Class10 History Chapter 1 The Rise of Nationalism in Europe Unit 3, Questions And Answers
Table of Contents
Overview (The Age of Revolution : 1830 – 1848)
Class10 History Chapter 1 The Rise of Nationalism in Europe Unit 3 discusses revolutions that took place in Europe during 1830 – 1848. These revolutions were against the conservative regimes. Class10 History Chapter 1 The Rise of Nationalism in Europe Unit 3 explains that these revolutions were led by liberals and nationalists in many regions of Europe.
July Revolution/ Revolution Against Conservative Regimes in Europe
Q.1. How did the revolution against the conservative regimes in Europe get started during 1830s ?
Or, Q. How did the “July Revolution” by liberals and nationalists get started in Europe during 1830 ?
Ans. As the conservative regimes (formed in 1815) in Europe tried to consolidate their power , a revolution against them was started by the liberals and the nationalists in many regions of Europe.
The main regions Europe affected by this revolution were Italian and German states, the provinces of Ottoman empire, Ireland and Poland.
These revolutionaries were led by the liberal-nationalists belonging to the educated middle class elite and commercial middle classes.
The first upheaval of the revolution took place in France in July’1830. The Bourbon kings of France were overthrown by the liberal revolutionaries and a constitutional monarchy was created with Loui Philippe at its head.
The July Revolution sparked an uprising in Brussels which led to separation of Belgium from the United Kingdom of Netherlands.
Growth of revolutionary nationalism by the liberals and nationalists led to struggle for independence amongst the Greeks. As a result, the Greece was declared an independent nation in 1832, by the Treaty of Constantinople.
Note : Metternich once remarked, ” When France sneezes, the rest of Europe catches cold.”
Greek War of Independence
Q.2. Discuss the Greek war of independence.
Ans. Greece had been part of the Ottoman Empire since the 16th century.
The growth of revolutionary nationalism in Europe sparked off a struggle for independence of Greece which began in 1821. Nationalists in Greece got support from other Greeks living in exile. Also, many west European people had sympathy for ancient Greek culture.
Poets and artists lauded Greece as the cradle of European civilisation. They mobilised public opinion to support its struggle against a Muslim empire(Ottoman Empire). The English poet Lord Byron organised funds and later went to Greece to fight the war (where he died in 1824).
Finally, the Treaty of Constantinople of 1832 recognised Greece as an independent nation.
Effect of Greek war of independence :
The Greek war of independence further strengthened and mobilised nationalist feeling among the educated elite class across the Europe.
The Romantic Imagination and National Feeling
Q.3. Write about the cultural movement called Romanticism in Europe in first half of 19th century.
Ans. The development of nationalism in Europe didn’t come about only through wars and territorial expansion. Culture played an important role in creating the idea of nation. Art, poetry, stories and music proved instrumental in shaping the nationalists feelings.
Romanticism was a cultural movement which sought to develop a particular form of nationalist sentiment. Romantic artists and poets generally criticized the glorification of reason and science. They focused mainly on emotions, intuitions, and mystical feelings. Their effort was to create a sense of shared collective heritage, a common cultural past as the basis of the nation.
Q.4. By citing examples, show how the Romantics in Europe kept the national feelings alive among people.
Ans. The development of nationalism in Europe didn’t come about only through wars and expansions but culture also played a role in creating and nurturing the idea of the nation.
German Philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder (1744-1803) claimed that “true German culture” was to be discovered among the common people (das volk) through folksongs, folk poetry and folk dances and in this way the true spirit of nation (volksgeist) was to be popularised. Thus, he considered the folk culture as essential for the nation building project.
Vernacular language and local folklore was utilised to carry the modern nationalist messages to large audiences who were mostly illiterate. For example – Karol Kurpinski (Polish Romantics) celebrated the national struggle for Poland through his operas and music. He turned the folk dances like “Polonaise and Mazurka into nationalist symbols.
Language too played an important role in developing nationalists sentiment in Europe. After Russian occupation, the Polish language was forced out of schools in Poland and the Russian language was imposed everywhere.
In 1831, an armed rebellion by poles against Russians took place but it was crushed. Following this many members of clergy in Poland began to use Polish language as a weapon of national resistance and refuse to preach in Russian. The use of Polish came to be seen as a symbol of struggle against Russian dominance.
The famous Grimm brothers also saw French domination as a threat to German culture. They used German folklore as weapon to oppose French domination and crate a German national identity.
