Beginning in the late seventieth century, the Age of Enlightenment set in motion revolutionary ideals that would eventually destroy the traditional feudal system and initiate the rise of nationalism in Europe. This “rise of nationalism” would span over three hundred years, from the birth of the French revolution, to the outbreak of WW2. During this span, the hostilities and violence between European nations would increase, due to their respected people’s willingness to support their given nation’s aspiration’s of territorial conquest and economic domination, which were seen as assurances of economic prosperity and the invocation of national pride. Subsequently, the European peoples ferocious defense of their homeland would have both proactive and destructive repercussions throughout history.
The French economy in the eighteenth century was on the brink of collapse, due to two costly interventions in colonial wars across the Atlantic. The Third Estate, which constituted the majority of the French population, received horrendous taxation rates in order to save the floundering French government, which desperately needed funds to pay off the nation’s debt. Accordingly, Rousseau's vision of government in which "a people could only be free if it ruled itself" became incredibly popular amongst the French populace, due to the appealing idea of the French citizens controlling the government rather than an absolute monarch. However, even though Rousseau did not directly prefer a republic, (for he saw representatives as the removal of power amongst the non representative population) his ideas regarding the people's rights to create their own laws and effectively control the government, indirectly spurred on the creation of the French repub...
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...ise of nationalism in Europe could be identified as both a blessing and curse, due to its constructive and destructive characteristics. In terms of proactivity, the nationalistic upheavals against monarchial rule in the eighteenth and nineteenth century (French Revolution) enabled the acquisition of civil rights and liberties amongst the people of Europe. On the other hand, catastrophes such as WW1 and WW2 were sparked by deeply nationalistic nations, who sought the preservation of their culture through the conquering of their enemies. Ultimately, the drive to preserve their respected cultures enabled the European people to perform extraordinary achievements that led to modernization of Europe, as well as execute unimaginable catastrophes whose carnage witnessed by those who survived caused them to question the very principles of nationalism that once united them.
All over the world and in history, countries and nations have expressed pride towards their nations through spirit and have unified together as one. Nationalism is the force behind the unification, strength, and cooperation of these nations. First, nationalism is a powerful force that helps to unite all different people into a single nation. It is also important for nations to use nationalism to claim justified independence from one another. Finally, nationalism can be taken too far if it is used unjustly or incorrectly. Nationalism is important and necessary for beneficial political changes, but can become harmful and unproductive when used for a country’s personal agenda and lust for power.
The France practically changed from being an absolute monarchy to a republic overnight. Everything that the people of France had ever known was changed in a heart-beat. Their once beloved king had just been guillotined and it was now time to set up a new political system. The leaders of the revolution, the Jacobins, imagined a representative government that ruled on the principals of “liberte,” “egalite,” and “fraternity,” liberty, equality and broth...
Before the French Revolution that occurred during the late 18th century, France was considered one of the most advanced and opulent countries in Europe. It was in the center of the Enlightenment era, a period of time from the 1600s to the 1800s that is considered today as one of the most significant intellectual movements in history by encouraging a new view of life. The age sparked hundreds of important thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Locke, Thomas Paine, and Adam Smith. The Enlightenment was the fuel that sparked a worldwide desire to reshape and reconsider the ways that countries were governed. Limited monarchies, direct democracies, limited democracies, and absolute monarchies, among others, were many forms of government that were disputed by these thinkers. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, one the many significant Enlightenment thinkers, believed in a direct democracy, a system in which a country is governed by many, and where no one person has a considerable amount of power. This idea that citizens should receive independence and a voice would later stimulate the French and result in what is now k...
... the general will and the laws. As a result, minority groups in Rousseau’s body politic lay exposed to the threat of oppression by the will of the majority. We can grasp how this design for government can easily come to resemble totalitarianism more than democracy.
