Painting: "The Dream of Worldwide Democratic and Social Republic" by Frederick Seurat, 1848.
Imagery: Statue of Liberty at the center, representing enlightenment and rights.
Countries depicted: USA and Switzerland as established nation-states, France showing revolutionary changes, others like Lombardy and Germany in the process of becoming nation-states.
Utopian Vision: The painting reflects the dream of a united nation-state.
Historical Context
Kings and Loyalty: No fixed boundaries; loyalty was to the king, not to a nation.
Emergence of the Modern State: Sovereignty centralized; gradual establishment of nation-states.
Example of India: Shared identity and history created a sense of nationhood.
French Revolution (1789)
Shift in Sovereignty: From monarchy to the people; establishment of French identity.
Changes Implemented:
Introduction of the tricolor flag.
Renaming of State General to National Assembly.
Centralized administration with uniform laws, dates, measures.
Establishment of French as a common language.
Key Events: Formation of constitutional monarchy, reign of terror, rise of Napoleon.
Napoleon as a Modernizer
Civil Code of 1804: Introduced property rights, equality before the law, improved transportation and communication.
Initial Popularity: Known as "Harbinger of Liberty"; however, restrictions on political freedom led to discontent.
Social Structure in Europe
Aristocracy: Wealthy, small in number, spoke French.
Peasants: Majority, faced heavy taxation, economically oppressed.
Emergence of Middle Class:
Factory workers and educated industrialists questioning monarchy.
Advocated for liberalism: freedom, voting rights, economic freedom.
Formation of Zolwerin trade union to reduce customs barriers in Germany.
Conservative Response
Conservatives vs. Liberals: Conservatives wanted to restore monarchy (e.g., Prussia, Russia, Austria).
Battle of Waterloo (1815): Conservatives defeat Napoleon, restore monarchy.
Treaty of Vienna (1815): Aimed to undo Napoleonic changes and reestablish old order.
Revolutionary Movements
Guseppi Mazzini: Founded secret societies (Young Italy, Young Europe) advocating for Italian unification.
July Revolution (1830): Resulted in the establishment of constitutional monarchy in France.
Romanticism: Cultural movement emphasizing emotion, intuition, and folklore as a basis for nation-state.
Greek War of Independence (1821-1832): Supported by European nationalists, leading to Greece's establishment as a nation-state.
Economic Hardships and Revolutions of 1848
Economic Challenges: Population growth, unemployment, rising food prices, and poverty.
1848 Revolution in France: Resulted in the establishment of a republic with universal male suffrage.
Frankfurt Parliament: Middle-class professionals attempted to unify German-speaking states but faced suppression.
Unifications of Italy and Germany
Italy: Unified under King Victor Emmanuel II and his chief minister.
Germany: Unified under Otto von Bismarck through three wars, leading to the establishment of a German Empire.
The Case of Britain
Constitutional Development: Formation of the nation-state through constitutional processes rather than revolutions.
Acts of Union: Merging of Scotland and Ireland into the United Kingdom.
Nationalism and Allegories
Visualization of Nations: Nations represented through female figures (e.g., Germania for Germany, Marianne for France).
The Balkan Crisis
Impact of Romanticism: Balkan nations sought independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Tensions among Great Powers: Led to conflicts that eventually contributed to World War I.
Conclusion
Summary of Key Themes: Nationalism's rise, the role of revolutions, cultural identity, and the formation of nation-states.
Encouragement for Engagement: Comment section for feedback, sharing, and connections to further resources.