Nationalism Flashcards
Summary Card
What are the four factors that support the idea that Nationalism was the most signifcant factor in the unification of Germany?
- Work of interlectuals such as Herder, Fichte, Hegel and Arndt- patriotic songs and literature
- 1832 Hambach Festival
- German National Association 1859
- How Bismark chanelled nationalism 1866
What was the Hambach festival?
- Political demonstration in the south of Germany against restricted political expression and increased taxes
- students and professionals mades up a crowd of 30,000
- tri-colour flag waved, symbol of the republican movement and unity among German speaking people
- Speakers called for a German nation-state and denounced princes and the German conferation
Who were the interlectuals promoting nationalistic ideas and what were their ideas?
- Arndt, Swedish poet and pamphleteer who urged the creation of a German fatherland. His 1813 ‘The Germans Fatherland’ established language, culture and hatred of the French as a basis for a nation state
- Philosphers Fichte, Herder, Hegel developed the view that German people were a unique ‘volk’ and should belong to a single state
What conflicts/foreign tensions encouraged nationalistic feelings in Germany?
(3 Foreign situtations)
- 1840 it appeared France would attempt to take the left bank of the Rhine from Germany. This was resolved without conflict but not before German national feeling was roused against their ‘old enemy’. This was promoted through use of patriotic songs such as Deutschland Uber Alles (German national anthem)
- Germans were angered at the Danish Kings attempt to take Schleswig in 1846
- 1870 Bismark edited the EMs Dispatch making the French appear aggressors, he then released the statement to the press to stir up emotion. In this way Bismark channelled nationalist sentiment to provoke unification through the Franco-Prussian war. This encouraged the southern states e.g. Bavaria, Baden and Hesse-Darmstadt to unite under Wilhelm IV
When was the German National Association established?
1859
What was the German National Association?
- Stimulated by the success of Italian nationalism as Piedmont in 1859 became the unifying force in Northern Italy.
- Promoted the idea that Prussia should lead the German cause
- Membership peaked at 25,000
- Formed by liberals and moderate democrats with the aim of establishing a liberal, parliamentary Prussian led national state.
Counter point:
What arguement is there that Southern States may not have united with North German Confederation purely out of nationalist German feeling?
Southern states generally veiwed Prussia as a threat to their own authority therefore it could be argued that they initially only united militarily with Prussia to safeguard against possible French attack.
Counter point:
In what respect could nationalism be considered less significant?
It was a reactionary mass phenomenon provoked by percieved threats then subsidising again.
What was the Frankfurt Parliament? How did this impact nationalism?
- Established 1848 after revolutions. Representivies had been elected by the German people, it was largely democratic
- 1848 it issued the fifty Articles of the German citizens which promised legal equality, freedom of worship and greater press freedom. Archduke John (Austrian regent) was forbidden to take part in the drafting of the Frankfurt constitution which was adpoted in 1849.
- They offered Frederick William IV of Prussia the imperial crown of Germany, however he refuses as he doesn’t believe the parliament have the authority to do this and Austria were regaining power after the flight of Metternich. This left nationalists feeling downhearted and betrayed. The parliament collapsed due to loss of momentum, lack of power (e.g. they couldn’t raise taxes) and regional divisions (e.g. religious differences). German confederation re-established 1851
Counter point:
Why was nationalis feeling arguably little more than a sentiment?
- Religious divisions in Germany. Protestant north and catholic south
- Loyalty to individual states and dynasties remained strong
- Cultural differences e.g Industrialised liberal west and agarian, autocratic east
Counter point:
Why might the lack of consensus on how German unification could be achieved be an arguement against nationalism being significant in the unification of Germany?
- 1815 Congress of Vienna created the German Confederation to preserve the internal and external security of individual states. No state wanted to see their power limited by the creation of a central strong government.
- Lack of achievement by 1848 as loyalty to individual states remained strong
- For a long time it appeared unlikely that Austrian influence could be removed from the German confederation as no state was strong enough to challenge them
- little agreement on how unification could be acheived.
Counter Point:
How did Austrian influence in Germany supress nationalism?
1815-1848 Metternich suppressed nationalism and Austria remained in political control of the German confederation.
