Nationalism and Unification in Europe
Congress of Vienna- European leaders met in 1815 to devise a plan to
restore peace in Europe after the various revolutions.
Two things were accomplished:
1. Balance of Power- a distribution of military and economic power
that prevents any one nation from becoming too strong.
2. All power was restored to European monarchs, which was a
reaction against many political revolutions.
Reaction to the Congress of Vienna:
Between the years of 1815- 1850 various revolutions against monarchs
were pursued in Europe. These revolutions occurred for two main
reasons.
1. Liberalism- people opposed the power of monarchs and sought
democratic reforms.
2. Nationalism- People wanted independent nation-states that were
free from foreign rule.
Revolutions of the 1830’s and 1848
Various revolting occurred in many parts of Europe, including Greece,
Poland, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and the Austrian Empire.
-These Revolutions led to major Independence Movements.
Unification of Italy- Italy since 400 B.C. had been divided into small
states but with the help and leadership of nationalists Mazzini, Cavour,
and Garibaldi the Italians were a united country by 1870. These men
helped to drive out foreign rule from Spain and Austria and let them
become an independent nation-state.
Unification of Germany- Germany also had been divided into small
states and after Napoleon had taken over much of Germany many
German states rose up against French rule to gain independence.
Under the rule of William I in 1871 the German states united with
Prussia to form Germany.
These nationalistic feelings added to the need for Imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism- is the domination by one country of the political,
economic, or cultural life of another country
Causes of Imperialism: (see handout)
Nationalism and Social Darwinism
- Nationalistic thought led to a feeling of superiority, so
imperialists felt they had the right to take control of other
countries they viewed as weaker.
- Social Darwinism also encouraged imperialism. This idea
applied to Darwin’s theory of Survival of the Fittest.
Social Darwinist’s argued that it was natural for stronger
nations to dominate weaker ones.
- “White Man’s Burden”- poem by Rudyard Kipling said
that white imperialists had a moral duty to educate
people in nations which they felt were under developed
and that they should spread western ideas and educate.
British East India Company
- This company established trade in India and by 1800
controlled 3/5ths of India.
- The company employed Indian soldiers called sepoys.
- The sepoys were forced to follow rules against their
Muslim religion and revolted, this was crushed by the
British army.
- The tension caused the British government to take control
of India in 1858.
The Scramble for Africa (1880-1914)
- In 1870 Belgium started a colony in the Congo of Africa
this sparked many European nations to begin to journey
to Africa for imperialism.
- The Berlin Conference- In 1884 European leaders met to
establish rules for colonizing Africa.
- European leaders divided Africa with no regards of who
lived there, in 1850 most of Africa was free, by 1920 most
of Africa was under European rule.
- The Zulu tribe in Africa led by Shaka resisted
colonization from the Dutch and British but eventually
were overpowered.
Imperialism in China
- China and the rest of the East did not want western
culture in their part of the world and greatly resisted
imperialism.
- British merchants began trading opium with China in the
1700’s. When the Chinese tried to ban the import of the
illegal drug Britain overpowered them and established
colonies in China. This battle is considered the Opium
War.
- After the Opium War other European powers carved up
the East with “ Spheres of Influence”- which meant that
foreign countries had exclusive trade rights.
- The Chinese reacted with many rebellions against foreign
power for control of their land, but nothing major was
accomplished until the early 20th century.
The Impact of Imperialism on Colonies and the World
(See Handout)