Friday, March 4, 2011

Industrial Revolution and Nationalism Free Response Essay

Explain how the Industrial Revolution influenced the rise of conservative and liberal philosophies and explain how those philosophies competed with or related to nationalism in Greece and Germany.


The Industrial Revolution was a major factor in the rise and popularity of liberal and philosophies in European society. This resulted in a movement of people to cities forcing cooperation by the people, now having to depend on each other, to express their ideas politically for now they no longer were isolated farmers, but now city-dwellers who had constant contact with others on a daily basis. At the same time, German and Greek people were fighting and striving for independence from foreign nations, which was credited to, partly, the Industrial Revolution. Without the Industrial Revolution, these changes would not have occurred, and these movements of people and movements of ideas would not have affected Europe.

During the 18th and 19th century when the industrial revolution occurred, former farms that required many people to work on were now beginning to become more efficient, and require less workers to farm the land. This resulted in a mass of farmers losing their jobs, and moving to cities to find a new profession. When these large flocks of workers immigrated to the cities, many problems ensued, such as hygiene, workers right, the disparity in wealth, and much more. Because of this, these people now realized that they must involve themselves into political affairs so that their problems and requests may be answered or acknowledged. Prior to this, these people did not require much involvement from government, living as farmers, and being self sufficient. Now, with the movement into cities, commerce grew, and required regulation, along with work laws to protect their own people.

At the same time that this was occurring, the Germans are being overlooked, and used, without their consent by other nations. The German people are not represented, and are without power for much of this time, resulting in their minimal involvement in world affairs. This leads to a German sense of nationalism, which is played out in the German middle class. This nationalism is fueled by the fact that for years the Germans have been looked over, and mistreated, with no nation inquiring about the German people as to what they do, deciding their future for them. One specific nation that was controlling German affairs was the Austrian people, which did not set well for the Germans. The Prussians, on the other hand, were for a united German state, one which the Austrians did not want. This resulted in a war over German independence, one which resulted in Germany regaining its independence. This all was fuelled by its past, the other nations negligence of its existence. This fire inside the German people would eventually lead them to demand a position of prominence in European and world politics, but this did not occur until slightly pas these times.

Meanwhile, as this is occurring, the Greek citizens were under Turkish occupation and rule. The Turkish people had never been on good terms with Eastern Europe, involving numerous battles between Eastern and Western Europe. England, France, and Russia all were for Greek becoming an independent nation. Once they fight for Greece to become and independent nation, Russia begins to have a large influence within Greek borders. This results in the Greek people

All of these happenings occurring at the same time in Europe resulted in an uneasy time for the area, one that was going through many changes, economically, politically, and technologically. Without the Industrial Revolution, these changes may have not occurred, resulting in a far different looking Europe, and rest of the world.

1 comment:

  1. You are a bit confused in your understanding of Austrian-German relations as well as what it meant for Germany to begin making the push towards nationhood.

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