What makes a nation powerful? What are the advantages for forming a unified state?

What makes a nation powerful?

What are the advantages for forming a unified state?

Nationalism

• What is nationalism? Are nations and states the same thing?

• Nationalism was a powerful force in Europe during the 19th century; it would reshape political borders and loyalties and alter the balance of power that had been created in Europe after the Congress of Vienna

Why were people so nationalistic?

– Discontent with the oppressive terms of the Congress of Vienna

– Revolutions of 1848 (failed)– Rebellions in Greece against Ottomans

(successful)– People wanted to rule themselves, not be

ruled by someone else

Unification of Italy

1830 - 1870

Italian Unification•The Italian kingdoms were divided into 9 separate states by the Congress of Vienna

•The three main states were Sardinia, Sicily and the Papal States (where the Pope was in charge)

• Giuseppe Mazzini– The “heart” of Italian reunification– He was passionate about nationalism– Starting in 1831, he wrote many articles and

gave speeches in favor of Italian reunification

• The unification of Italy would take more than just words, however. It occurred through efforts in both northern Italy and southern Italy.

The beginnings of Italian Unification

• Count Camilo Benso di Cavour– The “brain” of Italian unification– Prime Minister of Sardinia– Worked to improve economy– Used money to strengthen

Sardinia’s army– From 1852 - 1859, he gradually took over

the northern states of Italy

Northern Unification

• Giuseppe Garibaldi– The “sword” of Italian

unification– His army was

nicknamed the “Red Shirts”

– Led his army to victory in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from 1860 - 1861

– Gave the territory to the King of Sardinia rather than keep it himself

Southern Unification

Italian unification was accomplished in multiple stages:

1

2

3

• In 1870 the Papal States were the last area added to Italy

• Rome was made the nation’s capital

• Italy was now unified!

• Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia was declared its new king

Italian Unification: Outcomes

The Unification of Germany

1815 - 1871

This is Germany today

How did it become this unified nation?

Prussia was the largest and most powerful of the Germanic states in 1815:

Two wars in particular strengthened nationalist feelings:

– Seven Weeks War with Austria (1866)

– Franco-Prussian War with France (1870)

What do you notice about Germany’s enemies in these wars? What has started to fail in the late 1800s?

The leader of Prussia was Kaiser Wilhelm (or William) I

But the real power behind unification came from Wilhelm’s advisor:

Otto von Bismarck

“The great questions of the day will not be settled by speeches and majority decisions -- that was the great mistake of 1848 and 1849 -- but by blood and iron.”

Bismarck’s Philosophy• Opposed liberal revolutions and democratic

ideals• Practiced Realpolitik - “realistic politics”

– Based on a country’s interests, not on individual rights

– Leaders should use any means to advance the state

– Not based on idealism

• Encouraged Militarism– Provoked war to encourage unity

Thanks to Bismarck, war, diplomacy, and nationalism Germany became a unified

state in 1871.

Review: How do you think the

unification movements in Germany & Italy affected the

balance of power created by the Congress of Vienna?

Connection?

• Do you think there is a connection between nationalism and industrialization?

1810 Padre Hidalgo issues Grito de Dolores, calling for Mexican independence.

1830 Greece gains independence from Ottoman Empire.

1848 Liberal revolutions shake Europe.

1861 Russia frees peasants.

1804 Haiti wins freedom from France.

1870 Italy unites.

1871 Wilhelm I crowned Kaiser of united Germany.

1789 1900

Major political events in 1800s