Ethnic Nationalism Reading and Analysis Simplified

Ethnic Nationalism

Vocab Bank: Multi-ethnic: Related to, or composed of several distinct ethnic groups

Ethnicity: Belonging to a group of people who share traits such as culture, language, ancestry, and traditions.

Ethnic Nationalism: A form of nationalism wherein the nation is defined by a shared heritage, which usually includes a common language, a common faith, and a common ethnic ancestry.

Nation-states emerged in the 1800s and 1900s. The rise of nation-states was one of the most important changes of the modern age. Nation-states are countries whose citizens believe they are a unified people of one culture. Before, there were kingdoms and empires. For now, the nation-state is the most common political structure.

Nationalism is the idea that people should rule themselves as one nation. Nationalism emerged in the 1700s. Creoles lived in the Spanish colonies in the Americas. Nationalism helped them fight against the Spanish empire. In France, nationalism united the lower and middle classes. Together, they removed the French king. In some parts of Europe, nationalism helped smaller groups in multi-ethnic empires. It allowed them to fight for independence as an “ethnicity.” This is called “ethnic nationalism.”

What makes ethnicity a “fuzzy” concept? “Ethnicity” is not easy to define. People believe they belong to an ethnicity because of their ancestry. Ancestry is someone’s family history. But ethnicities can include people of different backgrounds. People from different ethnicities can also share ancestry. Belonging to an ethnic group is partly ancestry. Shared language, history, and culture can also be important. Ethnicity is somewhat real and somewhat “imagined.”

Ethnic nationalism in the Ottoman Empire Many ethnic groups lived in the Ottoman Empire in the 1900s. Most of the population spoke Turkish. There were also Greeks, Serbs, and Armenians. People had different religions. There were Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

Small groups wanted changes in the 1700s. Ideas about nationalism spread throughout the empire. People began to think of themselves as distinct nations.

Greece had been ruled by the Ottomans since 1453. In the 1820s, Greece had economic challenges. Many Greek men went to other parts of Europe to work. While there, they learned about nationalism. After returning, they called for an independent Greece.

Greek ethnic nationalism had a dark side. Nationalists wanted one type of supposedly “pure” Greek identity. They destroyed symbols of the Ottoman empire. Non-Greek groups were also attacked. This included Muslim mosques and Jewish synagogues. Greece became independent by 1830. Ethnic nationalism was a powerful force.

Ethnic nationalism in the Habsburg Empire The Habsburgs were a German family. The Habsburg dynasty ruled most of central Europe in the 1800s. This multi-ethnic empire included Germans in Austria and nearby territories. It also included Italians, Ukrainians, Poles, Romanians, Croats, Serbs, Czechs, Hungarians, and others.

Minority: A group that differs in race, ethnic background, religion, or culture from the majority population.

In 1848, uprisings broke out all over Europe. Ethnic nationalism grew among different minority groups. Ethnic nationalism was used to fight empires. Hungarians wanted to be independent. The Czech also wanted their own nation. In the end, both failed. These revolts fueled Italian and German nationalism. Germany and Italy were not large states yet. Both countries were made up of many small territories. The Habsburgs controlled some territories. In 1848, Italians and Germans wanted their independence. Yet they had a bigger challenge. How would they each unify many small territories?

German and Italian nationalists needed to create unified ethnicities. Both states were multi-ethnic. Italians spoke almost 12 dialects. Northern Italians did not always understand Italians from the south. Germans also had many different cultures.

Nationalists used symbols to create unity. Kings became important symbols. German and Italian nationalists needed kings. Germans chose Prince Wilhelm I of Prussia. The Italians chose King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia-Piedmont. Kings could unite people under one “nation.” Germany and Italy became states in 1871.

What lessons can we learn from historical instances of ethnic nationalism? Ethnic nationalism brought together people from different states. But there was a price. People outside of these ethnicities were excluded. In Germany, the Roma and Jewish people were not seen as German. This attitude would have a big effect on the future.

Dialect: A variety of a language that is specific to a group or location and that differs from the standard language in pronunciation, usage, and vocabulary.