The French revolution and the idea of nation
→The first clear expression of nationalism came with the French revolution in 1789.
Many steps were taken by the French revolutionaries to create a sense of collective identity among the French people :-
~• The idea of la patrie (the fatherland) and le citoyen (the citizen) were adopted.
~• The Royal flag was replaced by a New French flag
~• The Estates General was renamed the National Assembly and was elected by the body of active citizens.
~• New hymns(राष्ट्रगान) were composed, oaths(शपथ) taken and Martyrs commemorated (शहीदों को श्रद्धांजलि दी गई).
~• A centralised administration system was established.
~• Internal custom duties (सीमा शुल्क) were abolished.
~• Uniform system of weight and measures were adopted.
~• Regional dialects (बोलियां) were discouraged and French became the common language of nation.
Napoleon
→ Ruler of France from 1799 to 1815.
→ No doubt, he destroyed democracy in France but he made administrative field more rational and efficient.
→ He introduced the civil code of 1804.
→Also known as Napoleonic code.
Civil code of 1804
~•~ Removed all privileges based on birth.
~•~ Established equality before law.
~•~ Right to property for French citizens
~•~ Simplification of administrative divisions.
~•~ Abolished feudal system and freed peasants from serfdom (गुलामी).
~•~ Guild (सामाजिक) restrictions were removed.
~•~ Improved transport and communication systems.
Drawback of Napoleon
• Increased taxation
• Introduced censorship
• Forced people to join French army
→ His dream was to establish control all over the Europe.
The Making of Nationalism in Europe
→There were no Nation- states in Europe during mid 18th century .
→ Diversity and ethnicity is too much among the people.
→ Their culture is also different.
→ Even they spoke different languages.
→ Also they belong to different ethnic groups.
@ Such differences did not easily promote a sense of political unity.
# Let's see How did nationalism and the idea of national state in emerge ?
The Aristocracy and the New Middle Classes
The Aristocracy
→Aristocracy are the ruling peoples and people related to them.
• United by a common way of life.
• Land owning class.
• They spoke French for the purpose of diplomacy.
• Their families were connected by ties of marriage.
• Small in number.
Peasantry
→ किसान/ देहाती लोग
• Large in population
• Looked after aristocracy land.
The New middle class
• New social class emerged with the growth of towns and industries.
• Educated classes idea of nationality gained popularity.
• Comprises of industrialists, businessmen, professionals.
What did Liberal Nationalism stand for ?
→ The term 'liberalism' is derived from the Latin root liber, meaning free.
→ For new middle classes liberalism stood for freedom for the individual and equality of all before the law.
Liberalism in political sphere
• It emphasised the concept of government by consent.
• Since the French revolution, liberalism had stood for the end of autocracy and clerical privileges.
• A constitution and representative government through parliament.
• 19th century liberals also bestressed the inviolability of private property.
Liberalism in economic sphere
• It stood for the freedom of markets.
• Abolition of a state- imposed custom duties/ taxes.
→ In 1834, a Custom Union ( सीमा शुल्क संघ) or zollverein was formed at the initiative of Prussia.
•Zollverein abolished tariff barriers,
•Reduced to the number of currencies from 30 to 2 and
•Created a network of railways.
A new conservation after 1815
→ Napoleon was defeated in 1815.
→ Britain, Russia, Prussia and Austria collectively defeated Napoleon.
→ Some conservatives wanted to keep the good changes made by Napoleon like modern army, efficient bereaucracy, dynamic economy.
→ In 1815, Britain, Russia, Prussia and Austria meet at Vienna (Austria) for the settlement of Europe.
→The Congress (सम्मेलन) was hosted by the Austrian Chancellor Duke Metternich.
→ They drew up the Treaty of Vienna of 1815.
Treaty of Vienna of 1815
• The Bourbon dynasty was restored to power.
• France lost the territories it had annexed under Napoleon.
• A series of states were set up on the boundaries of France to prevent French expansion in future.
• The main intention was to restore the monarchy that had been overthrown by Napoleon, and create a new conservative order in Europe.
• German confederation of 39 states that had been set up by Napoleon was left untouched.
~• Prussia was given a portion of Saxony.
~• Austria got control over North Italy.
~• Russia was given a part of Poland.