5.2 Nationalism and Revolutions in the Period from 1750 to 1900

Welcome to Topic 5.2: Nationalism and Revolutions!

In our previous look at the Enlightenment (Topic 5.1), we saw how new ideas about liberty and natural rights began to bubble up. Now, it is time to see those ideas in action! Between 1750 and 1900, these thoughts didn't just stay in books; they sparked revolutions and fueled a powerful force called nationalism. This chapter is all about how people around the world decided they wanted to define themselves and run their own governments.

Think of it this way: If the Enlightenment was the "spark," then Nationalism was the "fuel" that kept the revolutionary fire burning across the globe.

1. What Exactly is Nationalism?

Before we dive into the specific events, we need to understand the main "character" of this chapter: Nationalism. This is the feeling of belonging to a group that shares a common language, history, and culture.

In this period, nationalism led people to believe that their "nation" (the people) should have its own "state" (a government with borders). This was a huge change! Before this, most people were subjects of an empire or a king. Now, they wanted to be citizens of a nation-state.

Key Takeaway: Nationalism can be a "unifier" (bringing small groups together to make a big country) or a "divider" (causing people to want to break away from a large empire).

2. Nationalist Movements and Resistance

The official AP curriculum highlights several specific movements where people used nationalism to fight for their rights or their own country. Let’s look at them one by one:

A. The Propaganda Movement in the Philippines

In the late 1800s, the Philippines was a colony of Spain. Filipino students and intellectuals (many living in Europe) started the Propaganda Movement. They didn't necessarily want immediate independence at first; instead, they used writing, magazines, and "propaganda" to demand reform and equal rights for Filipinos under Spanish rule. This movement helped create a sense of Philippine national identity.

B. Maori Nationalism and the New Zealand Wars

In New Zealand, the indigenous Maori people faced increasing pressure from British settlers who wanted their land. The Maori tribes developed a sense of unity (nationalism) to protect their culture and territory. This led to the New Zealand Wars, a series of conflicts where the Maori fought bravely against the British military to maintain their sovereignty.

C. Lola Rodriguez de Tio

Lola Rodriguez de Tio was a famous poet from Puerto Rico. She is a great example of how culture and literature can fuel nationalism. Her writings were so powerful because they encouraged people in Puerto Rico and Cuba to find their own national identity and resist Spanish colonial rule.

Quick Review: Who were these movements fighting against?
• Propaganda Movement: Spain
• Maori: Britain
• Lola Rodriguez de Tio's inspiration: Spain

3. Unification: Coming Together

Sometimes, nationalism isn't about breaking away; it’s about small, separate pieces joining together to form a "supergroup." This is called unification.

German and Italian Unifications

Before the mid-1800s, "Germany" and "Italy" weren't single countries. They were collections of many small states that shared a common language and culture.
• Leaders used nationalist feelings to convince these small states that they would be stronger and more prosperous if they merged into one large, powerful nation.
• By 1871, both Germany and Italy had successfully unified, completely changing the map of Europe.

4. Tensions in the Empires

Large, multi-ethnic empires struggled with nationalism because many different groups of people lived within their borders. If every group wanted their own country, the empire would fall apart!

A. Balkan Nationalisms

The Balkan Peninsula (in Southeastern Europe) was controlled by the Ottoman Empire for centuries. However, groups like the Greeks, Serbs, and Bulgarians began to feel a strong sense of Balkan nationalism. They fought many wars to gain independence from the "Sick Man of Europe" (the Ottoman Empire), successfully carving out new independent states.

B. Ottomanism

The Ottoman government tried to fight back against this "breaking apart" by creating Ottomanism. This was an attempt to create a unified identity for all people living in the empire, regardless of their religion or ethnicity. They hoped that if everyone felt like an "Ottoman," they wouldn't want to leave.
Spoiler Alert: It didn't work very well because people’s local ethnic identities were usually stronger than their loyalty to the Empire.

Did You Know? Creating a "national identity" is like trying to get everyone in a huge school to wear the same jersey. It works if they all like the team, but if they all have their own favorite teams, they're going to keep wearing different colors!

5. Summary and Study Tips

Don't worry if these names seem new! For the AP exam, you don't need to memorize every single battle date. Instead, focus on the patterns.

Key Summary Points:

1. The "Why": Enlightenment ideas made people want a say in their government.
2. The "Who": Nationalism gave people a common identity to fight for.
3. The "How": Some groups fought to break away (Balkans, Maori, Philippines), while others fought to join together (Germany, Italy).
4. The Reaction: Empires tried to adapt (like Ottomanism), but it was often too late to stop the spread of nationalist feelings.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Mistake: Thinking nationalism is only about war.
Correction: It's also about culture! Remember Lola Rodriguez de Tio—she used poetry, not a sword, to build national pride.

Mistake: Mixing up "nation" and "state."
Correction: A nation is the group of people with the same culture. A state is the political organization (the government). The goal of this period was to turn nations into states!

Note: For more information on how these political changes led to changes in work and technology, see Chapter 5.3 on the Industrial Revolution.