How did the French Revolution influence the development of nationalism in 19th century Europe - Essay Example

How did the French Revolution influence the development of nationalism in 19th century Europe? Introduction Smith (1998, p.12) argues that the French Revolution played a huge role in the advancement of Europe into modernity. The French revolution of 1789-1914 was a cultural, political, economic, and social revolution that created a new way of thinking and talking about politics, including economics, society, space, and time. The revolution was mainly based on the need for sovereignty of states and ensuring that the affairs of the nation are determined by the people themselves according to Smith (1998, p.12). This is what led to the birth of nationalism as an ideology. Smith (1998, p.12) argues that the ideology of nationalism played a big role in the development of Europe. The idea is said to have arisen in 19th century preceded by the French revolution of 1789-1914 in which the nationalism ideology swept across Europe thereby transforming countries of Europe (Kramer 2011, p.31). For instance, the emergence of nationalism ideology in Europe played a crucial role in the development of several countries within Europe. Some of the countries that were formed due to the influence of nationalism of the 19th century include Italy and Germany, which were formed by uniting smaller states in the region that shared a common ‘national identity’ as advocated for by nationalism (Kramer 2011, p.31). At the same time, the idea of nationalism led to the formation of other countries such as Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Poland, which won their independence during the time. However, the French revolution is believed to have played a major role in the development of nationalism in the 19th century. This is thought to have been so because the French revolution is said to have championed on the nationalism ideology which later spread to other nations in Europe according to Kramer (2011, p.31). This paper will examine the level to which the French Revolution influenced the development of nationalism in 19th century Europe. The idea of nationalism is said to have emerged from the French Revolution in 1789. It is reported that, during this time, France was already a fully-fledge territorial nation under the rule of a powerful monarch. The French Revolution that took place during this time brought a lot of changes both political and constitutional that led to a shift of sovereignty from the monarch to the citizens of France. The French Revolution clamoured for the introduction of a system in which power is to be vested on the people who would henceforth be mandated to constitute the nation and determine its destiny (Nadia 2012). It is also noted that, right from the start, the French revolutionaries brought in place practices and measures aimed at creating a sense of collectivity among the people of France (Nadia 2012). For instance, the la patrie (the fatherland) idea and Ie citoyen (the citizen) advocated for a united community where people are free and enjoy equal rights as enshrined in the constitution. As a result, the French people chose a national flag, the tricolour, in replacement of its royal standard. This was followed by the election of Estates General by citizens and later on renamed as the National Assembly (Anderson 1983, p.60). After the formation of the National Assembly, the French people then composed hymns, took oaths and commemorated martyrs all in the name of their country. The French also formed a centralized system of government accompanied by the formulation of laws that were to govern the country. At the same time, French abolished the dues and custom duties that used to be imposed on its citizens and replacing it with a weight and measure system (Anderson 1983, p.60). The French laws also discouraged the use of regional dialects, while encouraging the use of French, as it was being spoken and written in Paris, which later became the common language of the country. The revolutionaries that took part in French Revolution also maintained that it was their duty as French revolutionaries to set free the people of Europe from dictatorship (Kramer 2011, p.32). By doing this, they believe they would be able to help other people of Europe become sovereign under self-rule in an independent nation. The news of French revolution later spread very fast to the rest of Europe and became the talk of every city. The news prompted students from various Universities and colleges in Europe, as well as the educated middle classes to start forming Jacobin clubs. The mission of these clubs was to pave the way for the French armies to move into countries such as Belgium, Italy, Holland, and Switzerland in the 1790s (Kramer 2011, p.32). The war soon began giving the French armies’ time to begin introducing the nationalism idea in Europe. Johnson (2003, p.42) notes that Napoleon fought a very intense war capturing several territories and putting them under his control, after which he began introducing several reforms, which he had already introduced in France to different territories he captured in Europe. It is noted that the