Nationalism Essay, Research Paper

Nationalism

Nationalism can be defined as having a sense of belonging and loyalty to ones country or nation state. It is the belief that people derive their identity from their nation and therefore owe their nation their primary loyalty. Nationhood can include a common language, religion, political authority, as well as common traditions and shared history. Of all the European nations, France was the first to sport the idea of nationalism. Many countries became influenced by the French’s ideas of nationalism, as a result nationalism had spread throughout Europe by the nineteenth and twentieth century. One result that nationalism had on Europe was the wanting of unification. The people of nation states wanted their country to belong as well. This wanting lead to the unifying of Italy and Germany. Soon nationalism had increased the people?s confidence. and a feeling of imperialism ran through the unified countries. Unified countries such as France, Germany, and Russia wanted to extend their empires. But this Imperialism in Europe led to many conflicts between countries. All this Conflict eventually resulted in the beginning of World War I

The causes of World War I were the intense nationalism that dominated Europe throughout the 19th and into the 20th century, and the establishment of large armies in Europe after 1871. Imperialism created a rivalry between nations and empires. The build-up of armies and navies created fear between nations. France feared Germany, Germany feared Russia, Britain feared the German’s expanding navy, and Italy was jealous of French and English colonies in Africa. The Ottoman Empire also struggled to survive in a hostile climate. Germany signed a secret alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy, creating a Triple Alliance. France and Russia signed an Entente agreement which was later signed by Britain, creating Triple Entente. Then Europe was divided into hostile camps. During this time nationalism had caused a glorified view of the war.

Throughout the majority of German states, the political order was authoritarian and inflexible. The ruling houses had the effective power and final say in government. In many of the German states, the middle class, intellectuals, journalists, university professors, and students were frustrated with this existing system. They were tired and fed up with the lack of free institutions and the failure of the patriotic war against Napoleon to create a united Germany. Young students attempted to protest and did so by forming a brotherhood, which was called Burschenschafter, whose slogan was ?Honor, Liberty, Fatherhood.? In order to prevent an uprise or rebellion. Metternich imposed new polices that established censorship or the press, closed supervision over the universities, and the dissolution of youth groups. Consequently, total persecution of and injustice towards nationalists followed.

During the period of the French Revolution political nationalism was born and it placed great passion and a sense of urgency into the new ideology. Several countries excepted nationalism and put it into effect when there was a great demand for it. For example, when France was attacked by neighboring countries, which were ruled by kings and dukes, the Legislative assembly called on the French people to rise and save the nation. Intellectuals in Germany and Italy, in reaction to French threat, also embraced the spirit of nationalism. Johann Gottfried Fitch delivered his series of Addresses to the German Nation after the Prussian defeat at Jena, asking all Germans to rise up against Napoleon and to salvage their great nation.

Nationalism, in a sense, was growing and spreading throughout Europe, but early in the nineteenth century, people felt more local and regional loyalty rather than national loyalty. After several decades of propaganda however, this new ideology won more support and people soon began believing in dying for their country. This can be seen by the inspired and courageous efforts of fellow countrymen to battle for their nation’s pride. Nationalism was no longer an idea, but rather a cause.