Hunger, Hardship and Popular Revolt
Q.5. The 1830s were the years of great economic hardship in Europe. Justify this statement and also discuss its results.
Ans. The 1830s were the years of great economic hardship in Europe.
The first half of 19th century witnessed an enormous increase in population all over the Europe. In most countries there was huge gap between unemployment and job availability. There was large scale rural urban migration and the cities had overcrowded slums.
Small producers in towns faced stiff competition from imports of cheap machine made goods from England where industrialisation came earlier. Example – textile production.
In those regions of Europe where the aristocracy still enjoyed power, peasants struggled under the burden of feudal dues and obligation. The rise of food prices or a year of bad harvest would lead to widespread pauperism (= poverty) in town and country. The year 1848 was one such year.
Results of economic hardship in Europe :
Earlier in 1845, weavers in Silesia had led a revolt against contractors who had reduced their payments drastically. The journalist Wilhelm Wolff has given an account of this revolt.
In year 1848, food shortages and widespread unemployment brought the population of Paris on the roads which forced the Louis Philippe to flee. A National Assembly was created which declared the followings in France:
- France was declared republic .
- Suffrage to all adult males above 18 years.
- It guaranteed the right to work.
- National Workshops were setup to provide employment.
1848 : The Revolution of the Liberals
Note : Parallel to the revolts of the poor, unemployed and starving peasants and workers in many European countries in the year 1848, a revolution led by the educated middle class was underway.
Q.6. What do you know about the revolution led by educated middle classes in many European countries in the year 1848 ?
Ans. In the parts of Europe where independent nation states didn’t yet exist – such as Germany , Italy . Poland, the Austro – Hungarian empire – men and women of liberal middle classes combined their demands for constitutionalism with national unification.
They took advantage of the growing popular unrest to push their demands, which were as follows :
- The creation of a nation state on parliamentary principles.
- Making of a constitution.
- Freedom of the Press.
- Freedom of association.
Q.7. How did the revolution by educated middle class take place in Germany in 1848 ?
Ans. In the German regions, a large number of political association( formed by middle class professionals, businessmen and prosperous artisans) came together in the city of Frankfurt and decided to vote for an All German National Assembly.
On 18th May, 1848, 831 elected representatives attended Frankfurt Parliament convened in the Church of St. Paul. They drafted a constitution for German nation to be headed by a monarchy subject to a parliament.
When the deputies offered the crown on these terms to King of Prussia (Friedrich Wilhelm IV), he rejected it and joined other monarchs to oppose the elected assembly.
Meanwhile the parliament which was dominated by the middle classes couldn’t fulfil the demands of workers and artisans and consequently lost their support. Thus, the social basis of the parliament became weak and gradually eroded. On the other hand, aristocracy and military became stronger.
As a result, in the end , troops were called in and the assembly (All German National Assembly of 1848) was forced to disband.
Q.8. What was the impact of liberal movement of1848 (by educated middle class) on Europe?
Ans. Though the conservative forces ( monarchs, nobility etc. ) were able to suppress the liberal movements in 1848, they couldn’t restore the old order.
Monarchs began to realise that the Cycles of revolution and repression could only be ended by granting concessions to liberal – nationalists revolutionaries.
Hence after 1848, the autocratic monarchies of central and eastern Europe began to introduce the changes that had already taken place in Western Europe before 1815. Thus, serfdom and bonded labour were abolished both in the Habsburg dominions and in Russia. The Habsburg rulers also granted more autonomy to Hungarians in 1867.
Q.9. Discuss the issue of political rights to women in Europe during the liberal movements.
Ans. The issue of extending political rights to women remained controversial even within the liberal movement of 1848 in Europe.
Large number of women had participated actively in the liberal movement of 1848. Women had formed their own political associations, founded newspapers and had taken part in the political meetings and demonstrations.
Despite all this, they were denied suffrage rights during the election of Assembly. When the Frankfurt Parliament was convened in the Church of St. Paul, women were admitted only as observers to stand in the visitors gallery only.
Glossary:
Feminist : Awareness of women’s rights and interests based on the belief of the social, economic and political equality of the genders.
Ideology : System of ideas reflecting a particular social and political vision.
Suffrage : The right to vote.
Plebiscite : A direct vote by which all the people of a region asked to accept or reject a proposal.
Absolutist : A government that has no restraints on the power exercised by them.
Utopian : A vision of a society that is so ideal that it is unlikely to actually exist.
