  • Under Ottoman Empire.
  • Each group wanted independence.
  • Rivalry among big powers (Russia, Austria, Germany, Britain).
• Led to wars → finally First World War (1914).
• Nationalism spread outside Europe:
  • Colonized countries (India, Africa, Asia) developed their own movements.
  • Inspired by European nationalism but shaped by local conditions.