Nationalism and Germany

Nationalism after 1815 Napoleon has an immense impact on the German states- similar to Italy- unity of laws, administration and other liberal ideas It catches on but only in academic and intellectual circles- they laid the groundwork of the nationalist movement- studying culture, history and geography German artists and writers perpetuated these ideas and a “German” culture was becoming unique The most important aspect of this is that these national theorists believed that their national character was an intrinsic good- preserved and promoted

History and Nationalism History provides much of the fuel for nationalism. It creates collective memories that help to bring the nation into being. The shared celebration of the nation’s great achievements- and the shared sorrow at its defeats- sustain it and foster it. The further back the history appears to go, the more solid and enduring the nation-seems- and the worthier its claims. MacMillan, M The Uses and Abuses of History. Toronto, Canada. Penguin. p. 87

Nationalism and the Arts Intellectual currents closely mirrored developments in the arts- nationalism is a feeling, therefore the arts is a powerful medium for the movement Mozart- German opera over Italian- 1800’s is full of artists using their national cultural as inspiration Wagner, Brothers Grimm, Goethe, Von Herder, Hegel, Schlosser, List etc.. Key point- History is used to legitimize the national cause- (Basques, Quebecoise, Irish Republicans, Chechens, Scots)

Nationalism and the Arts The French Revolution was the ideological spark for the movement, however it is Napoleon’s administration that caused practical advancements in the idea of nationalism Napoleon, just like in Italy, Napoleon applied the enlightened (and liberal) notions of consistency and efficiency to the states- unified many of them by removing the HRE- Confederacy of the Rhine Napoleon disregarded the religion of the states, which is something very German anyway, kindles a spark in German national uniqueness

Liberalism and Nationalism A growth in nationalist attitudes does not mean a pervasive nationalist sentiment- most races were more concerned with improving their status (political), therefore most nationalism had a large ‘liberal’ side to it For the Germans: the unified fight against Napoleon had encouraged German nationalist horizons- they had seen the results of their unity Napoleon destroyed the Holy Roman Empire in it was replaced by the German Confederation- worrying for Austria but not threatening The confederation increased liberal (economics) thinking more than national feeling

Impact of Napoleon France was at war with Prussia and Austria 1806 HRE abolished Smaller states who supplied taxes and soldiers were rewarded Jerome Napoleon became King of Westphalia After Complexity of German states was reduced- Patriotic resistance emerged

Impact of Napoleon- Prussia 1807 Serfdom abolished and class restrictions were reduced Military reforms- merit based advancement, Landwehr and Military Service introduced in 1814 Noble dominated parliament- Educational reforms Created much greater unity of Prussia, new legal codes based on Napoleon- very consistent and uniform Prussia in 1815 was not the same as in 1789

Nationalism Youthful Academic Romantic Anti-Semitic