essay
Nation Building: War and Unification, 1860-1890
1
1848: A Summary
In 1848, demonstrations and uprisings toppled governments
forced rulers to flee
offered revolutionaries a chance to put liberal ideals (and socialist and nationalist ones too) into practice.
Popular sentiment became important
growing nationalist fervor convinced many of the need for a united Germany and Italy, among others.
Only Great Britain and Russia remained untouched
In the end all the revolutions failed
conflict between liberals, nationalists and workers
ability of nobility and conservatives to put down popular rebellion but also adapt to change.
Reality; or, 19th Century Nationalism in Practice
Failed revolutions in 1848 convinced many politicians to reject nationalist idealism and favor a doctrine of Realpolitik
Realpolitik is tough-minded realism about how states should be formed and strengthened to maintain social order
Unification of Germany and Italy not by popular consensus
by violent war and top-down politics and diplomatic strategy
Nationalism’s purpose changes
continue economic development by fostering national identity and common purpose among population to encourage social order and thus productivity, wealth, bureaucratic centralization, modernization
3
Europe Circa 1850
Britain in the throes of Victorian stability under Queen Victoria
Identity rooted in middle-class culture
“cult of domesticity”
France headed by another Napoleon
Authoritarian government with forward-thinking economic strategies
Italian city-states remain divided
Germanic states locked in a stalemate
Italian Unification, 1859-70
Between 1815- and 1848, several proposals for a united Italy were offered
Giuseppe Mazzini: republic
Gioberti: presidency of a progressive pope
King Vittoria Emmanuel II: liberal constitution
5
Italian Unification, 1859-70
After 1848, many Italian nationalists looked to King Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia-Piedmont and his minister Count Camilo Benso di Cavour
Cavour first sought a united Italy that excludes the South
popular general/revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi unexpectedly unites the South (Sicily and Naples) and so the new Italy would include the South too
France abandons authority over Rome in 1870
France struggles against Germany in Franco-Prussian War
This allows Rome to become new capital of a united Italy
7
German Unification, 1860-1870
1848, Prussian liberals force Frederick William IV to grant a liberal Constitution
By 1849 William is in a position to refuse it
8
German Unification, 1860-1870
1862 Parliament rejects the military budget
Parliament dominated by middle-class liberals
William responds by appointing Otto von Bismarck
Bismarck is supposed to head new ministry and defy parliament
He declares that government will rule without parliament’s consent
German Unification, 1860-1870
Bismarck uses dispute over territory with Denmark to go to war and rally domestic support
Waging wars helps Prussia lead Germany
with Austria in 1866
Franco-Prussian War in 1870
Declaration of the German Empire
11