Lessons in American History Using Primary Sources
A Series of Webquests
By Laura Thompson
UPS 7: Nationalism
Historical Context – Nationalism was a powerful force
in the 1800s. It came to the fore with the French Revolution of 1789. It
contributed to the unification of Italy and Germany in the 1840s. At the same
time, America were forming a new nation and defining what it means to be an
American. Nationalism also contributed to the outbreak of civil unrest,
including wars—most notably World War I.
Driving
Question: How would you evaluate the following statements? Nationalism united a
culturally diverse population into one nation—America. Nationalism contributed
to the outbreak of World War I. Nationalism led to the social isolation of
minority groups.
Part A |
The following documents present information about
nationalism as a force in American culture. Examine each document carefully.
In the space provided, answer the question or questions that follow each
document. |
Document 1 -
French Committee of Public Safety, Levée en
Masse, 1793. The excerpt describes the Levée en Masse.
The young men will go forth to battle; the married
men will make arms and transport food; the women will make tents and uniforms
and will serve in the hospitals; the children will prepare lint from old
linens; the old people will gather in public places to raise the courage of
the warriors to excite the hatred of kings and to preach the unity of the
Republic. |
What impact
did the Levée en Masse have on
the French people?
Document
2 - http://www.marseillaise.org/english/english.html.
"La Marseillaise" the
French national anthem, aroused the emotions of the French people during the
Revolution.
Arise, children of the fatherland, Our day of glory
has arrived. Against us cruel tyrants have raised their bloody flag. Do you
hear in the countryside their fierce hired soldier? They come almost into
your arms to attack your children and your fields. Chorus – to arms, citizens! From your battalions!
March on, march on, to liberty or death! |
What did the
national anthem urge the French to do?
Document
3 - Cavour
quote. This excerpt is from Count Cavour, who was named prime minister of
Piedmont-Sardinia in 1852, as a diplomat, he provided the "brains" of
Italian unification.
“We ardently wish to free Italy from foreign rule.
We agree that we must put aside all petty differences in order to gain this
most important goal. We wish to drive out the foreigners not only because we
want to see our country powerful and glorious, but also because we want to
elevate the Italian people in intelligence and moral development.” |
What action
did Cavour recommend in this excerpt?
Document
4 - Garibaldi
quote. Giuseppe Garibaldi was the "sword" of Italian unification.
He added the southern kingdom of the two Sicilies to Italy in 1860. He
described his soldiers, known as Red Shirts, with these words…
O noble Thousand…I love to remember you! Where any
of our brothers are fighting for liberty, there all Italians must
hasten!—such was your motto. Let him who loves his country in his heart, and
not with his lips only, follow me. |
What was
Garibaldi trying to accomplish with this speech?
Document
5 - Mark C. Carnes, The American Nation: A
History of the United States, Combined Volume (13th Edition), Longman, 2007. These words were
spoken by Otto von Bismarck, prime minister of Prussia, in 1866. Some people
feel that Bismarck single-handedly united Germany and started it on its road to
greatness. Here, Bismarck explained the process for German unification.
I had shown plainly the direction in which I was
going. Prussia…could no longer carry alone the power that Germany required
for its security. That must be equally distributed over all German peoples.
We would get no nearer to our goal by speeches, associations, or decisions by
majority. We would not be able to avoid a serious contest with Austria. This
contest could only be settled by blood and iron. There is one way to
guarantee our success. The deputies must place the greatest possible weight
of blood and iron in the hands of the King of Prussia. |
What was
Bismarck's method for uniting Germany?
Document
6 - Mark C. Carnes, The American Nation: A
History of the United States, Combined Volume (13th Edition), Longman, 2007. This excerpt is
adapted from the testimony given by Gavrilo Princip at his trial for the 1914
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
…I am a nationalist. I aimed to free the Yugoslavs.
For I am a Yugoslav…as far as Serbia is concerned, it is her duty to free us. |
Who does Princip say he is, and what is he doing?
Part B |
How would you evaluate the following statements?
Nationalism united a culturally diverse population into one nation—America.
Nationalism contributed to the outbreak of World War I. Nationalism led to
the social isolation of minority groups. |