NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR CLASS 10 HISTORY CHAPTER 1

1.  THE RISE OF NATIONALISM IN EUROPE

WRITE IN BRIEF :

1. Write a note on :

a) Guiseppe Mazzini

ANS: Guiseppe Mazzini was an Italian journalist and political activist and revolutionary who worked for the unification of Italy in the nineteenth century. He believed that nations are the natural units of mankind, so Italy should be united and this unification could be the basis of liberty. For this purpose he set up two secret societies namely "YOUNG ITALY" and "YOUNG EUROPE". These societies helped in the spread of his ideas. He was against the Monarchy and Conservative ideology. He was described as 'the most dangerous enemy of our social order' by Metternich. Guiseppe Mazzini was nicknamed as the " beating heart of Italy" for his efforts to unite Italy.

b) Count Camillo de Cavour

ANS: Count Camillo de Cavour was also known as Cavour. He was born in Turin (Italy) on 10 August 1810. He was the leading figure in the unification of Italy. He was a non-revolutionary who planned for the establishment of a united country. The credit of unification of Italy goes to him. The historians bestow upon him the honor of being Bismarck of Italy. Before becoming the first Prime Minister of Italy in 1852, he also served as the Foreign Minister of Navy. He believed in free trade, public right of opinion  and secular rule. The powerful diplomatic relationship with France helped him to defeat the Austrian Military Force in 1859. He dedicated himself for the independence and unification of Italy except Rome. He died on 6 June 1861.

c) The Greek war of independence

ANS: Since the fifteenth century Greek had been the part of Great Ottoman Empire. The growth of nationalism in Europe sparked off a struggle for independence among Greeks in 1821. This was a successful war of independence  waged by Greek revolutionaries between 1821 and 1829 against the Ottoman Empire. The Greeks were supported by the western European countries while poets and artists hailed Greece as the Cradle of European civilization. Finally the Greece got independence from Ottomans when she was recognized as an independent nation by the Treaty of  Constantinople in 1832.

d) Frankfurt parliament 

ANS: Frankfurt parliament was the first freely elected parliament of Germany. It was established after the session held from 18 to 31 May 1848 at St. Paul's Church. Frankfurt parliament was a result of the March revolution of Liberals in the states of German Confederation. It also produced the Frankfurt Constitution which declared that Germany would be headed by  Monarchy which in turn would be controlled by the parliament. However this parliament was forced to disband as it was dominated by the middle class who were against the demands of workers.

e) The role of women in nationalist struggles

ANS: A large number of European women actively participated in the nationalist struggles of their countries. They formed their own political associations, published newspapers and took part in political meetings and demonstrations. They also fought for their political rights and equal status in the society. during the beginning of nationalist struggles they looked after their households while the men folk were busy in the political field. To remember her sacrifices woman was made the symbol of visualizing the nation. 

2. What steps did the French revolutionaries take to create a sense of collective identity among the French people?

ANS: The French revolutionaries took the following steps to create the sense of collective identity among the French people:

i. The ideas of the Fatherland and Citizen were introduced to emphasize the unity of all the people under single constitution.

ii. A new French flag (tricolor)  was chosen to replace the old royal standard.

iii. New hymns were composed and oaths were taken to commemorate martyrs.

iv. A centralized administrative system was established to formulate and execute laws for the citizens.

v. The uniform system of weights and measures was also adopted.

vi. All the regional dialects of French language were discouraged except that of Paris.

vii. The National Assembly was elected by the body of active citizens.

3. Who were Marianne and Germania? What was the importance of the way in which they were portrayed?

ANS: Marianne and Germania were the women allegories or symbols to represent the nations of France and Germany respectively. Marianne was a popular Christian name portrayed with red cap, tricolor and cockade. Germania was visualized as wearing a crown of oak leaves which stood for heroism. Both these allegories were invented by artists and visualized to represent their nation. their statues were erected in public squares to remind people about the national symbol. They stood for liberty and republican government. The peculiar way of their representation was meant to develop the sense of nationalism in the citizens. 

4. Briefly trace the process of German unification.

ANS: Germany was divided into the confederation of 39 principalities. In 1848, middle class Germans with nationalist feelings tried to unite the different regions of German confederation into a nation state governed by an elected parliament. However, this initiative was repressed and crushed by the combined forces of Monarchy and Military. Later in 1860's the Chief Minister of Prussia, Otto Van Bismarck, carried out the unification process. He had to wage three wars with Austria, Denmark and France. Finally in January, 1871, Germany was unified and Kaiser William I was proclaimed as the German emperor in a ceremony held in Versailles.

5. What changes did Napoleon introduce to make the administrative system more efficient in the territories ruled by him?

ANS: Napoleon introduced the following changes to make the administrative system more efficient in the areas ruled by him:

I. Napoleon introduced many reforms in the areas ruled by him. He introduced the Civil Code of 1804 usually known as the Napoleonic Code which abolished the privileges based on birth, established equality before law and secured the right to property. 

