The 19th century knows two opposite movements which reconfigure the national territories in Europe.

On the one hand, one attends movements of Indépendance which touch the Belgium and, especially, the countries of the peninsula of the Balkans which little by little émancipent of their Othoman tutor . In addition, an “opposite” movement unifies the German States and Italy NS.

However, it should not be forgotten that it is Europe which the last wave engages of colonization which, on the basis of the conquest of the Algérie extends to colonization from the Africa and of the Southeast Asia mainly at the end of the century.

End of the Napoleonean wars and the Congress of Vienna

The Napoleonean wars reorganized the Europe 18th century. By its conquests, Napoleon exports near the populations the ideas of the French revolution and the First Empire. The Civil code French is often adopted by the conquered countries (and remains the base of the legislation, even after the departure of the French troops), the principles of the Déclaration of the human rights and the Citizen are diffused more amply and in particular the principle of Liberté of the Peuple S to have themselves.

In 1815, the Congrès of Vienna brings together the winners of Napoleon and divides the Europe. It is true “a Yalta” before the hour which takes place. Several powers are distinguished. The Austria affirms its domination on the Bohemia, the States Austrian, the Hungary, part of current the Poland and aspires to extend towards the Balkan peninsula with the detriment from the Ottoman Empire (" the old man malade"). In the name of the Panslavisme, the Russia extends on the Finland, the Poland and, it also, aspires to more influence on the States of the Balkans.

The “system Metternich IEN” established by this despized congress of the principle of Freedom of the people to have themselves. The joined together great powers monopolize the territories conquered by the First Empire, without consulting the populations.

The emergence of the national feelings

The principle of freedom of the people to have themselves is accompanied by the idea by nationality. This one is not founded on the sovereignty of a monarch on one or more populations but on the existence of a culture social, historical and linguistic common to a population.

This last idea makes its way and leads to the implementation of two opposite movements.

On the one hand, certain populations aspires to more and more independence, it is the case of Belgium with respect to the Netherlands (1830) and of the States of Balkans with respect to the Ottoman Empire, with the Guerre of Greek independence in 1821-1830 then at the end of the century Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria…

In 1848, revolutions burst in all Europe which are known under the name of “Printemps of the people”. To Paris, in the towns of Italy, the populations aspire to more freedom and the installation of more democratic and at least constitutional modes. In Austria, in Vienna, this movement doubles question of nationalities and leads a few years later to the autonomy of Hungary and the creation of the double Austrian monarchy.

In addition, of the States is constituted in the name of a culture and of a common “Nation”, it is in particular the case of Germany with the creation of the German Empire in 1871 or Italy whose unification is completed in 1870.

The question “Nationalitaire” impregnates the cultural sphere by consolidating the populations in an idea of national culture. In Germany, for example, the Germanic culture and mythologies are given to the honor in painting, poetry and the music.

For as much, the question of nationalities in Europe relates to only the territories of the continent. It is not question of freedom of the people to have themselves for the populations of the Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya,…), of Black Africa or the Far East. For these populations, these people, the 19th century is not that of the spring of the people but the century of the last wave of colonization.

At the dawn of the 20th century, the question of nationalities in Europe remains in the middle of the tensions. Austria-Hungary and Russia wish to see their influence developing on the territories of “Slavic South”, Poland aspires to its independence with respect to Russia, Norway wishes to release themselves from Sweden, Hungary of Austria, etc

After the First World War, the peace treaties do not solve this question of nationalities in Europe.

See too

• Foreign policy Frenchwoman of 1814 to 1914