Nationalism

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Nationalism

Learning goals

The main learning goal for this section is: "You can give three different examples of new forms of international competition between European powers at the end of the 19th century." 

In order to achieve this goal, you will need:

• to describe the meaning of nationalism is and explain how it can both bring people together, and create conflicts between countries.
  
• to give three examples of peaceful types of international competition, that began in the 19th century.
  
• to explain how growing tensions between European powers led to an arms race and to the creation of international alliances.
  

Recap from last week: How did imperialism contribute to the Industrial Revolution?

National pride & international competition

Nationalism = an ideology based on identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations. 

In the 19th century, nationalism brought people with the same cultural background together. They created countries.

Which countries were created in the 19th century because of nationalism?

National pride & international competition

In the 19th century, sports were an important part in the friendly competition between the European Powers. Sporting events were useful for the countries to show their skills and abilities, national pride and friendly rivalry.

Example of sporting events are the Olympics. The first modern Olympics were held in 1896 in Athens. Nowadays, these big sporting events are still a way of showing to the rest of the world your national pride. For example: FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

Sports and friendly rivalries

Other sports were invented and European countries competed against each other, like football. The FIFA was established to facilitate (international) football competitions. 

Cricket was very popular in the UK and in its colonies (still to this day). Matches were held between European nations. Tennis tournaments like Wimbledon and the French Open (nowadays Roland Garros) attracted many European players. Cycling matches were organized (Giro d'Italia and Tour de France), where international teams participated.

What is the purpose of the Eiffel Tower?

World exhibitions

Countries would like to show to each other their technological advancements and cultural achievements. So World exhibitions were organized, with the first one in London in 1851, in the Chrystal Palace.

At these World Expos, countries showed off their inventions. At the first Expo, Schweppes demonstrated the world's first soft drink, the first versions of the barometer were introduced and one of the precursor of the fax machine was shown. 

Rivalry outside Europe

Outside of Europe, the big countries were in conflict with each other, when conquering new colonies in Africa and Asia. For example the Scramble for Africa, which resulted in the Berlin Conference. (Every European country got their fair share of Africa)

When they established new colonies, the European powers expanded their sphere of influence. They did that with expanding their economic market, trade with their new colonial territories and extract (raw) materials.

Tensions in Europe

Nationalism caused rivalry between the European countries, also in Europe. They developed an arms race against each other -> expanding their military and outmatch other countries. This arms race fueled the rivalry between the European countries.

Some countries worked together and formed alliances, to protect each other. Two big alliances were formed for the balance of power in Europe: Triple Entente (UK, France & Russia) and Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and later the Ottoman Empire). 

What wasn't a consequence of nationalism in the 19th century?

1. The building of the Eiffel Tower
2. The forming of the Ottoman Empire
3. An arms race between European countries
4. Alliances in Europe

Let's go to Learnbeat!

Go to Learnbeat 1.1E: Lesson 4: International competition at the end of the 19th century. 

Read the pages and answer the checkup questions. At the end of class, we'll discuss the answers together.