Europe & Africa in the 19th Century - Report Example

Why was there no major war between European powers in the first half of the nineteenth century? Introduction The first-half of the 19th century was characterized by peace in Europe, although there were some aspects of conflicts between the nations, which did not result into a major regional conflict and war, considering that such conflicts were limited between two countries thus did not raise the attention of the other major powers. Additionally, such conflicts were not major, and thus they lasted for a short duration and then came to an end. Therefore, Europe registered a period of relative peace and thus continued to grow and develop its economy, until the development was abruptly stopped by the rise of the First World War in 1914, which then tore down the progress that had been made in Europe, and devastated the economies of the European Nations significantly. There are various factors that have been put forward as having contributed to the period of relative peace in the first-half of the 19th century in Europe. These factors include: Nationalism Nationalism is a major concept that helped the major European powers to avoid getting into a major war during the first-half of the 19th century. This is because, a wave of nationalism swept through Europe at the end of the 18th century and persisted through the 19th century, where people started becoming more interested in identifying with their country (Lambert, n.p.). The growing interest in national identity then meant that the major powers in Europe had found a different form of strength, which was totally different from the territorial supremacy, considering that with internal support and loyalty from the people within the country, the major powers did not need to worry anymore about the dangers of cessation groups seeking to break out of the nations and establish their own (Kissinger, 22). Therefore, the emergence of nationalism forced the countries to concentrate on the internal affair, especially considering that national identity and national values became the major premises on which the major European powers sought to trade their brand in the European region, since the proper integration of the principles of religion, race and languages meant that the countries did not have to worry anymore about possible internal revolutions and cessations, which had characterized the first-half of the 19th century (Martel, 65). Further, the concept of nationalism also meant that such countries were now in a better position to continue focusing on important issues of the countries such as development, as opposed to territorial conquest. Liberalism Liberalism is a concept that became the premier ideology for reform in Europe during the first-half of the 19th century (Jones, n.p.). However, the implications and benefits obtainable from the ideology of liberalism varied to a greater extent amongst the major powers in Europe. This is because; while to some powers liberalism was the fundamental basis through which freedom for the citizens could be attained, to others, liberalism meant the onset of revolutions and toppling of the ruling regimes. Therefore, liberalism simply forced countries to focus more on their internal affairs, considering that the attainment of more freedom by the civilians put the governments in power at the risk of facing more revolts. Further, liberalism took different forms, with race, religion and ethnicity being among the basis used to reinforce togetherness by the people, so they could stand strong against the governments (The Age of Progress, n.p.). This was a threat o the ruling regimes, requiring them to focus more on managing internal affairs. Additionally, there was liberalism that took the form of secularism, where the groups that were opposed to certain religious doctrines sought to limit the influence of such religions in the country. This way, the governments of such countries had double risks, which involved focusing on avoiding revolts from the united groups, while also focusing on quelling the dissent and antagonism between secularism and religion, which would also pose a threat of destabilizing the country (Jones, n.p.). Consequently, liberalism gave the governments of the major European powers all the reasons to be concerned and to focus on their internal affairs, thus helping such countries stop focusing on external matters that could spark a major war. Fear of monarchy domination Opposition against the monarchial expansion to other territories is another factor that helped the major European powers to avoid major war during the first-half of the 19th century. The strength of the monarchs and the royal families was a major threat to the sovereignty of the major powers in Europe, considering that certain monarchs such as the French and the Spanish monarchs were very strong, and they constantly posed the threat of extending their influence to the territories of other countries (Lambert, n.p.). Consequently, the countries were forced to unite so they could fight the threats of invasion by the powerful monarchies, a factor that effectively helped the major European powers to remain friendly, and thus avoid any chances of major war between them. Further, the opposition of the monarchial system within the monarchs came with much desire and demand for power and freedom by the people, where those who felt that the manner in which the royal families and the dynasties that ruled the countries were conducting themselves was untenable, started agitating for reform in the system of rule (Kissinger, 54). Amongst the countries that sought to change the system of rule was France, where the people felt that the monarchial rule was no longer working well for the nation, and thus the working class, who carried the heaviest burden of taxes started agitating for the change in the system of rule, into a more democratic system (Martel, 39). Age of progress The first-half of the 19th century has been regarded as the age of progress in Europe, when major scientific and technological advances were made, which eventually changed the life of the people in Europe drastically (The Age of Progress, n.p.). Therefore, the age of progress is associated with the relative peace that was registered during this period. The age progress brought with it, the need for the nations to keep peace, so that the developments and benefits that came as result of the progress in technology and science would work towards the development of the countries. With the excitement that was brought by these developments, many countries started focusing on their internal affairs, more specifically on the advancing the technological and scientific discoveries, so that they would emerge economically competitive in the region (Martel, 47). Thus, the age of progress helped he major European powers to concentrate on internal matters of development. Considering that no country wanted to be left behind in the advancements that would eventually determine which country emerged superior in the region, the age of progress served to avert any possible conflicts that would have triggered major wars between the European powers, through creating a significant incentive for the countries to concentrate in internal matters (The Age of Progress, n.p). The congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna held in 1815, is considered as fundamental in establishing peace in Europe, in the early 19th century. The major powers who had been involved in the war against Napoleon in France decided to enter into a conservative treaty that restored the initial peaceful coexistence between the European Nations, through