Rise of Nation-States in Europe

Study Notes

A nation-state is a sovereign state that consists of a large group of people who share the same nationality, culture, and identity.
Nation-states are often characterized by a shared history, language, and territory.

French Revolution (1789-1799): The French Revolution's emphasis on liberty, equality, and fraternity inspired nationalist movements across Europe.
Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815): Napoleon's conquests and reorganization of Europe led to the rise of nationalist sentiment and the desire for independence.
Industrialization and Urbanization: The growth of industry and cities led to the development of a more educated and mobile population, which facilitated the spread of nationalist ideas.
Romanticism: The romantic movement in art and literature emphasized the importance of emotion, folklore, and national identity.

Self-Determination: The idea that a nation has the right to govern itself and determine its own destiny.
Sovereignty: The concept that a nation-state has supreme authority over its territory and citizens.
Unification: The process of forming a single nation-state from smaller territories or states.

Italy: The unification of Italy in 1861, led by Giuseppe Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel II, created a single nation-state from several smaller states.
Germany: The Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) led to the unification of Germany under Otto von Bismarck, creating a single nation-state from several smaller states.
United Kingdom: The Acts of Union in 1707 united England and Scotland under a single government, creating the Kingdom of Great Britain.

A nation-state is a sovereign state with a shared nationality, culture, and identity among its people.
Shared history, language, and territory are common characteristics of nation-states.

The French Revolution's emphasis on liberty, equality, and fraternity inspired nationalist movements across Europe between 1789 and 1799.
Napoleon's conquests and reorganization of Europe from 1803 to 1815 led to the rise of nationalist sentiment and the desire for independence.
Industrialization and urbanization facilitated the spread of nationalist ideas by creating a more educated and mobile population.
The romantic movement in art and literature emphasized the importance of emotion, folklore, and national identity.

Self-determination: the right of a nation to govern itself and determine its own destiny.
Sovereignty: the concept of a nation-state having supreme authority over its territory and citizens.
Unification: the process of forming a single nation-state from smaller territories or states.

Italy was unified in 1861 under Giuseppe Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel II, creating a single nation-state from several smaller states.
Germany was unified under Otto von Bismarck after the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), creating a single nation-state from several smaller states.
The Acts of Union in 1707 united England and Scotland under a single government, creating the Kingdom of Great Britain.