Class 10 History Chapter 1 The Rise of Nationalism In Europe- Unit 4, The Making of Germany and Italy, Topic wise Answers
Table of Contents
Overview
Class 10 History Chapter 1 The Rise of Nationalism In Europe- Unit 4, (The Making of Germany and Italy, Topic wise Answers) brings forth the case of England, Germany and Italy and underlines the accomplishment of nation building events therein.
Germany – Can the Army be the Architect of a Nation?
Q. Write a note on unification of Germany.
Or, Q. Explain the role of Prussia in the unification of Germany.
Or, Q. Explain the role of Otto Von Bismarck ( Chief Minister of Prussia ) in the unification of Germany.
Ans. Nationalist feelings were widespread among middle class Germans. They in 1848, had tried to unite the different regions of the German Confederation into a nation state governed by an elected parliament. This liberal initiative was repressed by the monarchy and the military and large land owners (called Junkers) of Prussia.
From then on, Prussia took leadership of the movement for national unification of Germany.
Under the leadership of Otto Von Bismarck, the chief minister of Prussia, Prussian army fought three wars over 7 years with Austria, Denmark and France. In the war, Prussia emerged victorious and completed the process of unification of Germany.
In January 1871, the Prussian king Kaiser William I was proclaimed German Emperor in a ceremony held at Versailles.
The new German State placed a strong emphasis on modernising the currency, banking, legal and judicial systems. Prussian measures and practices often become a model for the rest of Germany.
Italy Unified
Q.2. Write a note on unification of Italy.
Ans. Like Germany, Italy too, had a long history of fragmentation.
During the middle of the 19th century, Italy was divided into seven states, of which only one- Sardinia Piedmont- was ruled by an Italian princely house. ( The North was under Austrian Habsburgs, the Central was ruled by the Pope, and the Southern regions were under Bourbon Kings of Spain.)
Even the Italian language had not acquired one common form.
During 1830s, Giuseppe Mazzini had sought to put together a coherent program for a unitary Italian Republic. He had also formed a secret society called “Young Italy” for dissemination of his goals.
However revolutionary uprisings of 1831 and 1848 failed. Now the mantle fell on Sardinia Piedmont (under Victor Emanuel I to unify the Italian states through war.
Cavour, chief minister of Sardinia Piedmont, engineered a tactful diplomatic alliance with France and defeated the Austrian forces in 1859.
A large number of armed volunteers under the leadership of Giuseppe Garibaldi joined the fray. In 1860, they marched in to South Italy and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. There they succeeded in winning the support of local peasants and finally drove out the Spanish rulers.
In 1861, Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed King of United Italy.
Note : During 1850-60, much of the Italian population had very high rate of illiteracy. Hence they were unaware of “liberal nationalist ideology” and couldn’t understand the justification behind the “concept of unification of Italy”.
Note : The peasant masses who had supported Garibaldi in Southern Italy, had never heard of “Italia” and believed that “La Italia” was Victor Emmanuel’s wife.
Note :
| Regions | Year of Unification With Italy |
| Sardinia (both piedmont and island) | 1858 |
| Lombardy, Parma, Modena, Tuscany, Northern part of Papal state | 1858 – 60 |
| Kingdom of Sicilies | 1860 |
| Venetia | 1866 |
| Southern part of Papal State | 1870 |
Q.3. Write a short note about contribution of Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Ans. Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-82) is the most celebrated of Italian freedom fighters.
In 1833, he met Mazzini, joined the “young Italy movement”, and participated in Republican Uprising in piedmont in 1834.
In 1854, he supported Victor Emmanuel II in his efforts to unify the Italian states.
In 1860, Garibaldi led the famous “Expedition of the Thousand” to South Italy. Volunteers joining this campaign were popularly known as “Red Shirts”.
In 1867, Garibaldi led an army of volunteers to Rome to fight against the Papal states where a French Garrison was stationed. The Red Shirts volunteers couldn’t match the French and Papal troops. However in 1870, Papal states were finally forced to get unified with Italy when during the war with Prussia, French forces were withdrawn from Rome by France.
Q.4. Discuss the strange case of formation of Nation State in Britain.
Or, Q. Discuss elaborately the process of formation of a new British nation.
Or, Q. Some scholars have argued that the Great Britain is the model of the nation or the nation state. Justify.
Ans. There was no British nation prior to the 18th century. Formation of the nation state of the Britain was not the result of a sudden upheaval or revolution. It was the result of a long drawn out process.
The primary identities of the people inhabiting the British Isles were ethnic ones such as – English, Welsh, Scott, Irish. All of these ethnic groups had their own cultural and ethnic traditions. But as English nation steadily grew in wealth, importance and power, it was able to extend its influence over the other nationalities of the British Isles.
The English Parliament which had seized power from monarchy in 1688, was the instrument through which a nation state with England at its centre came to be forged.
The Act of Union (1707), between England and Scotland led to the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Due to this act of 1707, England was able to impose its influence on Scotland. Also, the new British parliament was henceforth dominated by the English members.
The growth of a British identity meant that Scotland’s distinctive culture and political institution were systematically suppressed.
Ireland suffered a similar fate. Ireland was divided between Catholics and Protestants. The English helped the Protestants of Ireland to establish their dominance over a large Catholic area.
Catholic revolts and against British dominance was led by Wolfe Jane and his organisation “United Irish Men (1798)”. This revolt was suppressed and the Ireland was forcibly incorporated into the United Kingdom in 1801.
A new British nation was forged through the propagation of a dominant English culture. The symbols of the new Britain – the British flag (Union Jack), the national anthem ( God Save Our Nobel King), the English language – were actively promoted and the older nations survived only as subordinate partners in this union.
Q.5. How did the Act of Union (1707) between England and Scotland affect the Scotland as a nation ?
Ans. The Act of Union (1707) between England and Scotland resulted in the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
This act enabled England to impose its influence on Scotland. The British Parliament was henceforth dominated by its English members. Scotland’s distinctive culture and political institutions were systematically suppressed.
The Catholic clans suffered terrible repression whenever they attempted to assert their independence. The Scottish Highlanders were forbidden to speak their Gaelic language or wear their national dress and their large numbers were forcibly driven out of their homeland.
Glossary
Ethnic : It relates to a common racial, tribal or cultural origin or background that a community identifies with, or claims.
