19th Century Nationalism: The Unification of Italy and Germany
Nationalism: Movements and Ideologies
The nationalist movements of this era primarily aimed to oppose the pretense of Napoleonic European unity. The concept of the nation derived its existence from its citizens belonging to a village or community, who shared a common past, language, and culture.
Types of Nationalism in the 19th Century
Two distinct types of nationalism can be distinguished during this stage:
Progressive Nationalism
This ideology sought the release of subject nations and often linked areas with little or nothing in common (e.g., Greece and Belgium), insisting that these groups should form a unified state.
Traditionalist Nationalism
This movement claimed that territories sharing common elements, but politically divided, ought to aspire to become unified countries (e.g., Italy and Germany).
Along with these, the so-called Imperialist Nationalism emerged, based on the desire to expand territorially into other areas.
The Birth of Modern States: Italy and Germany
Nationalism became critically important in two highly fragmented areas, Italy and Germany. Both regions successfully achieved the unification of their respective territories.
The Unification of Italy (Risorgimento)
Before unification, Italy was divided into various states, including:
- Piedmont-Sardinia
- Lombardy-Veneto
- The Two Sicilies
- The Duchies of Parma, Modena, and Tuscany
- The Papal States
Key Protagonists of Italian Unification
The Kingdom of Sardinia, led by King Victor Emmanuel II and his minister Cavour, were the primary architects of the unit.
Major Events Leading to Italian Unity
Unification was significantly aided by the revolutionary efforts of Giuseppe Garibaldi. In 1861, Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed King of Italy. Venice subsequently joined the kingdom. Finally, in 1871, Rome became the capital of the newly unified Italian nation.
The Unification of Germany
Germany consisted of 39 states grouped into the Germanic Confederation. As a precursor to political union, a customs union (the Zollverein) had already been established in 1834 among the northern German states.
Protagonists and Prussian Leadership
The strongest states were Austria and the powerful Prussia. It was the latter, led by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who spearheaded the unification of Germany.
Bismarck and the Policy of Armed Peace
When the "Iron Chancellor" achieved the unification of Prussian-led Germany, his primary interest centered around avoiding any military conflict that could hamper the development of the Germanic nation. This focus led to a policy often characterized as the Armed Peace.