Notes of The Rise of Nationalism in Europe: Chapter 1 of the CBSE Class 10 History course delves into a multitude of subjects envisioned by Sorrieu. It extensively examines the multifaceted processes that led to the emergence of nation-states and nationalism in nineteenth-century Europe. The contents of this chapter encompass pivotal themes such as the Emergence of Nationalism in Europe. Also, the French Revolution, and the Interplay of Nationalism and Imperialism.

Our team of proficient subject matter experts has meticulously crafted Class 10 CBSE History Notes for Chapter 1. Immersing oneself in these comprehensive notes equips students with a firm grasp and a lucid understanding of all the fundamental concepts. These educational materials serve as an invaluable asset for students, aiding them in comprehending the chapter with enhanced clarity. When preparing for board exams, these CBSE Class 10 History Notes for Chapter 1 stand out as the ultimate revision companion, facilitating a more effective and insightful review process.

Notes of The Rise of Nationalism in Europe: NCERT History Class 10 Chapter 1

NCERT Notes of The Rise of Nationalism in Europe

Frédéric Sorrieu Vision of the World

In the year 1848, Frédéric Sorrieu, a French artist, conceived a captivating series of four prints that vividly portrayed his vision of a global landscape comprised entirely of democratic and Social Republics.

In the initial print, an extended procession of individuals from Europe and America can be observed. As they pass by, they pay their respects to the Statue of Liberty. A female figure, bearing the torch of Enlightenment in one hand and the Charter of the Rights of Man in the other, leads the way. In the foreground, the earth is adorned with the remnants of shattered symbols representing absolutist institutions.

Within Sorrieu’s utopian depiction, the world’s inhabitants are organized into distinct nations, each characterized by their unique flags and national attire. The procession commences with the United States and Switzerland at the forefront, followed by France and Germany. Behind them follow the people of Austria, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Lombardy, Poland, England, Ireland, Hungary, and Russia.

From the celestial expanse above, the gaze of Christ, saints, and angels descends upon the scene. These divine figures are ingeniously employed by the artist to symbolize the profound fraternity that binds the nations of the world.

Throughout the nineteenth century, the surge of nationalism emerged as a potent force that ushered in significant transformations within Europe’s political and intellectual spheres. The cumulative outcome of these transformative shifts culminated in the establishment of the nation-state as a prevailing entity.

The French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation

In the year 1789, the emergence of Nationalism coincided with the onset of the French Revolution. The sweeping political and constitutional transformations of this period facilitated the shift of supreme authority from the monarchy to a collective body of French citizens. This epoch witnessed the implementation of various initiatives and principles, including the notions of “la patrie” (the fatherland) and “le citoyen” (the citizen). To symbolize these changes, a fresh emblematic flag, known as the tricolour, was selected to replace its predecessor.

However, the ascendancy of democracy in France was subsequently disrupted by Napoleon. The enactment of the Napoleonic Code in 1804, often referred to as the Civil Code, brought about the abolishment of inherited privileges. This monumental legal framework established parity under the law and enshrined the right to possess property as an inviolable entitlement.

Notes on The Making of Nationalism in Europe

Germany, Italy, and Switzerland were fragmented into an array of kingdoms, duchies, and cantons, each presided over by autonomous rulers.

The Aristocracy and the Emergence of the New Middle Class

Politically and socially, the Aristocracy asserted its supremacy across the continent, while the peasantry constituted the predominant demographic. The advent of industrialization commenced in England during the latter half of the 18th century, giving rise to novel societal segments: a laboring working-class faction and a burgeoning middle class encompassing industrialists, entrepreneurs, and professionals.

Principles Underpinning Liberal Nationalism

The term ‘liberalism’ draws its origins from the Latin root “liber,” signifying freedom. Exclusive entitlement to vote and hold elected positions was conferred upon men who possessed property. Individuals devoid of property rights and all women were precluded from political enfranchisement.
In 1834, Prussia spearheaded the establishment of a customs union, the Zollverein, which garnered participation from a majority of German states. This union effectively dismantled tariff barriers and streamlined currencies, reducing their diversity from an excess of thirty to a mere two.

A New Conservatism after 1815

By the year 1815, a prevailing sense of conservatism permeated European governance. Those adhering to conservative ideologies championed the principles of monarchy, ecclesiastical institutions, societal hierarchies, and the sacrosanctity of property. Additionally, they emphasized the preservation of the family unit.

The infusion of contemporary elements such as a modernized military, an efficient administrative machinery, a vibrant economy, and the eradication of feudalistic systems and serfdom was believed to fortify the autocratic monarchies entrenched across Europe.

