Rise of Nationalism in Europe Class 10 Notes Part 2 highlights how nationalism shaped Europe in the nineteenth century. This section covers The Making of Nationalism in Europe, Liberal Nationalism, the Formation of the Zollverein, and the Vienna Congress, explaining the major political and economic developments of the time.
Rise of Nationalism in Europe – Class 10 History Notes (Part 2)
The Making of Nationalism in Europe
- Till the mid-eighteenth century, there were no “nation-states” in Europe.
- Germany, Italy and Switzerland were divided into kingdoms, duchies and cantons.
- Eastern and Central Europe were under autocratic monarchies.
- These regions had diverse peoples who:
- spoke different languages, and
- belonged to different ethnic groups.
There were two major classes in the French society
1. Aristocracy
- Small in number; united by a common way of life.
- Owned estates in the countryside and town houses.
- Used French for diplomacy.
2. Peasantry
- Formed most of the population.
- Had either no land or very little land.
Industrialisation
- Took place in France and parts of the German states in the nineteenth century.
After industrialisation:
- Rise of a new social group — the middle class.
- Nationalist ideas spread strongly among the middle class.
📌 Must Read: Rise of Nationalism in Europe – Part 1
Liberal Nationalism
Liberalism — from Latin liber, meaning “free”.
For the new middle class, liberalism included:
In the Political Sphere
- Government by consent.
- End of autocracy.
- Adoption of a constitution.
- Representative government through parliament.
- Inviolability of private property.
- Equality before law (not necessarily universal suffrage).
In the Economic Sphere
- Freedom of markets.
- Removal of state-imposed restrictions on movement of goods and capital.
Napoleon’s administrative system:
- Created a confederation of 39 states.
- Different measures, complex calculations and multiple currencies slowed trade and raised costs.
Formation of Zollverein
- A customs union formed at Prussia’s initiative in 1834.
- Joined by most German states.
- Abolished tariff barriers.
- Reduced the number of currencies from 30+ to two.
New Conservatism
- Favoured preservation of old institutions: monarchy, church, social order, property and family.
- Conservatives were intolerant of criticism.
Vienna Congress (1815)
- Representatives of Britain, Russia and Prussia met at Vienna.
- Hosted by Austrian Chancellor Prince Metternich.
Objective
- To undo most Napoleonic changes in Europe.
Provisions
- Restoration of the Bourbon dynasty in France.
- France lost the territories annexed by Napoleon.
- To prevent future French expansion, strong states were set up around France.
- Austria: control of North Italy; Russia: part of Poland; Prussia: part of Saxony.
- Kingdom of the Netherlands (including Belgium) created in the north.
- Geneva was added to Piedmont.
- Prussia gained new territories on its western frontiers.
- No change in the German Confederation of 39 states.
Source: NCERT
Also Read:- Rise of Nationalism In Europe Part -3
