Chapter 22 Age of nation states

The Crimean War

Grew out of a rivalry between the Ottoman Empire and Russia

A war ensued with major European Powers- France and Britain declared war on Russia who settled the matter in the Treaty of Paris in 1856

The Crimean War broke the Concert of Europe and marked a new era in European politics

Italian unification

Nationalists hoped for Italian unification, but Italians disagreed how to accomplish it

Romantic republican nationalism was led by Giuseppe Mazzini who found the Young Italy Society, to drive Austria from the peninsula

Mazzini and Giuseppe Garibaldi led insurrections in the 1830s through 1850s

Between 1852-1860 Italy was transformed into a nation-state governed by a constitutional monarchy. Full unification remained elusive

German Unification

The construction of a unified Germany was one of the most important political developments in Europe between 1848-1914 because it altered the international balance of power

In 1862 William I of Prussia turning to Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) who moved against the liberal Parliament and sought support for unifying Germany through a war with Denmark

Bismarck supported the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein in their efforts to avoid getting incorporated into Denmark

Together Russia and Prussia defeated Denmark in 1864

Elevated Bismarck’s prestige and led to a conflict between two countries in 1865

German Unification continued

Bismarck then provoked war with Austria over the administration of Schleswig and Holstein

The seven weeks war led to the defeat of Austria in 1866 and established Prussia as the only major power among German states

In 1867 the north German confederation formed with Bismarck representing the King of Prussia as President

Germany had become a military monarchy crushing Prussian liberalism

German unification continued

The Franco-Prussian war (1870-1871) enabled Bismarck to bring southern German states into the confederation.

Bismarck orchestrated war by provoking France against Prussia

Southern German states joined Prussia against Napoleon III armies

The Germans beat French armies and captured Napoleon III

Besieged Paris and proclaimed it part of the German empire

France: From Liberal Empire to the Third Republic

The provinces and Paris differed on how to handle a settlement with the Prussians

The National assembly was dominated by monarchists and led by Adolphe Thiers

The Treaty of Frankfurt that France would pay an indemnity and the Prussians would occupy France until it was paid

Alsace and part of Lorraine was granted to the Prussians

France: From Liberal Empire to the Third Republic continued

Parisians who had suffered under the Prussian siege rebelled against the Treaty of Frankfurt

Elected a new municipal government on March 28, 1871 called Paris Commune that was created to administer Paris separately from the rest of Paris

On May 8, 1871 the National assembly bombared the city and broke through the defenses on May 21, 1871

Troops restored order in Paris killing 20,000 Parisians in the process and ending the Commune

France: From Liberal Empire to the Third Republic continued

In 1875 the National Assembly adopted a new republican system

Chamber of deputies that elected by universal male sufferage

A senate chosen indirectly

President elected by the two legislative houses

1879 President Marshal MacMahon resigns and the republicans gained control of the national government

The Dreyfus Affair, a case involving the trumped case of a Jewish captain, was the major crisis

The Habsburg Empire

The Habsburg domains remained primarily absolutist after the Revolutions of 1848

1861 Francis Joseph issued the February Patent which set up a bicameral imperial parliament or Reichsrat an upper chamber appointed the emperor and lower chamber indirectly elected

The Magyars refused to recognize the system, but the February patent ruled the country for six years

In 1867 Francis Joseph transformed the Habsburg Empire into Austria Hungary toe satisfy the desires of Magyars to maintain their lands separately from Austria while sharing same monarch

The unrest of the many nationalities in Habsburg Empire caused instability throughout Europe

Russia: Emancipation and Revolutionary Stirrings

Alexander II restructured Russian society after Russia’s defeat in the Crimean War, ushering in some of the much needed reforms

Abolition of serfdom in 1861. Alexander II became known as the Tsar Liberator

he was never popular with his noble subjects who resented his control over policy

1870s Young Russians drew on the ideas of Alexander Herzen and formed the Populism movement

Sought social revolution based on the communal life of the Russian peasants

Great Britain Toward Democracy

Reform Bill sponsored by Benjamin Disraeli, a house of Commons leader in 1867.

By the time the measure had passed the number of voters had almost doubled

William Gladstone ushered in many liberal reforms including the opening of more institutions to the public and people from other classes and religious denominations

The Education Act of 1870 made the government responsible for administering elementary schools.

Gladstone was also forced to confront the Irish question during his administration