In that same year, delegates from key European powers – namely, Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria – convened in Vienna to formulate a comprehensive settlement for the continent. This gathering resulted in the reinstatement of the Bourbon dynasty to power, accompanied by the reversal of territorial acquisitions made by France during Napoleon’s rule.

However, dissenting voices emerged from the ranks of liberal nationalists who voiced criticism against the burgeoning conservative paradigm. Their focal point of contention lay primarily in advocating for the freedom of the press, a matter of paramount importance to them.

The Revolutionaries

During the year 1815, covert organizations sprang up across numerous European nations with the purpose of training revolutionaries and disseminating their ideologies. These revolutionaries staunchly opposed monarchical structures and fervently championed the causes of liberty and freedom.

Giuseppe Mazzini, an Italian revolutionary born in Genoa in 1807, played a pivotal role in this movement. He was instrumental in establishing two clandestine societies. The first of these was Young Italy, formed in Marseilles. Subsequently, Mazzini founded Young Europe in Berne, an organization that attracted like-minded young individuals hailing from Poland, France, Italy, and the German states.

Notes of The Rise of Nationalism in Europe – The Age of Revolutions: 1830-1848

During the month of July in the year 1830, liberal revolutionaries successfully toppled the Bourbon Kings, instating a constitutional monarchy with Louis Philippe as its figurehead. This event, known as the July Revolution, triggered a revolt in Brussels that culminated in Belgium’s secession from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. In a separate struggle, occurring in the year 1821, Greeks fervently fought for their own independence.

The Romantic Imagination and National Feeling

Culture assumed a significant role in the formulation of the concept of the nation, with artistic expressions such as visual art, poetry, narratives, and music serving as vehicles to convey and mold nationalist emotions.

The epoch of Romanticism marked a cultural movement that aimed to cultivate a distinct brand of nationalist sentiment. Additionally, language held a crucial position in nurturing these sentiments.

The imposition of the Russian language was pervasive, and this linguistic influence had a profound impact. In 1831, a resolute armed uprising was launched against Russian dominion, although it was ultimately quelled.

Hunger, Hardship and Popular Revolt

During the 1830s, Europe encountered significant economic challenges. The initial decades of the nineteenth century witnessed a substantial population surge across the continent. Escalating food costs and occasional crop failures resulted in widespread destitution both in urban centers and rural areas. The year 1848, marked by food scarcity and extensive joblessness, prompted the populace of Paris to take to the streets.

The Revolution of the Liberals

During the year 1848, a revolution led by the educated middle classes was in progress. Individuals from the liberal middle class, both men and women, fervently advocated for the establishment of a nation-state founded on parliamentary principles. These principles encompassed the formulation of a constitution, safeguarding the freedom of the press, and upholding the right to association.

A convergence of numerous political associations occurred in Frankfurt, where a collective decision was made to convene an all-German National Assembly. On the 18th of May in 1848, a cohort of 831 duly elected representatives marched in unison to the Church of St. Paul, where the Frankfurt parliament was convened.

The framework of the drafted German Constitution outlined a system with a monarchy placed under the authority of a parliamentary body. The Crown was proffered to Friedrich Wilhelm IV, the King of Prussia. However, he declined the offer and instead allied with other monarchs to resist the elected assembly. The parliamentary landscape was largely influenced by the Middle Class, with a notable participation of women in the liberal movement.

Remarkably, women formed their own political associations, initiated newspapers, and actively engaged in political gatherings and demonstrations. Nonetheless, during the Assembly’s elections, suffrage rights remained elusive for women.

In the years succeeding 1848, the autocratic monarchies of Central and Eastern Europe began to introduce reforms akin to those that had already been implemented in Western Europe prior to 1815. This resulted in the abolition of serfdom and bonded labor across the Habsburg dominions as well as within the realm of Russia.

The Making of Germany and Italy – Notes of The Rise of Nationalism in Europe

Germany – Can the Army Be the Architect of a Nation?

After 1848, the course of Nationalism in Europe shifted, eventually culminating in the unification of Germany and Italy into distinct nation-states. The mantle of leadership for the drive toward national cohesion was assumed by Prussia. Guiding this transformative process was Otto von Bismarck, Prussia’s chief minister, who orchestrated the endeavor in collaboration with the Prussian army and administrative apparatus.

In January of 1871, William I, the King of Prussia, ascended to the position of German Emperor, a proclamation that marked a pivotal moment. An assembly convened to formally declare the inception of the new German Empire. Throughout this nation-building journey, the influence of Prussian state power was unmistakable, underscoring its prominence.

This evolution also encompassed a modernization of various facets of German society. Elements such as currency, banking, legal structures, and judicial systems underwent substantial modernization to align with the changing landscape of the newly formed German Empire.

