TOPIC 2: HEROISM AND NATIONALISM
• Rizal Life Works and Writings and Their Impact on our National Identity by Capino,
Gonzalez and Pineda. Read Chapter 1: The Challenges and Struggles of the Nineteenth
Century
THE 19TH CENTURY CHALLENGES
• “People can be best understood within the time frame and in the historical context
under which they lived”
CHANGES IN THE 19TH CENTURY
• struggle for nationalism
• gradual spread of democracy
• modernization of life through the industrial revolution
• advances in science and technology
• march of imperialism
• new movement of thought/ growing confidence on progress
A. NATIONALISM
• a feeling of oneness among the people who believed that they possess common
traditions, ideals and goals
• “nasci” means to be born
• nationalism is possible if one knows his own country
• this is a result of the American and French Revolution which gave birth to European
liberal philosophy of Rosseau and Locke
ROSSEAU’S SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY
• the people in any given society enter into an agreement to create a state governed by
leaders
• the people give up some liberties to be governed, eventually to provide order
• source of governmental powers: the people – salus populi est suprema lex
• if the people are not satisfied with the way the king is performing his function, they have
all the right to change the king, overthrow the government and replace it with one that
they think would work best for them
Impact of Nationalism
• Nationalism resulted to the conflict between the liberals and the conservatives
• In the Noli, Crisostomo represented the liberalists and Padre Damaso represented the
conservatives
• Crumbling Monarchy vs. Emerging Democracy
• Liberals versus Conservatives
LIBERALS
• a country should be free from foreign domination by another and the people should enjoy
liberty, equality and opportunity
CONSERVATIVES
• believed that in the good old days where a country is ruled by monarchs and kings
B. DEMOCRACY
• a political ideal which places the people at the center of the government
• sovereignty resides in the people and government powers emanate from them
• recognition of human rights
C. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
• shift from hand work to machine work, from domestic system to factory system
• started in England upon the discovery of steel eventually leading to manufacturing of
machines which hastened the production of finished products from raw materials
EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
• large scale production
• commodities became cheaper
• rise of capitalism against laborers
• encouraged migration
• increase in population
• birth of laissez-faire
LAISSEZ FAIRE
• “let the well enough alone” and “hands off”
• prevented the government from interfering in private trade except to protect the nation
from foreign aggression, maintain peace and order
RESPONSES TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
• The liberals adopted the laissez faire policy
• Socialists believed that the government should own and manage the means of production
for the benefit of all
• Communists contended that only a violent revolution could improve the situation of the
workingmen
• The catholic church through Pope Leo XIII proposed for the respect of human rights; the
state must prevent injury; promotion of social justice; respect for life; provide favorable
working condition; right to form unions
D. ADVANCES IN SCIENCE
• Use of systematic experimentation
• Discoveries, invention and medicines
• Improved transportation and communication
E. IMPERIALISM
• a nation extending its control and authority beyond its territorial boundaries through
acquisition of new territories
• purpose: secure raw materials and acquisition of new territories
• results: challenged cultural practices; exploitation of natural resources; racial
discrimination
2 Iberian Superpowers in the 19th century
• Spain
• Portugal
F. MODERN PHILOSOPHY
• Age of reason (Enlightenment)
• Science as the cornerstone of philosophy
• Desire for liberation
THE PHILIPPINES IN THE 19TH CENTURY
RIZAL’S CONTROVERSIAL HEROISM IN THE 19 TH CENTURY
• Who made Rizal our foremost national hero and why?
WHO IS A HERO?
1. "a prominent or central personage taking admirable part in any remarkable action or
event".
2. "a person of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger".
3. "honored after death by public worship, because of exceptional service to mankind"
WHO MADE RIZAL OUR FOREMOST NATIONAL HERO?
• no single person or groups of persons were responsible for making the Greatest Malayan
the No. 1 Hero of his people. Rizal himself, his own people, & the foreigners all together
contributed to make him the greatest hero & martyr of his people