defining the territorial boundary issues that were a major source of conflict in Eastern Europe (Lambert, n.p.). Considering that the agreement had returned the rule to the traditional systems, where each territory was to be under the control of the country or monarch that was traditionally the occupant of the region, peace was eventually established, and it was now time to concentrate on the progress and development. Thus, the Congress of Vienna served as a major factor in establishing peace in Europe in the first-half of the 19th century, and thus helped to avoid a major war between the major European powers. The rise of modern democracy The emergence of modern democracy is yet another factor that served to help avert any possible major war between the European powers in the first-half of the 19th century. The beginning of the 19th century was marked by the rule of strong monarchs in Europe, with the royal families claiming the right to rule over others throughout, since they were descendants of traditional dynasties that had ruled over such regions (Martel, 24). Nevertheless, owing to various shortcomings that were associated with monarchy and dynasty rules, a wind of democracy started sweeping throughout Europe, with people advocating for the need to be involved in the management and running of their countries. While the dynasties claimed the right to rule over the other citizens within the European powers, they depended highly on the powers of armed groups that they consistently used as their shield to protect them from the individuals who had alternative ideologies of leadership, such as democracy (The Age of Progress, n.p). In this respect therefore, there emergence of modern democracy with some nations embracing the right of the people to make their choices regarding the leaders who should take key positions in their governments eventually helped avert the possibility of a major war between the major European powers. This is because, democracy focused on the territorial integrity of each nation, as opposed to the dynasty rule that heavily depended on conquest of territories to exert their supremacy over others. Thus, the dynasty and monarchy rules were more prone to conflicts, as opposed t the democracy system of rule that swept Europe in the first-half of the 19th century (Lambert, n.p.). Internal uprisings and revolutions The first-half of the 19th century is a period that was characterized by various internal revolts and uprisings within different European powers. The revolutions within such European powers served to make the countries concentrate more on their internal affairs, as opposed to the external issues, thus helping to avert any possible major war that would have occurred in Europe during this period (Kissinger, 36). The revolutions started in France, after the dynasty ruling the country started imposing heavy taxation on the people, after France had emerged the strongest Nation in Europe in the late 18th century and the first-half of the 19th century. However, the most tormenting thing amongst the general public, was that the taxes were not imposed to increase on the economy or the life of the people, but rather to generate more money for the royal families to spend lavishly on lifestyles and also to fund the armies that were used to brutally enforce the provisions of taxation on the people (Jones, n.p.). Consequently, the population staged an uprising gain the ruling dynasty that eventually overthrew it, while the same revolution and uprising mood spread to the rest of Europe, after the power of the people was demonstrated in France. The wave of revolution quickly spread to the rest of Europe and even Latin America, despite the fact that there was no coordinated cooperation between the revolting groups in different countries. Thus, by 1848, many countries in Europe such as Germany, Italy Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland and Denmark had been affected by the revolutions, in what came to be known as the great uprising (Martel, 77). Worried by the uprisings, different countries started enacting measures that would stop the people from toppling the governments in power, like it had happened in France, while giving reforms a priority. This was necessary because, the revolutions were sparked by various grievances which touched on the welfare of the working class, lack of democracy amongst the nations and the failure of the ruling monarchs and dynasties to involve the people in decision-making, on how they should be ruled (Kissinger, 29). The efforts by the countries to establish the necessary reforms eventually paid off, since most of the revolutions were quelled within the same year, and the stable governments were established, to rule in accordance with the will of the people, mostly through exercised democracy, where the people were able to elect their leaders. Thus, the revolutions and uprisings occurring in Europe in the first-half of the 19th century played a vital role in averting the possible major wars between the European powers, considering that most of such nations were made to focus on their internal problems, thus did not have much resources, time and energy to commit to supremacy conflicts with other countries (Lambert, n.p.). Industrial revolution The industrial revolution is another major factor that contributed to the lack of a major war between the major European powers in the first-half of the 19th century. This is because, the advent of industrial revolution was marked by huge commitment of funds and other resources to the process of developing and advancing their economies, such that little resources and energy was left for the countries to focus on supremacy conflicts with each other (The Age of Progress, n.p.). Further, the excitement that came along industrial revolution meant that most of the European powers were seeking to advance their economies and build capacities to promote economic growth of their countries, since after the start of industrial revolution, the major problems associated with the working class and factory workers were many, thus there needed immediate solutions to such problems. In addition, industrial revolution brought the only major avenue through which any county could dominate Europe, based on how well the country took advantage of the opportunities brought about by industrial revolution (Lambert, n.p.). Therefore, industrial revolution was one of the major ways that any inter-country conflicts were averted and saved for another date, since the countries were competing to ensure that they build their capacities and compete with the others in the global economic arena. Thus, it helped the countries to concentrate on internal matters, while having less resources and energy to commit to supremacy contests, until the countries had developed and grown their economies as well as build their military capacities, when they started contesting for power and dominance, eventually sparking off the First World War (Martel, 41). Works Cited Jones, Jim. “Europe & Africa in the 19th Century”. Westchester University, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2014, from http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his312/lectures/19thcent.htm Kissinger, Henry. Diplomacy. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1994. Print. Lambert Tim. A history of England in the 19th century. ?” Retrieved February 24, 2014, from http://www.localhistories.org/19thcentengland.html Martel, Gordon. The Origins of the First World War. London, 1996. Print. The Age of Progress? 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2014, from http://www3.northern.edu/marmorsa/19thout.htm Read More