Italy Unified

During the mid-nineteenth century, Italy found itself fragmented into seven distinct states, each governed by its own princely house. Out of these seven states, Sardinia-Piedmont was notable for being ruled by an Italian princely family. This era witnessed diverse regions under the sway of various kings. It was during the 1830s that Giuseppe Mazzini initiated the formation of a clandestine group known as Young Italy.

Guided by Chief Minister Cavour, the movement gained momentum. In the year 1859, Sardinia-Piedmont achieved a significant victory over Austrian forces. Subsequently, in 1860, their forces advanced into Southern Italy and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, securing the allegiance of local peasants. This endeavor culminated in the proclamation of Victor Emmanuel II as the unified Italy’s king in the year 1861.

The Strange Case of Britain

Before the eighteenth century, Great Britain did not constitute a distinct national entity; it instead served as a model for the very concept of a nation. Its ascent to power was paralleled by a steady accumulation of wealth, significance, and influence.

The Act of Union in 1707 marked a significant juncture, amalgamating England and Scotland into the entity known as the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain’. This amalgamation essentially enabled England to extend its influence over Scotland. Subsequently, in 1801, Ireland was compelled into becoming part of the United Kingdom through forceful means. Emblematic elements of the emerging Britain, such as the Union Jack flag, the national anthem ‘God Save Our Noble King,’ and the English language itself, were proactively promoted as symbols of this newly coalesced entity.

Visualising the Nation

Throughout the span of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, artists often symbolized a nation by embodying it as an individual and personifying nations through the depiction of female figures. Amid the tumultuous backdrop of the French Revolution, these artistic renditions featured feminine personifications representing profound concepts like Liberty, Justice, and the Republic. Liberty, in particular, materialized through symbols such as the iconic red cap or the evocative image of a broken chain. Meanwhile, the concept of justice was symbolized by a blindfolded woman holding a pair of weighing scales.

Nationalism and Imperialism

The persistence of Nationalism dwindled in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Following 1871, a particularly strained region emerged, known as the Balkans, encompassing present-day Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia, and Montenegro.

The Balkans, became an incendiary hotspot, witnessing a continuous cycle of modernization and internal reforms throughout the nineteenth century. Owing to a multitude of conflicts, this region transformed into a cauldron of intense turmoil.

During this period, a fierce competition took root among European powers, revolving around trade, colonial pursuits, and the augmentation of naval and military prowess. This escalating rivalry sparked a series of conflicts within the Balkans, ultimately culminating in the eruption of the First World War.

By 1914, the confluence of Nationalism and imperialism in Europe had brought about a catastrophic scenario. Despite the emergence of anti-imperial movements, the realization of independent nation-states remained a challenging endeavor. Nonetheless, the concept of ‘nation-states’ had become ingrained as an inherent and universal notion.

Read Also:

• Nationalism in India
• The Making of a Global World
• The Age of Industrialisation
• Print Culture and The Modern World

Frequently Asked Questions on Notes of The Rise of Nationalism in Europe

What are the important points from nationalism in Europe?

Napoleon dismantled the democratic foundations of France, leading to its decline.

The year 1804 witnessed the implementation of the Civil Code, commonly known as the Napoleonic Code, which introduced several defining aspects:

1. Elimination of birth rights and privileges.
2. Introduction of equality in the eyes of the law.
3. Assurance of the right to property.
4. Abolition of guild restrictions.

What is a short summary of nationalism in Europe?

Nationalism served as an ideology harnessed to rally and coalesce populations. In forging a cohesive state wherein citizens of a nation collectively embraced a common cultural and linguistic heritage. Various European countries embraced this ideology as a means to pursue their autonomy and break free from the dominion of the German and Russian Empires.

What are three examples to show the contribution of nationalism in Europe?

Three instances that exemplify how Culture fostered the development of Nationalism in Europe include the evolution of languages, the influence of romanticism, and the impact of folk songs, poetry, and dances. Culture assumed a pivotal role in shaping the conception of the nation. Artistic expressions such as music, narratives, visual art, and poetry played a vital role in molding and articulating nationalist sentiments.

What are causes of nationalism?

Shared ethnicity stands as a potent cornerstone around which individuals unite to form nations. Frequently, it serves as the impetus propelling nationalism, owing to the inherent closeness and kinship among people. Which surpasses their connections with those outside their ethnic group.

Who is the nationalist of India?

Visionaries such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, Mohandas Gandhi, Rajendra Prasad, and Badshah Khan united generations of Indians from diverse regions and backgrounds, constituting a robust leadership foundation that guided the nation’s political trajectory.