The Rise of Nationalism in Europe
Chapter overview:
1. Introduction
2. The French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation
3. The Making of Nationalism in Europe
3.1 The Aristocracy and the New Middle Class
3.2 What did Liberal Nationalism Stand for?
3.3 A New Conservatism after 1815
3.4 The Revolutionaries
4. The Age of Revolutions: 1830-1848
4.1 The Romantic Imagination and National Feeling
4.2 Hunger, Hardship and Popular Revolt
4.3 1848: The Revolution of the Liberals
5. The Making of Germany and Italy
5.1 Germany – Can the Army be the Architect of a
Nation?
5.2 Italy Unified
5.3 The Strange Case of Britain
6. Visualising the Nation
7. Nationalism and Imperialism
,The Artist and His Vision
● Artist: Frédéric Sorrieu (French artist).
● Year: 1848.
● Concept: A series of four prints visualizing a world of "democratic and social
Republics."
● Utopian Vision: A vision of a "perfect" society that is unlikely to actually exist, where
nations live in harmony.
Key Elements of the First Print
1. The Procession (The People)
● Participants: Peoples of Europe and America.
● Diversity: Includes men and women of all ages and all social classes.
● Action: Marching in a long train, showing "homage" (respect) to the Statue of Liberty.
2. The Statue of Liberty (The Symbol)
● Personification: Liberty is shown as a female figure.
● The Two Objects:
1. Torch of Enlightenment: Held in one hand to light the path
2. to progress.
3. Charter of the Rights of Man: Held in the other hand, symbolizing law and
equality.
3. The Ground (The Past)
, ● Shattered Remains: In the foreground lie the broken symbols of
absolutist institutions (monarchies/kingdoms with central
power).
● Meaning: This represents the end of old, oppressive regimes
and the birth of democracy.
4. The Nations (The Future)
● Identification: Nations are grouped by their flags and national
costumes.
● The Leaders: The United States and Switzerland lead the
procession because they were already nation-states(countries with defined borders and
shared identity) by 1848.
The "Line-up" of Nations
Sorrieu’s painting is like a timeline of 1848 politics. The order of the people in the procession
tells us who was already a "nation" and who was still dreaming of becoming one:
● The Leaders: USA and Switzerland (already nation-states).
● Just Arrived: France (identified by the blue, white, and red tricolour flag).
● Following Behind: Germany (carrying the black, red, and gold flag).
○ Note: In 1848, Germany was not a united country yet. Their flag represented the
"liberal hope" to unify many small states into one democratic nation.
● The Rest of the Train: Austria, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Lombardy, Poland,
England, Ireland, Hungary, and Russia.
The Heavenly View
● The Scene: Christ, saints, and angels look down from the heavens.
● The Symbolism: The artist used these figures to represent fraternity (brotherhood)
among the various nations of the world.
Chapter overview:
1. Introduction
2. The French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation
3. The Making of Nationalism in Europe
3.1 The Aristocracy and the New Middle Class
3.2 What did Liberal Nationalism Stand for?
3.3 A New Conservatism after 1815
3.4 The Revolutionaries
4. The Age of Revolutions: 1830-1848
4.1 The Romantic Imagination and National Feeling
4.2 Hunger, Hardship and Popular Revolt
4.3 1848: The Revolution of the Liberals
5. The Making of Germany and Italy
5.1 Germany – Can the Army be the Architect of a
Nation?
5.2 Italy Unified
5.3 The Strange Case of Britain
6. Visualising the Nation
7. Nationalism and Imperialism
,The Artist and His Vision
● Artist: Frédéric Sorrieu (French artist).
● Year: 1848.
● Concept: A series of four prints visualizing a world of "democratic and social
Republics."
● Utopian Vision: A vision of a "perfect" society that is unlikely to actually exist, where
nations live in harmony.
Key Elements of the First Print
1. The Procession (The People)
● Participants: Peoples of Europe and America.
● Diversity: Includes men and women of all ages and all social classes.
● Action: Marching in a long train, showing "homage" (respect) to the Statue of Liberty.
2. The Statue of Liberty (The Symbol)
● Personification: Liberty is shown as a female figure.
● The Two Objects:
1. Torch of Enlightenment: Held in one hand to light the path
2. to progress.
3. Charter of the Rights of Man: Held in the other hand, symbolizing law and
equality.
3. The Ground (The Past)
, ● Shattered Remains: In the foreground lie the broken symbols of
absolutist institutions (monarchies/kingdoms with central
power).
● Meaning: This represents the end of old, oppressive regimes
and the birth of democracy.
4. The Nations (The Future)
● Identification: Nations are grouped by their flags and national
costumes.
● The Leaders: The United States and Switzerland lead the
procession because they were already nation-states(countries with defined borders and
shared identity) by 1848.
The "Line-up" of Nations
Sorrieu’s painting is like a timeline of 1848 politics. The order of the people in the procession
tells us who was already a "nation" and who was still dreaming of becoming one:
● The Leaders: USA and Switzerland (already nation-states).
● Just Arrived: France (identified by the blue, white, and red tricolour flag).
● Following Behind: Germany (carrying the black, red, and gold flag).
○ Note: In 1848, Germany was not a united country yet. Their flag represented the
"liberal hope" to unify many small states into one democratic nation.
● The Rest of the Train: Austria, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Lombardy, Poland,
England, Ireland, Hungary, and Russia.
The Heavenly View
● The Scene: Christ, saints, and angels look down from the heavens.
● The Symbolism: The artist used these figures to represent fraternity (brotherhood)
among the various nations of the world.
