Nationalism in Europe

• Nationalism in Europe is the focus of the lesson.

Introduction

• The modern state possesses centralized power, exercising sovereign control over a defined territory.
• A nation-state is where citizens share a common identity and history.

The French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation

• The French Revolution (1789) transferred sovereignty from the monarchy to the people.
• Ideas of La Patrie (the fatherland) and Le Citoyen (the citizen) emphasized a united community with equal rights under a constitution.
• The Estates-General was renamed the National Assembly.
• A centralized administrative system was established for uniform laws for all citizens.
• Internal customs duties and dues were abolished, and a uniform system of weights and measures was adopted.
• French became the common language of the nation, replacing regional dialects.
• Revolutionaries aimed to liberate other European people from despotism and form nations.
• Students and members of educated middle classes formed Jacobin Clubs.
• French armies moved into Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy in the 1790s.

The Napoleonic Code

• Napoleon implemented reforms in territories under French control.
• The Civil Code of 1804, also known as the Napoleonic Code, established equality before the law, secured the right to property, and abolished feudal systems.
• This code was applied in regions like the Dutch Republic, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany.
• Napoleon simplified administrative divisions, abolished feudal systems, and freed peasants from serfdom and manorial dues.
• Guild restrictions were removed in towns.
• Transport and communication systems were improved.
• Businessmen and small-scale producers appreciated standardized laws, weights, and measures, and a common national currency to facilitate trade.
• Initial enthusiasm turned to hostility as it became clear that new administrative arrangements did not align with political freedom.
• Increased taxation, censorship, and forced conscription into the French army to conquer the rest of Europe outweighed the advantages of the administrative changes.

The Making of Nationalism in Europe

• Germany, Italy, and Switzerland were divided into kingdoms, duchies, and cantons with autonomous rulers.
• Aristocracy was the dominant class on the continent, united by land ownership and common lifestyles.
• They spoke French, even in countries where it was not the national language.
• The majority of the population was peasants.
• Western Europe saw the growth of industrial production and towns.
• The emergence of a commercial middle class occurred in the late 19th century.
• Educated, liberal middle classes began conceiving ideas of national unity and abolishing aristocratic privileges.

What did Liberal Nationalism Stand for?

• Liberalism stemmed from the Latin root "liber," meaning free.
• For the new middle classes, liberalism meant individual freedom and equality before the law.
• Politically, it emphasized government by consent.
• It advocated for the end of autocracy and clerical privileges, a constitution, and representative government through parliament.
• Nineteenth-century liberals stressed the inviolability of private property.
• Economically, liberalism meant freedom of markets and the abolition of state-imposed restrictions on the movement of goods and capital.
• The German-speaking regions faced economic challenges in the early 19th century due to numerous states, each with its own weights, measures, and customs duties.
• Merchants had to pass through multiple customs barriers, incurring delays and charges, which hindered trade.
• The Zollverein, a customs union formed in 1834 at Prussia's initiative, abolished tariff barriers.
• Most German states joined the Zollverein.
• It reduced the number of currencies from over thirty to two.
• The development of railway networks further stimulated mobility, uniting economic interests and national sentiment.