Symbols Used for Nationalism
Symbols are visual images that contain meaning which can be understood even by laymen. They were used significantly used to motivate people to unite people during the French Revolution and other revolutions between 1839-1848. Using symbols in physical form makes them easy to understand their nationalistic goals.
Symbols | Significance |
Broken Chains | Being freed |
Breastplate with eagle | symbol of the German empire – strength |
Crown of oak leaves | heroism |
Sword | Readiness to fight |
Olive branches around the leaves | Willingness to make peace |
Black, red, and gold tricolor |
Flag of liberal nationalists in 1848, banned by the Dukes of the German states |
Rays of the rising sun | Beginning of the new era |
Visualising the Nation- CBSE Class 10 History
After the beginning of the French Revolution in the late eighteenth century, the idea of creating nation-states in place of existing monarchies spread like wildfire throughout the whole of Europe. It was only during the French Revolution that ideas of liberty, equality, fraternity, democracy, and basic human rights gained popularity and people started protesting in their own countries for creating an independent nation with basic human rights by uprooting existing monarchy or imperial power in their respective countries.