return of monarch rule under Napoleon did destroy French democracy but at the same time administratively incorporated revolutionary principles aimed at making the entire system more efficient and balanced. For example, The Napoleon code, the Civil Code of 1804 abolished all birth privileges, introduced the right to property and equality before the law (Johnson 2003, p.42). The Napoleon code was later exported to the different regions in Europe where the French had conquered and put under their control. For example, Johnson (2003, p.43) noted that, after conquering countries such as Switzerland, Italy, Netherland, and Germany, Napoleon decided to simplify administrative divisions while at the same time freeing peasants from serfdom, as well as doing away with the feudal system. Napoleon also abolished the guild restrictions in all towns in these countries while improving communication and transport system. In addition, the presence of napoleon also brought freedom to artisans, peasants, workers and new businesses, since all the restrictions that had been imposed on them for a long time were eventually removed (Johnson 2003, p.43). For example, the Napoleon’s presence in these countries made it possible for small-scale farmers and businessmen to begin realizing that the use of uniform laws, common national currency and standardized weights and balance would promote the exchange and movement of capital and goods from one point to another according to Johnson (2003, p.43). The idea of nationalism is also emphasized on the value of raison d`état and nation building, all of which were influenced by the Napoleon war and the French Revolution of 19th century (Nadia 2012). Historians argue that the defeat of Napoleon Wars was caused mainly by the increase in bureaucratic state in France, which was later spread to other parts of Europe, which made it easy for stronger armies and rendering a new raison d`état. Bureaucracy also acted as a strong counter revolutionary strategy that lead to the formation of strong and several bureaucratic states at the wake of 1815 (Anderson 1983, p.62). Bureaucracy created a centralized system of government that strengthened institutions, which in turn, ignited the quest for national consciousness. For instance, it is reported that, before 1889, all the European countries were just but a society of orders, with aristocratic monopoly (Nadia 2012). However, the French revolution did away with the kind of state of affairs that resulted in the emergence of a new order by the Napoleon era such as property rights and the growth of the bourgeoisie system of the capitalists. As a result, more men became involved in economic and political activities resulting in the development of social mobilization, thereby legitimizing the politics of the nation, as well as introducing freedom in the country. Nation building also entailed mobilization and breakdown of barriers, as well as establishing new contacts between states and rural areas thereby making people develop political interests beyond the local areas where they hail from (Merriman 2004, p.12). An example was witnessed in Italy that experienced revival of governmental and cultural life due to the effects of changes brought by Napoleon. For instance, it is reported that the outbreak of the French Revolution introduced instant qualitative changes in the politics of Italy (Merriman 2004, p.12). This is because it led to the galvanization of secret societies against the aristocracy thereby stimulating the spirit of national consciousness by enlivening revolutionary principles and ideas of the ancient Roman Empire. Therefore, it becomes evident that the growth of nationalism together with nation building spirit was strongly influenced the French Revolution and the Napoleon Wars. The impact of the French Revolution on the establishment of nationalism in Europe can also be based on the fact that, before the revolution, European countries as they are known today existed merely as territories where people were only unified under their sovereignty according to Merriman (2004, p.5). However, the French Revolution of 1789-1799, gave birth to the nationalism ideology that helped in drawing people together for a common political goal. This led to the abolition of the monarch system to people driven governance. For instance, it is reported that after the spread of the French ideology in Europe, an ethnic-driven nationalism developed. In this regard, nationalism ideology advocated for about by the French Revolution led to the emergence of the Pan-Germanism (Merriman 2004, p.5). This idea led to the development of a nation from territories of German-speaking states and ethnic Germans. Nevertheless, the inability of the Germans to absorb and integrate its diverse communities led to the development of ultra national sentiments. Johnson (2003, p.44) reveals that Italy, like Germany also had a long history of political differences. Italians were spread over numerous dynastic states and several national Habsburg Empires. For instance, Italy is reported to have been dived into seven states. However, only one out of the seven states, the Sardinia-Piedmont was under the rule of Italian presence. The