II. Napoleon simplified administrative divisions, abolished the feudal system and freed peasants from serfdom and manorial dues.

III. In towns too, guild restrictions were removed. Transport and communication system were improved. 

IV. Napoleon introduced uniform laws, standard weights and measures and a common national currency.

V. He tried to create the free market conditions for peasants, businessman and small scale producers.

DISCUSS :

1. Explain what is meant by the 1848 revolution of the liberals. What were the political, social and economic ideas supported by the liberals?

ANS: The 1848 revolution was lead by the educated middle class people of Europe along with the poor, unemployed starving peasants and workers in many European countries for fulfilling their demands of constitutionalism with national unification. They demanded the national unification of some confederation regions like Germany, Italy, Poland etc. They took the advantage of growing popular unrest to push their demands for the creation of a nation-states based on parliamentary principles. On 18 May 1848, 831 elected political associations of Germany marched towards the church of St. Paul in Frankfurt to vote for All German National Assembly. They drafted a constitution in which German Monarch was to be controlled by the parliament. The King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm IV, along with other Monarchs rejected and suppressed the assembly.

The political, social and economic ideas supported by the Liberals were:

* Socially, Liberals supported the society based on individual freedom and fraternity.

* The political ideas supported by Liberals included the end of autocracy, rule of law, liberty and democratic government. They wanted the unification of different confederation regions.

* In the economic sphere, Liberals wanted the freedom of market, abolition of state-imposed restrictions on the movement of goods.

2. Choose three examples to show the contribution of culture to the growth of nationalism in Europe.

ANS: The development of nationalism did not only came through wars, culture also plays an important role to the growth of nationalism in Europe. The following are the examples  to show the contribution of culture to the growth of nationalism in Europe:

I. ROMANTICISM: Romanticism was an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual European cultural movement for developing national unity by creating a sense of shared heritage and common history. Romanticism mostly focused on the emotions and mystical feelings to raiser nationalist sentiments. The best example of promoting nationalism was the role played by the European poets and artists which inspired people to support the Greeks in their struggle.

II. The effect of culture in arousing  national feelings was presented by a Polish writer Karol Kurpinski. He celebrated the national struggle against the partition of his country through his operas and music and folk dances, which he used as a national feelings of the people of Poland.

III. LANGUAGE: Language also played an important role in the process of developing nationalism as in the case of Siberia, Poland and Russia. It played an important role in the process of building Polish nationalism against the Russian dominance.

3. Through a focus on any two countries, explain how nations developed over the nineteenth century.

ANS: The world was divided into large empires up to the beginning of 19th century. The growth of ideas like nationalism and democracy paved the way for the building of nation-states based on democratic principles. There was growing hatred against the dynastic rule of hereditary monarchs. People influenced by liberal nationalism wanted nation-states instead big empires. They began to form themselves in groups to work for nationalist revolutions. The development of nations in Europe can be observed in the process which Germany and Italy became unified nation-states. Germany became a nation after the 39 principalities were united by the efforts of Prussia in 1871. Similarly, Italy was divided into seven dynastic states. These states were united in 1860 under the leadership of Camillo De Cavour. Thus the nation-states in 19th century developed as a result of revolutions to unite different regions which became the basis of nationalism.

4. How was the history of nationalism in Britain unlike the rest of Europe?

ANS: The history of nationalism in Britain was unlike the rest of Europe in the sense that it was forced down upon the masses. There was no concept of a British nation prior to the 18th century. The region was infact inhabited by different ethnic groups (English, Welsh, Scot, Irish). Each group had it's own cultural and political tradition. However, as the English state grew in terms of wealth, importance, and power, it was able to extend it's influence over the other states of the Islands. The English parliament, which had seized power from the monarchy, played a crucial role in uniting the different groups into a British nation-state, with England as it's Centre. The ethnic nationalities were directly or indirectly forced to join the English state to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The symbols of new Britain - The British flag, the national anthem and the English language were widely popularized, while the distinctive identities of the other joining states were systematically suppressed. English culture dominated the British nation. Thus nationalism in Britain did not come about as a result of the people's desire to unite or countrywide movements for the same, but from the decisions of the people in power. 

5. Why did nationalist tensions emerge in the Balkans?

ANS: The Balkans was a region of geographical and ethnic variation comprising of present day Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and other states. Most of the Balkan states were under the control of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was getting disintegrated which gave rise to serious issues within this region. This earned Ottoman Empire the name of 'Sick man of Europe'. The spread of nationalism and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire made this region explosive. Throughout the  18th century the Balkan people demanded independence from Ottoman rule. However, due to ethnic and regional variations the Balkan states were jealous of each other which gave rise to intense conflicts. The situation got worse when the European powers shifted their rivalry to the Balkans. All these big powers wanted to extend their control over Balkans. This led to a series of Balkan wars and finally the First World War in 1914.