Download Unit 3 Nationalism, Realism and Mass Politics 1850-1914

Unit 3
Nationalism,
Realism and
Mass Politics
1850-1914
Europe in 1850


Movement towards mass
politics as suffrage
expanded Nationalism no
longer just one of the
ideologies- accepted as a
major force- even by
conservatives.
Idealism= impracticality.
Instead, focus on
REALPOLITIK- accomplish
practical goals through
practical means- work step
by step, don’t assume you
can rebuild the world
overnight.
France Under Napoleon III
Second Republic



Louis Napoleon had lived
most of his life outside of
France- had few “enemies”
Time had made Napoleon
the hero of France. Louis
Napoleon manipulated
voting and blamed
legislature for corruption
Seen as a symbol of
stability- appeared liberal
enough, conservative in
areas, and against
radicalism in all forms.
Second Empire
 economic
liberalism (popular
with middle class),
nationalism, and
authoritarian rule
(popular with
conservatives).



New imperial
aristocracy created
from wealthy
businessmen.
Gave control of
Secondary
Education to gov’trather than church.
Gave unions right to
strike (popular with
radicals)
Economic Prosperity

Believed gov’t should
promote economy.
Cleared out slums, built
better houses, new
sewers, RR, Grand
pubic buildings- which
provided jobs,
improved commerce,
created a better
standard of living, and
prevented revolution


Moved towards free
trade, lowering
tariffs, doubling
exports. Signed trade
agreement with old
rival, England.
Credit Moblier- a
gov’t run corporate
bank for investing
Baron George von Haussmann


Redesigned Paris to
show beauty and
provide political
strength (streets too
wide for barricades,
lots of ways to get
places)
Paris 1st modern
Capital city- a
planned city
International Affairs


a weak area for him
Mexico failure
Crimean War


1853-1856
The beginning of
a turning point in
European Historycracks begin to
appear in the
notion of balance
of power.
Causes


Ottomans restricting
Christian visitors to the
Holy Land (same issue as
1095 btw)- made treaty
to stop doing it for RC.
Russian Orthodox
demand same
treatment- and says it is
occupying territory in
Crimea (Black Sea) until
demands met
Really about expansion
of territory for Russia and
weakening of Ottomans
Crimean War (II)

Spark: Russian
expansion into Black
Sea area. French
and British feared
Ottoman would
collapse entirely and
Russia would expand
all the way through
Balkans to
Mediterranean.
 Big
shock that
Eng/France
support Muslims
Technology and War


Heading towards
modern weapons, this
war has a much higher
casualty rate than any
which have come
before. Begins shift
away from cavalry
(used to break lines- but
don’t often carry major
guns) towards artillery.
Repeating rifles
Sevastopol- largest
battle
 Russia
WAY behind
in tech- they get
spanked- very
embarrassing, and
a wake up call for
them- begin
attempts at
modernization
Florence Nightingale
A
major cause of
death from
wounds was
infection. Florence
was a British nurse
who pioneered
standards of
treatment to
prevent further
damage
Results of War
 Russia
was forced
to pull back- which
was a surprise, their
size had made
them so scaryturns out they
weren’t. Concert
of Europe dead- all
nations are out for
their own gains
Peace of Paris
 Russia
lost mouth
of Danube and
territory that
became
Romania. Black
Sea became
Neutral- Ottoman
Empire “saved”
Italian
Unification

Italy had not been
unified since classical
age. From Mid. Ages
had been collection
of “city states”.
Renaissance had
been a high pointbut had become a
battleground for
competing powers.
 Hapsburgs
in North,
Pope in Center,
Bourbons in South.
Only Sardinia really
“independent”
Early Attempts: Mazzini (the
Visionary)



Giuseppe Mazzini and
Vincenzo Gioberti led 1st
attempts by Carbonari to
unify Italy. (unsuccessful)
Mazzini wanted a Republic,
Gioberti wanted a state
led by the pope
Unable to pull people
together- both represented
ideas that were too radical
and idealistic- more
romantic that realistic
Sardinia


Victor Emmanuel II- a
constitutional
monarch, had
become the best
option for leading Italy
to unity.
A liberal state, with
Econ strength- strong
enough to lead
without making others
feel they are being
steamrolled
Camillo di Cavour
 Chief minister to king
(the
Statesman)
Victor Emmanuel of


Sardinia. Practicalwilling to work step by
step to achieve goalsbrought middle class
in.
Started with North to
“enlarge Sardinia”
rather than create
“Italy”
1859 Used war with
Austria (aided by Nap
iii) to bring people
together.


Used available Media
“Il Risorgimento”
Newspaper (named for
Mazzini’s idea, but
more practical) to
spread propaganda.
By 1860 Lombardy,
Tuscany, Parma and
Modena have
become part of
Sardinia
Plombiere
 Napoleon
iii had promised Sardinia help
with Austria – and they would split the
territories (Savoy and Nice would go to
France) Secret pact made at Plombieres
 But as conflict was ending- France
backed out of support to help Italy gain
Venice (decided it would be too
difficult) and made sep. peace
with Austria.
 Cavour felt betrayed
Giuseppe Garibaldi (the Revolutionary)


Charismatic- the last
of the Romantics. Had
fought in 1848.
Republican- but
practical enough to
compromise for unity.
Began in Sicily and
Naples- where he
defeated the
Bourbons and began
to head north.