There are two countries that flourish due to Nationalism, Germany and Italy. The creation of Germany was possible through nationalism. Nationalism brought German community to unify and create a nation. On the other hand, the rivalry of the great powers to control other territories grew more as countries were wanting to influence past their borders. “The great powers had come into conflict over spheres of influence in China and over territories in Africa, and the Eastern Question, created by the decline of the Ottoman Empire, had produced several disturbing controversies.”(“World War I” 2015) Militarism was another aspect of these ideologies where countries would increase military spending to get new weapons and increase the military size. This gave people the idea that war was the only solution to their problems and also intensified nationalism because it increased their confidence in the military, thinking their country could win any battle against any foe. “Imperialist and nationalist, resulted in a hardening of alliance systems in the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente and in a general armaments race.(“World War I”
The rise of European nationalism in the 19th Century brought with it an overabundance amount of change that would definitively modify the course of history. The rise of nationalism in one country would rouse greater nationalism in another, which would in turn, motivate even greater nationalism in the first, progressively intensifying the cycle that eventually concluded in a World War. Nationalism as an ideology produced international competition which inspired absolute allegiance to an individual’s nation state. The ideology was fueled by industrial commerce and imperialistic developments which led to nation-states pursuits of outcompeting rival nations.
Nationalism has a long history although most scholarly research on Nationalism only began in the mid-twentieth century. Some scholars point to the French Revolution of 1789 as the birth of Nationalism. The French Revolution is seen...
Nationalism, the love and support of one's country, has always existed. In this era, however, it was to take part in the creation of one of the most famous wars in history. Since so much pride was devoted to countries, it made the possibilities of peace between past rivals less probable. It also meant that most nations, especially the great powers, would rather fight a war than back down from a rival's diplomatic provocation. In effect, nationalism was also a contributing factor to the alliance system. No country feels comfortable being in a war alone, and with the growing militaries in almost every country, allies provided much comfort.
Nationalism was viewed in so many different ways by so many different leaders and society. Many conflicts and wars were a long term impact on Nationalism, but some conflicts were a small impact on Nationalism. The Frankfurt Constitution was written and published and also is a document of Germany History today. The article “On the Duties of Man”, by Giuseppe Mazzini and how the map of Europe was redrawn, which was a huge impact on Nationalism. Romanticism was another huge impact of Nationalism, with many changes that was made from artist and how their paintings became more realistic and how everyone had different views on artist’s painting.
Nationalism at its core is the support of a country. The goal of a country is to have some sort of resonance within the individuals that reside there that call themselves citizens. If the citizens don’t feel any connection with their country, they may move to find one that they feel closer too. Once found, they may support the country over others, defend it within conversations of politics or just find groups that have the same ideals they do about the country. This papers purpose is to illustrate the pros of nationalism as well as its cons.
...y as Jean-Louis David and his paintings. Both these influential people helped to ignite a passion amongst the French general public and change French politics. Looking at Rousseau's idea for government seems unacceptable or impossible to us, however, his idea, which was prominent in the revolution, that sovereignty resides with the people, that "man is born free". Both Rousseau and democracy preserve the idea that government is legitimate only if it emerges from us.
Nationalism has played a crucial role in world history over the past centuries. It continues to do so today. For many, nationalism is indelibly associated with some of the worst aspects of modern history, such as the destructive confidence of the Napoleon’s army and the murderous pride of Nazi Germany. Large numbers of people, descent in their hearts, have carried out unbelievable atrocities for no better reason than their nation required them to. Authoritarian and totalitarian regime have crushed dissent, eliminated opposition, and trampled on civil liberties in the name of the nation.
This paper first discusses Rousseau’s views on freedom and political participation in On the Social Contract. Then, it will analyze how Rousseau would see the modern “representative democracy ” in the U.S. It will support Rousseau in arguing that we are indeed unfree under such political systems. Finally, it will devise changes to be made for this system to make us free.
...time onward, the concept of the enlightened despot had currency, calling for rulers governing with the betterment of the people's lot in mind. The idea of a centralized, authority-wielding confederation government is not terribly foreign to the notion of an autocratic, authoritarian, but enlightened despot, after all. This is but one of the conflicting ideas ranged against Rousseau's rather pessimistically realist conclusion; others are certainly possible.
The rise of nationalism and its mark on the history of Europe was quite profound. The unification of major powers and the civil unrest on the journey to unification created a large chapter of history in the nineteenth century. By the 1900s the mark of nationalism had been left on Italy, Germany, France and Great Britain. The major European powers had come through great trials to set the stage for the twentieth century and the conflicts that will erupt. Nationalism will be remembered as a great period of change and growth.