The nationalism of the French Revolution was very much a nationalism in support of freedom, for all people - French or not. As such, the French were united in their commitment to this doctrine of liberty, and to passing this on. Similarly, the Rebuplicans of Northern states of America were united in a desire to see the ideology of republicanism brought to Europe, and there, spread. As these ideologies gained greater footholds, however, they developed from a desire to spread what was likened to 'advice', to a practical imposition. Nationalism began to incorporate superiority at a large scale-the extension of which was a desire to 'educate', or to see the superior ideologies or customs implanted in inferior societies. This was to result in the occupation of the Napoleonic Wars, and further French Imperialism, British Imperialism, and Japanese expansion.
The meaning and character of nationalism changed drastically from the French Revolution to 1900. The French Revolution started the idea of nationalism. Whereas before the Revolution people felt no real connection to the nation, during the Revolution people started fighting for the “Fatherland” and national pride and patriotism flourished. The American Civil War saw this idea strengthen when citizens stopped seeing themselves as part of an union of distinct states and started to see themselves as members of an unified nation where a common history and ideology fostered a shared feeling of pride. In the Unification of Germany nationalism came about through centralization under Empire and the unification of government. For the first time nationalism was defined by who wasn’t included in the nation, namely Catholics and Socialists. Finally, in British Imperialism nationalism meant your superior race and beliefs to the rest of the world.
The nationalism of the French Revolution was very much a nationalism in support of freedom, for all people - French or not. As such, the French were united in their commitment to this doctrine of liberty, and to passing this on. Similarly, the Rebuplicans of Northern states of America were united in a desire to see the ideology of republicanism brought to Europe, and there, spread. As these ideologies gained greater footholds, however, they developed from a desire to spread what was likened to 'advice', to a practical imposition. Nationalism began to incorporate superiority at a large scale-the extension of which was a desire to 'educate', or to see the superior ideologies or customs implanted in inferior societies. This was to result in the occupation of the Napoleonic Wars, and further French Imperialism, British Imperialism, and Japanese expansion.
ReplyDeleteThe meaning and character of nationalism changed drastically from the French Revolution to 1900. The French Revolution started the idea of nationalism. Whereas before the Revolution people felt no real connection to the nation, during the Revolution people started fighting for the “Fatherland” and national pride and patriotism flourished. The American Civil War saw this idea strengthen when citizens stopped seeing themselves as part of an union of distinct states and started to see themselves as members of an unified nation where a common history and ideology fostered a shared feeling of pride. In the Unification of Germany nationalism came about through centralization under Empire and the unification of government. For the first time nationalism was defined by who wasn’t included in the nation, namely Catholics and Socialists. Finally, in British Imperialism nationalism meant your superior race and beliefs to the rest of the world.
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