European HistoryBroad Historic Overview
Period: Age of Revolutions,European Imperialism and Nationalism
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Early 19th Century dominated by the aftermath of the French Revolution
Prussia, Austria & Netherlands expanded by the peace settlement in 1815 while others such as Poland dissolved in the process of state consolidation
Heightened sense of nationalism thanks to the spread of the Enlightenment Ideas
Social conflicts on the rise
The commons vs. monarchs/autocrats
Age of Revolutions
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Important economic shift precipitates conflicts of the 19th Century
Growing industrial base encourages urbanization
New agrarian technologies, few workers greater output
Industrial revolutions in Britain, Prussia and Netherlands in the late 18th Century
France, Italy and USA in the 19th Century
Russia and Austria fails to industrialize
Industrial Revolution
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First evidence of industrial production found in large cities of early modern Europe
Specialization of trade and production in specialist workshops
Tradesmen employ larger team of workers
Paid employment of labor in industrial enterprise
“Putting Out” and “Cottage Industry”
Cost of transporting goods overland still expensive in the early 18th
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Industrial Revolution
Age of Industry begins slowly in 1780s
Western Europe advances faster as Britain leads the way
Industrial process a bit slow till 1850s due to continuing old methods of labor and population increase
1815 in continental Europe and 1850 in Britain
By 1830th Britain’s industrialization twice the level of France and by 1860th triple
Industrialization of rest of Europe slowed by political & social turmoil and constant warfare
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Industrial Revolution
Limits due to lack of transportation, reluctance to let go of traditional business practices and lack of technology
Stephenson’s rocket
Population increases rapidly across Europe
Steam engine invented & improved: mechanization of industry
In 1815 Europe’s industrial pace progresses
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Industrial Revolution
Large skilled labor force
Strong governments
Britain: leader to follow during the industrialization
Europe’s Gov’ts building infrastructure of railroads and canals
Zollverein: customs-free union between German states
Gov’ts play role in banking: banks allowed to become corporations
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Industrial Revolution
1851: Britain – the workshop of the world
2/3 of world’s coal supply and ½ of its iron
Belgium, France and Germany industrial centers of Europe
Pessimistic views towards the industrialization due to poor crowded city conditions and impoverished workers
Thomas Malthus and David Ricardo’s predictions of “great hunger” (massive food shortage) and “low wages”
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Industrial Revolution
Poor urban living conditions with no sanitation
Urban and Industrial growth beyond state’s control
Public drunkenness
Short life expectancy, Disease: rampant
New social classes emerge
Decreasing life standard, low wage, high prices
Horrible working conditions and employment of children
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Industrial Revolution
British working class responses to industrialization
The Luddites opposed to effects of mechanization, esp. textiles
Large scale spinning and weaving machines harm the traditional cottage industry
1811 attacks on Factories machinery and owners
Swing Rioters opposed to mechanization of agriculture in 1830s
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Industrial Revolution
The Luddites: part of reactive movement against the modernization of the methods of production
An alternative or more proactive movement was the Trade Unions movement
Collective bargaining and threat of strikes
Breaking of contract considered a criminal offense, striking workers charged for conspiracy and breach of public order
Legal Recognition of Unions achieved
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Industrial Revolution
Chartism: first large-scale working class political movement
London Working Men’s Association charter:
1. Universal male suffrage
2. Annual Election of the House of Commons
3. Secret Ballots
4. Equal electoral districts
5. Abolition of property requirements for the House of Commons
6. Salaries of Members of the House of Commons
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Industrial Revolution
Capitalism: “Capital” – medium of exchange for property or services of value and “laissez-faire” principle of minimal gov’t intervention
Republicanism: Liberty, fraternity, equality, constitutions, parliament, democracies. Opposes monarchy, aristocracy & church.
Liberalism: free trade, laissez-faire, constitutions, parliaments and non-violence. Constitutional monarchy rather than democracy.
New Ideologies of the 1800s
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Conservatism: a reactive ideology against the liberal ideas spread with violence, terror and social disorder. Order of the Society and State based on faith and tradition. Opposes the Enlightenment, anti-revolution, anti-democracy and anti-nationalism. Advocates of tradition, gradual reform and Old Regime
Socialism: System of social organization in which the means of production and distribution of goods are owned by a central authority. Opposes liberalism. Protect the workers not the capitalists. Henri de Saint Simon, Charles Fourier, Robert Owen, Karl Marx.
New Ideologies of the 1800s
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Utilitarianism: the Best Form of Government does the most good for the greatest number of people
Nationalism: pride on language, tradition, culture and religion. Folktales, Poems, songs, grammar, dictionaries as sources of the traditional culture of a nation. Germany, Italy, Ireland, Poland and Hungary.
New Ideologies of the 1800s
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Corn Laws: taxes placed on imported goods
More expensive, lower quality British grain
Keep British money in Britain rather in France
Corn Laws passed by the Tories.
Whigs: working class, merchants, factory owners. Opposed to the Laws.
Peterloo Massacre in 1819: 80,000 people gather in Manchester.
Anti-Corn League established and in 1846 Corn Laws repealed.
British Corn Laws
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Till 1848: idealism and reason prevail
As of 1848: Realpolitik and action arises.
