The Making of Germany and Italy

Here we are providing Topicwise Notes for CBSE Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 1 The Rise of Nationalism in Europe. In this article, you will find notes on The Making of Germany and Italy followed by questions and answers. Students are suggested to go through complete article.

The Making of Germany and Italy

Germany Unification

• After 1848, nationalist feeling were widespread among middle class Germans.
• Germany and Italy came to be unified as nation-states.
• National feelings were widespread among middle-class German. Prussia took on the leadership of the movement for national unification.
• The Chief Minister, Otto von Bismarck was the architect of this process carried out with the help of the Prussian army and bureaucracy. Three wars over seven years with Austria, Denmark and France ended in Prussian victory and completed the process of unification.
• On the 18 January 1871, the princes of the German states, representatives of the army, important Prussian ministers including Otto von Bismarck gathered in the Palace of Versailles to proclaim the new German Empire headed by Kaiser William I of Prussia.
• The new state placed a story emphasis on modernising the currency, banking, legal and judicial systems in Germany. Prussian measures and practices often become a model for the rest of Germany.

ITALY UNIFIED

• Like Germany, Italy, too had a long history of political fragmentation. Italians were scattered over several dynastic states as well as the multi-national Habsburg Empire.
• During the 1830s, Giuseppe Mazzini had sought to put together a coherent programme for a unitary Italian Republic. He had also formed a secret society called Young Italy for the dissemination of his goals.
• Italy offered them the possibility of economic development and political dominance.

• Chief Minister Cavour who led the movement to unify the regions of Italy was neither a revolutionary nor a democrat.
• In 1860, a large number of armed volunteers under the leadership of Giuseppe marched into South Italy and the Kingdom of Two Sicilies and succeeded in winning support and drove out the Spanish rulers.
• In 1861 Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed King of united Italy.

The Strange Case of Britain

• The history of nationalism in Britain was different from the rest of Europe. Before the eighteenth century there was no British nation. The people of different identities comprised English, Welsh, Scot or Irish lived in the British Isles.
• The Act of Union of 1707 between England and Scotland resulted in the formation of the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain’. This led to the demolition of Scotland’s distinctive culture and political institutions.
• In Ireland, the English helped the protestants and established their control over the Catholic country and Ireland was dominated by United Kingdom in 1801.
• A British nation was formed with English culture, British flag, the national anthem and the English language.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q.1. Who suppressed the initiatives of liberal nationalism?

Ans. The combined forces of the monarchy and the military supported by landowners of Prussia.

Q.2. Name the European powers that dominated the parts of Germany.

Ans. Austria, Denmark and France

Q.3. Who was Otto von Bismarck?

Ans. Bismarck was the chief minister of Prussia and was the architect of the unification of Germany.

Q.4. How was unification of Germany ultimately achieved?

Ans. Three wars over seven years with Austria, Denmark and France ended in Prussian victory and Germany unification.

Q.5. Why did the peasants support Garibaldi in southern Italy?

Ans. Much of the Italian population was illiterate and were unaware of liberal nationalist ideology and never heard of Italia and believed that ‘La Talia’ was Victor Emmanuel’s wife. So to free her they supported Garibaldi.

Q.6. How did the British combine all these ethnic groups?

Ans. All these ethnic groups had their own cultural and political traditions. When the English nations grew in trade, wealth and power, it was able to control other nations of the Islands.

Q.7. How did Prussia outstrive in Germany?

Ans. The nation building process in Germany had demonstrated the dominance of Prussian state power. The new state placed a strong emphasis on:
(a) Modernizing the currency
(b) Banking
(c) Legal and judicial system in Germany.

Q.8. What was the condition of Italy before unification?

Ans. Conditions of Italy during the middle of 19 th century were:
(a) Political fragmentation.
(b) Italians were scattered over several dynastic states.
(c) Italy was divided into seven states, of which only one Serdinia-Piedmont was ruled by an Italian ruler.

Q.9. By whom were the various states of Italy ruled?

Ans. (a) The North was under Austrian Habsburgs.
(b) The centre was ruled by Pope.
(c)The southern regimes were under the Bourbon Kings of Spain.

Q.10. How did Ireland become a part of United Kingdom?

Ans. The Catholics revolts in Ireland against British dominance were suppressed.

A revolt led by Wolfe Tone and his united Irishmen failed in 1798.

Ireland was dominated by the United Kingdom in 1801.

Q.11. What were the symbols of Great Britain?

Ans. The symbols of Great Britain:
(a) The British flag (Union Jack)
(b) The national anthem (God save our noble king)
(c) Language-English

Q.12. How was Scotland controlled by the British nations?

Ans. After the Act of Union between England and Scotland, England was able to control Scotland and became the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

• The British suppressed the culture and political institutions of Scotland.
• The catholic plans protest against the domination of British but they were suppressed terribly.
• The Scottish Highlanders were not allowed to speak their Gaelic language and wear their national dress, and large number of people were drives out of their homeland.