THE BIRTH OF MODERN EUROPE

Modern Europe During the 1800s, two powerful forces came

together that deeply influence our world today: The growth of the Nation-State (political)Industrial Revolution (socio-economic)

Modern Europe

Together these forces generated new loyalties, new wealth, and a new spirit of optimism & self-confidence.

They also created a dependence on exploiting workers and other countries (imperialism).

Patriotism deteriorated into intense national rivalry that finally exploded in a bloody conflict of global proportions: World War I (The Great War)

Napoleon and Pitt carving up the world“The Plum Pudding in Danger”

Nationalism in the 1800s A Nation-State is an

entirely European invention. A nation is a community of

people with a distinctive culture, and usually its own territory & language.

A nation-state is a government that takes in one nation and one nation only.

Europe in 1815

Europe in 1914

The Congress of Vienna 1815

In 1815, a group of monarchs, aristocrats, & diplomats met in Vienna. For ten months,

delegates to the Congress of Vienna worked at restoring the old order as it had existed before the French Revolution.

Conservative Backlash in Vienna This helped keep Europe at peace for almost

100 years. A return to the old order, however, led to new

upheavals and revolutions by internal forces. These included Italy and Germany, which until this

time had remained divided into numerous small states.

Three Clashing Ideologies Conservatives-usually wealthy property owners and nobility –

they argued for protecting the traditional monarchies of Europe.

Liberals-mostly middle class business leaders and merchants – they wanted to give more power to the parliaments, but they only wanted the educated landowners to be able to vote.

Radicals-favored drastic change to extend democracy to the people as a whole; they believed in the ideals of the French Revolution.

Revolution in Italy

“I believe that right now we are sleeping on a volcano", warned a French politician, "can you not sense... that the earth is

trembling....? Can you not feel... the wind of revolution in the air?”

Why so many revolutions in 1840s? Growing strength of nationalism Long series of economic downturns and bad

harvests – caused decade of the hungry forties- ex. Irish Potato Famine

Popular impatience with reactionary rule and the limits on freedoms placed on non-landowning public.

Effects of the Revolts Prussia and Austria granted constitutions and ended feudalism Russia freed the serfs Strong class division remained in many countries like France and

the German States Laid the foundation for the unification of Germany and Italy Demonstrated the growing political importance of nationalism Inspired Karl Marx to write “The Communist Manifesto” Hammered home the lesson of the French Revolution: that the

political, social, and economic demands of ordinary people must be taken seriously

1848 was a watershed year for Europe, and many of the changes of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries have origins in this revolutionary period.