Cronkite's Eye-Opening Journey: The Birth of Nationalism in 1848

I, Walter Cronkite, look into the significant impact of the 1848 revolutions in Europe on our contemporary ideas and politics in this captivating examination. These Enlightenment concepts and the French Revolution served as the catalyst for these revolutions, which erupted in Italy, France, Germany, and the Austrian Empire. Revolutionary socialism, feminism, and moderate liberalism are just a few of the beliefs that emerged during this turbulent time and still have an impact on our world today.

In this account, I draw attention to Christopher Clark's book "Revolutionary Spring," which provides a thorough history of this revolutionary time. The events of the 1848 revolutions took place during a time of extreme material squalor and a fundamental transformation from an agrarian, semi-feudal society to an industrial one. Despite the influence of socialism, radical feminism, and bourgeois liberalism, nationalism was ultimately responsible for sparking the public's imagination.

Initially a means for intellectuals and aristocracy to demonstrate their authenticity, nationalism gradually expanded into a more pervasive worldview. Nationalism, despite its modest origins, proven to be more inclusive than other ideologies, accepting every member of the linguistic or cultural community.

I also explore how romantic nationalism changed after the 1848 uprisings, becoming something more harsher and bitterer. The draw of blood and soil became more powerful as the limitations of liberal patriotism became clear. I underscore the obvious ideological similarities between the turmoil of mid-19th century Europe and our own unsure times by drawing comparisons. I do, however, also observe the loss of the intellectual fervor and sense of possibility that characterized the 1848 period so well. Join me as we go back in time to analyze the present using lessons from the past.

Here is a link to the Washington Examiner Article https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/a-new-history-reveals-our-debt-to-1848-revolutionary-era