Rejects the high-minded ideologies for actions and ends the Enlightenment
Right wing: Otto von Bismarck in Germany. Alters the “Ems Telegram” to spur war with France. Napoleon III widens the streets of Paris. Italy’s Cavour gets Napoleon III to attack Austria.
Left wing: Marx advocates violent revolution of the proletariat to install a communist system.
The Era of Realpolitik
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1870 to 1914: Europe considerably more stable than previous decades
Formation of new states in Germany and Italy
Political Reformations in older states such as Britain and Austria
Internal stability coupled with technological advances promotes political power and will pursued outside Europe
Imperialism not a new concept
Spain, Portugal and Netherlands: large overseas empires result of the age of exploration
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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New technologies of the 19th Century encouraged imperial growth
Quinine: contest of inland Africa
Telegraph: monitoring imperial possessions.
States of Europe take control of large territories in Africa and Asia thus heralding the new Era of Imperialism
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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After France’s defeat in Franco-Prussian War, Bismark requires elections to negotiate peace
Provisional Gov’t elections: Monarchists elected.
Paris forms own government, 40 member council’s “commune”
Commune establishes equality for all citizens, promotion of women’s rights and communal workshops
French provisional governemtn sends troops to Paris
Commune’s members kill the Archbishop, 20000 Parisians killed
1871-1940: the 3rd Republic of France: ceremonial president and a two-chamber Parliament with universal male suffrage
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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The idea of German State existed since the early middle ages.
The Kingdom of Germany succeeded by the Holy Roman Empire
Power of the central states declines till its abolition in 1806
1815 German territory divides into 40 small states
Popular Nationalism sparked by Napoleonic invasion in 1806
People wish to escape influence of foreign autocrats (France and Austria Emperors) and build their own state
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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Unification of Germany not solely due to nationalism
German rulers understand that there is strength in working together
Inter-state cooperation across the German Heartland: Zollverein
Nationalistic and economic factors exploited by the conservative king of Prussia and his chief Minister, Otto von Bismarck.
Vision of unified German state that excludes Austrian influence in particular
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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Italy: a patchwork of small states throughout the middle ages and early modern period
Urbanization and geographical location meant political importance
Dominate by foreign powers for much of this period, esp. the Bourbon Dynasty that placed Kings for France and Spain
This dominance brought to end by Napoleonic wars
Monarchies of France and Spain weakened by the prolonged war
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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Napoleon attempted to conglomerate Italy into single state
Process that encouraged sense in Italians to belong to a nation
National Flag: the green, white and red tricolore
Although the Treaty of Vienna restored many Italian states, nationalistic feeling remained
Nationalistic and revolutionary groups against the autocrats of the ruing Italian states
Frequent insurrections, however, small and easily dealt with by rulers in Italy
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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Italian Unification led by Count Camillo Benso di Cavour (ideology) and Guiseppe Garibaldi (the action)
Cavour builds a strong army, healthy economy and political freedoms in Piedmont-Sardinia
Garibaldi leads the Red Shirts or guerilla fighters in southern Italy
Cavour sends troops to stop Garibaldi from invading Rome
Become allies in Naples
1861 the Kingdom of Italy declared, however, unification completes only in 1871 (with the end of Franco-Prussian war)
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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Russia, late 1800s, strives to increase power and westernize
Militarily the state was weaker than other nations
Autocratic Czar and serfdom
Small middle class and no industrialization
Nicholas I rules using police action and use of army
Alexander II, using the defeat in Crimea (1853-1856), follows the European model to become more powerful
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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In 1861, serfs were given freedom
Nevertheless, serfs were still bound to their formal feudal dues and had to pay a redemption fee to their former lords
Alexander II ended Nicholas I’s secret police and created public trials and juries
Zemstvos: local provincials councils elected by people that dealt with local governmental issues
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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Despite this, unrest persisted. Peasant Revolutionaries resented the redemption fees
Nihilists: believe in science, reject traditional society and culture
Anarchists: set to destroy any government
“People’s Will” assassinates Alexander II
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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International Relations and Imperialism
Herbert Spencer’s social Darwinism
Europeans “most fit” due to technological advancements, education, governmental systems etc.
The concept of “white man’s burden” arises
Ideas and Institutions imposed forcefully
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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European Industrialization leads to increased need for resources
High level of Nationalism fosters desire for more troops
Colonies needed to provide troops, naval bases and refueling points
Late 1800s, number of European countries possessed new colonies
Belgium: Congo in central Africa
France: Algeria
Italy: Somalia
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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“The sun never sets on the British Empire”
Britain expanded to include Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa
British, Dutch and French established colonies in Asia
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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Crimean War
Roots in the so-called “Eastern Question”
Crimean war initiated by Nicholas I pressure on the Ottoman Empire and Russia’s claim for the protection of the Orthodox Christians under the Ottoman rule
Britan and France get involved to prevent Russia from expanding, taking control over the Turkish Straits & Eastern Mediterranean, and upsetting the European balance of power
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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The first “modern” war
1st time railroads were used to transport troops and goods
1st time steam powered ships were used
New weapons and techniques, artillery and deployment of trenches
Telegraph allowed for the 1st Live war to be broadcast
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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Conflict marked the end of the Concert of Europe
Russia was defeated looked week
Alexander II enacts internal reforms
Industrialization and modernization
Ottoman Empire kept intact till WWI
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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Thank you for your attention
European Imperialism and Nationalism
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