Nationalism
During the 100-year period of 1814 to 1914 every social group throughout
Europe
embraced the ideology of nationalism. Its success was largely due to
the fact
that it offered something for everyone regardless of social or
political status.
It had no specific ideas for government or economy,
just simply whatever is best
for the nation. Nationalism also combined well
with all other ideologies of the
time. However, the different classes of
European society accepted nationalism
for different reasons and at different
times. In the years 1814 through 1848
nationalism ascended onto European
society through the middle class. Shortly
after the French Revolution in 1814
the Congress of Vienna was placed in charge
of reconstructing Europe. In
France the monarchy was restored. By 1830, Louis
Philippe was king of
France and had transformed their political system into a
government by which
only the rich could vote known as the Bourgeois Monarchy.
Increasing
social and economic discontent in France led the middle class to
revolt in
1848. This revolution set up the Second Republic and gave all men
in
France the right to vote, creating a unifying thread throughout the
country. In
Germany, the German Confederation was created which left 39
individual,
segregated German states. Due to the fact of taxes and tariffs
many middle class
business owners supported the idea of a single unified
nation-state. However,
conservatives at that time did all they could to stop
the ideas of liberalism
and nationalism. But, by 1830 the middle class had
grown large enough to force a
revolution. The middle class soon after created
a National Parliament and in
1848 the Frankfurt Assembly gathered
delegates from all of the German states to
create boundaries for a new
unified nation-state. Unfortunately, before they
were able to apply their
plan German kings charged in with their large armies
and stopped the
revolution. Although it was stopped the revolution in Germany
along with the
revolution in France helped to create firm foundation for the
spread of
nationalism. During the time period of 1848 to 1871 the aristocracy
and the
upper class embraced nationalism. Prior to 1848 conservatives felt like
the
idea of nationalism was a threat to their power. After 1848
however,
conservatives learned to adopted nationalism into their own
ideology. They saw,
through revolts, the dangers of simply disregarding
nationalism and found it
more beneficial to simply compromise and blend the
two together. Otto Von
Bismark modernized nationalism by combining it
with conservatism and his own
brand of hardheaded government he called
Realpolitik. Inspired by patriotism for
his country and loyalty to his king
Bismark sought to unite all of the German
nation-states. In 1866, as a means
to unite the northern German states, Germany
fought against Austria in the
Austro-Prussian War. Four years later in 1870,
Bismark engineered the
Franco-Prussian War in order to incorporate the southern
German states
into the new unified Germany. Bismark knew the unifying power of
having a
common enemy. Other countries such as France, Austria, and Russia used
the
"us versus them" side of nationalism to spur national sentiment
and
unification among their countries also. Between the years of 1871 and
1914 the
workers and the lower classes seemed to benefit the most from
nationalism. It
was during this time the second Industrial Revolution
occurred. The development
of new industry, transportation, communication,
power, and energy made everyday
life much simpler for the common man. Also,
at the beginning of the 20th century
national labor unions were legalized.
Many other social reforms were made during
this time also. In 1884 Germany
activated accident insurance plans for workers
in factories. In 1889, pension
plans, like modern-day social security, were
established in Germany.
Universal manhood suffrage also became legal for all of
Europe between
1871 and 1914. Mass society and culture was extremely important
in the
spreading of nationalism among the lower classes. Mass society and
culture
helped to create a feeling of togetherness and unity. Through tools like
the
cinema, dance halls, and sporting events people could be brought together
in
large groups, which offered a sense of community and family. Also, the
idea of
Social Darwinism aided in the spread of nationalism. The belief
that one’s own
nation is superior or at least the strongest helped to create
a feeling of
patriotism and pride among the lower classes. I believe that the
spread of
nationalism throughout European society was a positive development.
Nationalism
helped to unite people with a common history and culture. It
instilled pride and
confidence among nations and gave people a sense of
being. Unlike the other
ideologies of the time, nationalism proposed
self-sacrifice for the good of
others. However, I believe that at the
beginning of the 20th century the idea of
Social Darwinism corrupted it
and allowed nationalism to be twisted by those who
would exploit it. But,
overall I feel that it had a positive effect on European
society. It offered
something to believe in when there wasn’t much to believe
in. I truly believe
that the basic idea of nationalism is something that our
country needs today.
"Ask not what your country can do for you, Ask what you
can do for your
country."--- John F. Kennedy