8.5 The development of Nation States -T-

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

AGE 8. The Time of Citizens and Steam Engines

8.5  the development of Nation States

-T-

This lesson (learn this by heart):

• In the 19th century, many people started to feel a sense of pride for their own country. We call this: "nationalism".
• Therefore, people wanted to live in their own "nation state".
• Germany was not a nation state yet, but wanted to become one.
• Bismarck wanted to unite the different German states.
• After the Franco-Prussian War, Germany became a unified state: the German Empire.

who = who?  German Unification

Otto von Bismarck

Wilhelm I

Napoleon III

Chancellor Prussia

Emperor France

King Prussia. Emperor Germany

Word Duty

KEY WORDS

Nation: a group of people that feel connected through culture and history

Nationalism: a political view in which there is a great love for a country’s own people

Nation states: when a country is ruled by one dominant group of people that share the same culture and history

Realpolitik: politics based on present circumstances, not being led by ideology

Franco-Prussian war: a military conflict between France and Prussia between 1870 and 1871

Second German Empire: a united German nation state that lasted from 1871 until 1918

Important dates in this lesson:

• 1862: Bismarck prime minister of Prussia
• 1870: start Franco-Prussian War
• 1871: Unification of Germany

Introduction

The defeat of Napoleon led to an alteration in borders between countries in Europe. New agreements were made and signed at the treaty of Vienna in 1815. In 1848, a new revolution seemed to threaten this, but it did not succeed. Still, a feeling of unrest lingered. Everywhere in Europe, populations wanted to live in countries where their own people ruled. How long could the old balance of power be held?

The proclamation Of Wilhelm I as German emperor at Versailles, 1871. Bismarck, in the centre, is wearing a white uniform. Painting by Anton von Werner (1886).

Feelings of nationalism

During the nineteenth century, many people valued their own nation. A nation (derived from the Latin word natio, meaning tribe or kin) is a group of people that feel connected through their history and culture, such as language, religion, tradition and folktales. This feeling of connection is the cornerstone of nationalism, a political view in which there is a great love for their own kind. It makes people feel connected with their heritage and proud of it.

When a nation is the dominant group in a country, it is called a nation state. During the eighteenth century, France and the Dutch Republic were already examples of nation states, but this was not the case everywhere in Europe. The tsar of Russia, the sultan of the Ottoman empire and the Austro-Hungarian emperor ruled huge empires that consisted of many different nations. These empires were political entities, because they had the same government, but culturally they were divided. They struggled with groups of people inside each empire who felt nationalistic.

summarize

1. The first half of the text just explains the 3 key words. 
2. Starting after the word "nation state": which 3 empires are mentioned as an example? 
3. In what way were these 3 empires unified?
4. in what way were they NOT unified?
5. What danger did these empires face?

Map of 19th century Europe. You can clearly see that Germany and Italy were not yet unified nation states.

The rise of nation states

During the nineteenth century, the idea of nation states became more popular in Europe because they had military, economical and political benefits for their leaders. Within a nation state there is an economic cooperation between regions: toll is abolished, a national infrastructure is established and the inhabitants use the same currency, weights and other units of measurement. Politically, nation states have one political centre, a capital city, a national tax system and a constitution. The countries have one army, sometimes with obligatory military service.

Leaders used and stimulated the feeling of connection their countrymen felt. That is why children learned about their common descent, the same language and history at school.

summarize

1. the text mentions 3 benefits of being a nation state. Identify them.
2. Further, the text gives examples of each of the 3 benefits. You can exclude them from your summary, but in a test you must be able to give these examples.
3. how did leaders stimulate nationalistic feelings in their country?

a flag can be a powerful symbol of nationalism. People  feel that they belong to the same nation by waving a national flag. The flag gives them a feeling that they are connected.

