Nationalism Triumphs in Europe

By: Tua Tagovailoa

Section 1: Building a German NationSteps toward Unity

•Napoleons invasions unleashed new forces in Prussia and the Austrian Hapsburg empire•In 1807-1812, Napolean made important territorial changes in German speaking lands•He annexed lands along the Rhine river for France•He encouraged freeing the serfs, made trade easier and abolished laws against Jews

Contd

•In the 1830s, Prussia create an economic union called the Zollverein •It dismantled tariff barriers between many German states•Germany remained politically fragmented•In 1848, liberals meeting in the Frankfurt assembly demanded German political unity•The Prussian ruler, however, rejected the notion of a throne offered by "the people"

Bismarck and German Unity

•Otto Von Bismarck succeeded where others had failed•He came from prussias junker class, which was made up of landowning nobles•Bismarcks success was due in part to his strong will•Power was more important than principles•In the next decade, Bismarcks led Prussia into three wars

Contd

•Each war increased Prussian power an paved the way for German unity•Bismarcks first maneuver was to form an alliance in 1864 with Austria•Prussia then annexed, or took control of several Other north German states•Growing rivalry between the two nations led to Franco Prussian war of 1870•France had to accept a humiliating peace because of their surrender

The German Empire

•In January 1871, German nationalists celebrated the birth of the second reich or empire•A constitution drafted by Bismarck set up a two house legislature•Because the Bundesrat could veto any decisions, Real power remained in the hands of the emperor and his chancellor

Section 2: Strengthening GermanyThe German industrial Giant

•In the aftermath of unification, the German empire emerged as the industrial giant of the European continent•By the late 1800s, German chemical and electrical industries were setting worldwide•Population grew rapidly •41 million in 1871, 67 million by 1914•The new nation also benefited from earlier progress•German government promoted economic development

The iron Chancellor

•As chancellor of the new empire, Bismarck persuaded several foreign policy goals•Wanted to keep France weak and isolated while building strong links with Austria and Russia•He was called the iron chancellor•Sought to erase local loyalties and crush all the opposition to the imperial state•Kulturkampf: Battle for civilization•Bismarcks plan was only partly successful •Although workers benefited from his measures, they did not abandon socialism

Kaiser William II

•In 1888, William II succeeded his grandfather as kaiser•in 1890, he shocked Europe by asking the dominating Bismarck to resign•William II believed that his right to rule came from God•William resisted efforts to introduce democratic reforms•Also launched a campaign to expand Germany's navy and win an overseas empire

Section 3: Unifying ItalyObstacles to Italian Unity

•For centuries, Italy had been a battleground for ambitious foreign and local princes•between 1820 and 1848, nationalist revolts exploded across the region•In the 1830s, Giuseppe Mazzini founded young Italy•Mazzini spent much of his life in exile, plotting and dreaming of a united Italy•Austria sent in troops to crush the rebels

Contd

•A united Italy made sense because of the geography, common language and history•Unity would make economic sense to others•It would end trade barriers amount Italian states and stimulate industry

Struggle for Italy

•After 1848, leadership passed to the kingdom of Sardinia•In 1855, Cavour led France in the Crimean war against Russia•In 1858 coconut nogotiated a secret deal with Napolean III, who promised to aid Sardinia in case it faces a war in Austria•A year later, Cavour provoked the war

Contd

•Cavour provided weapons and allowed two ships to take Garibaldi and his "red shirts" south to Sicily•Garibaldis forces ended up winning control over Sicily•Cavour died in 1861•For the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire, Italy was finally a united land

Challenges facing the new nation

•Italy faced a host of problems•Italy had no tradition to unity•Few Italians felt ties to the new nation•Strong regional rivalries left Italy unable to solve critical national issues•The greates regional differences were between the north and the south•Hostility between Italy and the Roman Catholic Church further divided the nation

Contd

•In the late 1800s, unrest increased as radicals on the left struggled against a conservative government•Later 1900s, Italy did develop economically•The population explosion of this period created tentions•One safety valve was emigration or movement away from homeland•Many Italians left for the United States, canada, and Latin American nations