Main Idea: The force of
nationalism contributed to the formation of two new nations and a new political
order in Europe.
I.
Case Studies
A. Ideal of Nationalism: creating a Nation-State
1. Nationality—common ethnic ancestry
2. Language—dialects; one dialect chosen as national
language
3. Culture—shared way of life
4. History—common past
5. Religion—shared by all or most of the people
6. Territory—certain territory that belongs to the
ethnic group
7. Nation-State—defend the nation’s territory & way
of life; represent the nation to the rest of the world; embodies the people and
its ideals
B. Nationalism Shakes Aging Empires
1. Austro-Hungarian Empire: weakened by various
nationalist groups; finally dismantled at the end of WWI
2. Russian czar: attempts to unify diverse cultures fail;
finally collapses with the Bolshevik Revolution
3. Ottoman Empire: collapses at end of WWI
C. Italy
1. Giuseppe Mazzini: attempts to unite Italy & free
it from foreign rulers
2. Camillo di Cavour: Sardinia’s prime minister; wins
most of northern Italy from the Austrians
a. Arranges to unite Italy under the Sardinian king
3. Following unification, Italy suffers severe
political & economic problems
D. Prussia
1. King William I of Prussia: appoints Otto von
Bismarck prime minister
2. Bismarck: master of realpolitik
a. War to win two provinces from Denmark
b. Seven Weeks War: defeats Austrians; gains control of
a North German Confederation
c. Defeat France; making Prussia the dominant force in
Europe
E. Balance of Power Shifts
1. 1815 Congress of Vienna—Five Great Powers of
Europe—Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, Russia
2. 1871—Two Great Powers—Britain, Germany