Looking for easy and quick revision notes on CBSE Class 10 History Chapter 1?This post covers the Rise of Nationalism in Europe including the French Revolution, collective identity, Napoleonic Code, and the spread of nationalism across Europe. Perfect for last-minute revision! These notes are based on the NCERT Class 10 syllabus and enriched with 19 years of teaching experience to make learning easier and faster for students.
Rise of Nationalism in Europe – Class 10 History Notes (Part 1)
What is Nationalism?
- Feeling of oneness based on common history, culture, language, and ethnicity.
Frédéric Sorrieu
- French artist
- Prepared 4 symbolic prints in 1848
- Imagined a world of free, equal, and democratic nations
- His vision was utopian (ideal but imaginary)
Utopian
- An ideal society unlikely to exist in reality
Ernest Renan
- French philosopher
- Gave a famous lecture at Sorbonne University in 1882
- Published “What is a Nation?”
Plebiscite
- Direct vote by the people to accept or reject a proposal
The French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation
- First clear expression of nationalism – 1789
- France was under absolute monarchy before 1789
- Sovereignty transferred to citizens via National Assembly
Steps to Develop Collective Identity
- La patrie (Fatherland) and le citoyen (Citizen)
- Tricolour flag adopted
- Estates General renamed to National Assembly
- Centralised administrative system
- Uniform laws for all citizens
- Internal custom duties abolished
- New hymns, oaths, and martyr commemorations
- French made national language; dialects discouraged
Spread of Nationalism Across Europe
- Revolutionary ideas spread by French army and Napoleonic wars
- Jacobin clubs set up across Europe
- Led by students and middle-class intellectuals
📌 Must Read: Rise of Nationalism in Europe – Part 2
Return of Monarchy
- Fall of Jacobins → Rise of unstable Directory
- Napoleon Bonaparte seized power
Napoleon Bonaparte
- Military dictator
- Ended democracy in France
- Introduced Napoleonic Code (1804)
Key Features of Napoleonic Code
- Abolished privileges based on birth
- Equality before law
- Right to property secured
- Simplified administrative divisions
- Ended feudalism and manorial dues
- Improved transport and communication
- Removed guild restrictions
- Uniform laws, standard weights, and common currency
Spread to: Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Dutch Republic, Holland
Reaction to French Armies
- Initially welcomed as liberators
- Later faced hostility due to policies
Reasons for Hostility Towards Napoleon
- High taxation
- Censorship
- Forced conscription into the army
Napoleon was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Source: NCERT
📌 Also Read: Rise of Nationalism in Europe – Part 3
Let’s wind it up — In this part, you have learned how Nationalism began with the French Revolution and how collective identity grew in France. You also understood the reforms made by Napoleon, the reasons people opposed him, and how he was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo (1815). These events were the first steps of nationalism in Europe and prepared the way for later unification movements.