Bismarck and the rise of Prussia

Germany had always been divided into separate states which all had their own government. There was a national unity that surpassed the states, such as a common language and culture. During the industrial revolution, there were also economic reasons to cooperate. Prussians became the leaders who brought the Germans to unification by force and alliances.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the state of Prussia had grown into a strong military state, especially after Otto von Bismarck became prime minister in 1862. Bismarck did everything he could to turn his country into a superpower and he knew he needed an army. But this does not mean that he was a bloodthirsty man. His leadership can be seen as a good example of Realpolitik. This means that he did not want to be led by a vision or ideology, but he chose whatever was best at the time. War was just as important as peace, and enemies could become the friends of the future.

summarize

1. In what way was Germany divided?
2. How did people in the german states feel conncted? What did they share?
3. What was Prussia?
4. Who was Bismarck and what was his goal?
5. What did Bismarck think he needed foremost to achieve this goal?

modern book about the Prussian / German uniforms. Note the spiked helmet that would become symbolic for the German soldier's appearance in the decades to come.

The unification of Germany

With the help of Bismarck, the Prussian king Wilhelm was able to spread his influence to other states. They conquered the area of Schleswig and Holstein and won a war with Austria. Bismarck was able to defeat other German states or convinced them to unite in the North German Confederation (picture). Through sheer power, Prussia became the leader of this unity, but for Bismarck this was not enough. He wanted to keep the German states from the influence of Austria and France. In order to do this, he needed all the states to stay united and he needed to convince the southern states to join him. To do this, he had to emphasize the idea of nationality: only a unified Germany was strong enough to beat its enemies. This was triggered when the Franco-Prussian war started.

summarize

1. This is a difficult one to summarize because the text has a lot of information in short sentences. Let's focus on the most important aspects: who is the man who wanted German unification?
2. what did he see as a good way to get the Germans behind his idea?
3. against which 2 countries did he fight?
4. how did he convince the southern German states to join him?

Otto von Bismarck (Franz von Lenbach, 1890)

Battle of Mars-La-Tour, August 16,1870 by Emil Hünten. Circa 1870

The Franco-Prussian war (1)

The French had always tried to divide the Germans because they did not want a strong enemy at their borders; thus when they heard about the Confederation they became worried. In 1870, the French emperor Napoleon III saw no other way than to declare war on Germany in an attempt to stop their expansion. Bismarck had been waiting for this war. He knew that France did not have any allies and that the Southern German states would join Prussia. He was right. It also became clear that the Prussian army was superior and within months German forces moved up to Paris. They took the palace of Versailles and there, on 18th January 1871, Bismarck proclaimed the founding of the second German Empire. King Wilhelm of Prussia became emperor of this new state.

summarize

1. why did France become worried when Germany became more unified?
2. Why was Bismarck pleased with the French declaration of war? (2 reasons)
3. How did the war end? 
4. What was the result for Germany?

French soldiers in their red/blue uniforms. Photo taken during the Franco-German war, 1871. Original black and white photograph. Later this was colorised.

Bismarck and the rise of Prussia (2)

France continued the war until 10th may 1871, but they lost. They had to pay a heavy fine and give up the industrial region of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany. From that moment, Germany had become a big and powerful nation state. The hostility between France and Germany remainded after the war. The French ended up waiting for a chance to take revenge.

summarize

1. Which region did France need to give to Germany?
2. How were the French extra humiliated?

Bismarck wanted to humiliate the French. That is why the proclamation of the second German empire was held in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. The palace, built by King Louis XIV, was the symbol of French power, but Bismarck shattered that pride.

The proclamation Of Wilhelm I as German emperor at Versailles, 1871. Bismarck, in the centre, is wearing a white uniform. Painting by Anton von Werner (1886).

Versailles: the Hall of Mirrors

1871

today

You have finished with this lesson:
- You have read the texts
- You have made the summary
- You have done the practise questions.
Are you well prepared for a test or do you need additional help?

If you still need help, you can ask your question here.

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