Northern part, which had been captured by Australia, was thereby being ruled by the Austrian Habsburgs, while the central region was under the rule of Pope while the south was being ruled by the Spain’s Bourbon kings (Johnson 2003, p.44). At the same time, the Italian language existed in several local and regional dialects with no common form. However, under the influence of the French Revolution that had caused shock waves in Europe, in 1830s, Giuseppe Mazzini sought to introduce programs aimed at unifying Italy into a unitary Republic of Italy. From the influence of the French Revolution, he formed a secret society known as Young Italy for the implementation of its mission. As a result, King Victor Emmanuel II, the ruler of Sardinia-Piedmont sought to use war, like Napoleon did to unite Italy into one independent nation (Johnson 2003, p.44). The ruling elite believed that the unification of the country would provide the opportunity for political and economic dominance in the region. Smith (1998, p.17) notes that Cavour, the commander who led the “irredentism” movement formed for the purpose of unifying fragmented regions of Italy was neither a democrat nor a revolutionary. However, like many other educated and rich Italian elites, he was a good speaker of French language that Italian. In his quest to unify Italy, he formed a diplomatic alliance with France, which later succeeded in ousting Australian Armies in the north in 1859. Backed up by armed volunteers, the movement later moved to the south and later to the rest of the country where they succeeded in winning the support of peasants who assisted in driving out the Spanish forces from Italy (Smith 1998, p.17). The war was completely won in 1861, in which Victor Emmanuel II became the leader of a united Italy. What is noted is that the unification of the country into a unitary Italy was influenced hugely by the French revolution, which advocated for a unitary state under nationalism ideology. Lilkinut Ltd (2013) reveals that the French Revolution also influenced the development of nationalism in Europe by encouraging the clamor for independence among several nations in Europe. This was evident in countries such as Italy, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Ireland, and Hungary where the local hostility to foreign dynast authorities began to take the nationalist agitation form, as was the case during the French Revolution (Anderson 1983, p.62). Due to the influence of the French Revolution under the ideology of nationalism, countries in Europe also began seeing nationalism as the most effective way to resist foreign forces and begin uniting the nation for a common cause. The clamour for the French nationalism ideology led to the emergence of the Serbian national revolution of 1804-1817, which led to the establishment of the first nation-state in Central Europe. Another success of independence was also witnessed in Greece following an eight-year war of 1821-1829 against the rule of Ottoman leading to the declaration of the independence of Greece (Lilkinut Ltd 2013). The influence of the French Revolution was also experienced in Belgium, which led them to war for independence against Netherlands in 1831. Many scholars argue that, without the influence of the napoleon Wars and the French Revolution, probably many countries could not have seen the need for independence and unity in Euro. This shows how significant the French Revolution bought about the nationalism ideology in Europe that led to the clamour for independence that make most countries of Europe become free from the monarch and dictatorship rules. Conclusion It can be concluded with certainty that the French Revolution did influence the development of nationalism in the ninetieth century Europe. This is because it can be seen the ideology of nationalism advocated for during the French Revolution helped in drawing several countries into politics. At the same time, the revolution played a big role in uniting different territories into a single republic as it did in Germany and Italy. In addition, the spread of nationalism of the French in Europe fostered the establishment of national symbols such as flags and national anthems throughout Europe. References Anderson, B. (1983). Imagined communities: reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism London: Verso. Johnson, R. (2003), European history 1870-1918: the rise of nationalism. Oxford: Trans-Atlantic Publications. Kramer, L.S. (2011), Ideology, Values, and Technology in Political Life. London: UNC Press Books. Lilkinut Ltd (2013), What social conditions promoted popular nationalism in the late 19th century? http://writing.wikinut.com/What-social-conditions-promoted-popular-nationalism-in-the-late-19th-century/i00odq2k/ (Accessed on 25 Feb. 2013). Merriman, J. (2004) A History of Modern Europe (2nd ed.). London: W.W. Norton & Company. Nadia (2012), Was Modern Nationalism A Direct Product Of The French Revolution And The Napoleonic Wars? http://www.tutorhunt.com/resource/904/ (Accessed on 25 Feb. 2013). Smith, A.D. (1998), Nationalism and Modernism: A Critical Survey of Recent Theories of Nations and Nationalism. Oxford: Routledge. Read More