Nationalism and Sectionalism

20 September 2004 (Lecture #11)

European Nationalism

• Italian unification
• Count in northern Italy says Italy should unite into a nation because Italy was where the Roman greatness was
• The conservative count begins conquering states of Italy, giving them a say in government
• Liberals from the south begin conquering states too
• ííThey meet in the middle and instead of fighting, join together
• Nationalism appealed to both
• Venetia added later when it requests to be annexed (it was worried about a nearby war)
• Rome was under a papal government, but was invaded, conquered, and converted to the Italian capital
• German Unification

o After Napoleon, they were like a gang of states

o Austria becomes weaker from war and Prussia leads other German states’ natural resources and capitalizes on their resources during Industrialism

o Prussia conquers Denmark, gains support, and sets up a government

o Conservatives put in charge; Chancellor Bismarck consolidates power by advocating nationalism bringing conservatives and liberals together

§ Builds railroads, modern army; attacks Austria, crushes it, and forces it out of the German Confederation

§ Prussia now boss of the Confederation; Confederation happy because of so many victories

o Kaiser Wilhelm put out fake reports to incite France then declare a defensive war

§ Prussia gets help from Confederation and crushes France

§ At Versailles peace, Prussian solidifies into Germany

§ Some progressive reforms come out, but important ones remain outside the people’s power

American Sectionalism

• Slavery essential to the south (economically and socially)
• South begins losing seats to the North (N. population growing faster due to immigration)
• South tries nullification (to end US existence; not enough votes)
• North is against slaves because:

o 1) Abolitionists

o 2) Free soil argument – People tired of cities can buy land in the west and farm, but rich plantation owners could farm big plots there with slaves, ruining the local economy for small farmers

o 3) Free labor argument – slavery is an unnatural force preventing the US from becoming more powerful; evidence: North has better roads, working people, and better utilities; South economy corrupt due to slavery

• North becomes worried as slave advocating minorities would continue to expand its interests
• Republican party formed against slavery; solid party à Lincoln is the Presidential candidate
• Democratic party splits over slavery giving Republicans a majority
• Lincoln elected à Southern states secede (seven before his inauguration)
• South secedes because of slavery … the Union feels states cannot do there own thing if the US is to be successful
• Fort Sumter – Lincoln sends troops to relive men here

o South attacks and Lincoln declares these states in open rebellion and musters an army

o Three more states secede over states rights – they feel that states should be able to secede

Conclusions

• Nationalism successfully built the states
• Regional conflicts overwhelmed US national identity
• South fighting for slavery, North to preserve the Union