RED SHIRTS: Garibaldi’s
revolutionaries.
Defeated 2
professional
armies in south
Unification



Cavour and Garibaldi
met in Naples in Feb
1861. Victor Emmanuel
declared King of Italy.
Venice joined 1866,
Rome 1870 (with
creation of Vatican for
pope)
Process not radical or
democratic, Cavour
steered nationalism in a
conservative direction


Pope was a sticky pointFrance was biggest
support in him keeping
the center of Italy- but
After Franco-Prussian
war they could not
longer support.
Biggest problem after
unification was
integration- the North
was semi-industrialized,
south stagnant and
agrarian.
Unification of Germany


Frankfurt Assembly of
1848 had failed. Who
will Germany? 2
choices, Austria or
Prussia- both of whom
wanted the job.
Austria in decline,
Prussia on the risethey get the job
Grossdeutsch

United Germany with
BOTH Austria and
Prussia as part of
country. Became
increasingly unrealistic
Kleindeustch

Germany with Prussiabut no Austria. This is
the practical plan,
and this is a practical
age
Rise of Bismarck
 Wilhelm
I took power in 1861- and was
inspired by Sardinia’s success with Italy.
 Made Otto Von Bismarck (Junker- a big
fan of strength) his Prime Minister Together
they plotted to create “Germany” with
strong military, economic, and political
power. (It’s not just about making a
country- making a world leader)
 Conservative Nationalism
Realpolitik



Unification will come not through idealism
and brotherhood, but by working with a
plan, moving in steps, and keeping the
ultimate goal in sight. Defines the politics of the
age
Gap Theory: Wilhelm worried about losing powerBismarck says no problem, since King grants
constitution, he is ultimate power, not legislature
Diplomatic- Bismarck only fought when he HAD toand only when he knew he would win
“Blood and Iron”

Bismarck’s most
famous manifestothat it is not speeches
and resolutions that
accomplish goals- but
sacrifice and actionand he is going to get
this DONE
War as a means to Unify

Borrowed the idea
from Italy- use a series
of small (easily won)
wars to bring people
together.
War with Denmark



1863
Duchies of Schleswig
and Holstein claimed
by both Denmark and
Prussia. Bismarck
convinced Austria to
go to war with himthey would each take
a territory.
Won easily….and
Bismarck was already
planning to use the
result to provoke his
next war- with Austria.
War with Austria


Seven Weeks War
1866
Used Austrian
possession of Holstein
to provoke tension
and start war. Prussia
has most advanced
military in world at
that point- spanked
old fashioned Austria.
Makes Prussia decisive
leader of German
affairs



Prussia made alliances
with Fr, Rus, It before
war to keep them out.
1st time RR key for
troop movement
Create North German
Confederation- with a
2 house legislature
(Reichstag) for all Ger.
States- with universal
manhood suffrage
Franco Prussian War (Part 1)
 1870-71
 Southern
German states are still more
inclined to Austria (they are RC)- but
Bismarck knew that conflict with France
would draw them in. (and that Nap iii was
all talk, no action) Plus- they’d really like
Alsace and Lorraine (between France
and Germany
Ems Dispatch


Intentional snub to
provoke war.
Bismarck boasted
about kicking the
French ambassador
out of GermanyInfuriated the French
so they declared war
(which made them
the “aggressors”)
Franco Prussian War (Part 2)


South jumps on the German bandwagon- and we
have a whole country. Bismarck was right about
Nap iii- he is a poor commander, and won’t
appoint good ones (he’s afraid they will make him
look bad) Prussia doesn’t just beat France, the
humiliate them- esp. at Battle of Sedan- where
they capture Nap iii. Lay siege to Paris- and take
the capital.
Shocking to other countries how powerful this new
“Germany” is- they came out swinging.
German Empire


Wilhelm I declared
“Kaiser” of German
Empire in Hall of Mirrors
at Versailles. Harsh treaty
for France- Ger gets
Alsace/Lorraine, and
France has to pay
reparations for “Starting”
the war
Germany now most
powerful nation on
Continent



Victory of Conservative
Nationalism
Didn’t change gov’t
structure from 1866
(Reichstag etc…)
Now that he had his
country- Bismarck used
Liberal reform
(Kulterkampf: vote,
pensions, education) to
keep people happy and
prevent revolution
Nation Building 1850-1914

Changing the
Balance of Power in
Europe- starting to get
competitive again
Mass Politics



Ordinary people have
increasing nationalism- by
1914 universal manhood
suffrage was typical.
Welfare state will begin to
emerge- 1st in Germany,
than Britain and elsewhere.
Increasing education was
supported by the gov’t.
As more people got
involved in politics, became
the job of politicians to
“fool” them- manipulating
voters for their own ends