Answer

The Flemish Movement depended particularly on Catholic support. The Catholic Church and the Catholic party, both in an unassailable position of power in much of Flanders, showed interest in and sympathy for the protection of the Flemish language from an ethical and religious point of view – the Flemish language was seen as a vehicle for the preservation of religion and “ancestral” morals. By 1870, the Flemish Movement fell more and more into the orbit of the Catholic party. This was partly a matter of the electoral system – majoritarian representation – forcing Flemish militants to side with either the Liberal or the Catholic party; but partly also to do with the fact that Catholics successfully used the Flemish Question as ammunition in the political battle with non-Catholics. The vision of an age-old “Catholic Flanders”, a centuries-old people devoted to religion, the mother-tongue and “pure morals” had an inspiring effect on many Flemish Catholics. The association of the Flemish Movement with Catholicism deterred many Flemish Liberals and Socialists. In addition, it is important to note that between 1886 and 1900 the only party winning parliamentary seats in the Flemish region was the Catholic party. Over these years but also in the subsequent decade, the leadership of the Liberal and Socialist parties represented first and foremost Brussels and Wallonia. For most Flemish Socialists, the Flemish Question was a problem of secondary importance. Only the 1900s witnessed an upsurge of Flamingantism in Liberal and Socialist circles. However, even after the First World War the Flemish Movement was remain a largely Catholic movement. The interconnectedness between Catholic Flamingants and Flemish Christian-Democratic and farmers´ organizations would provide the Flemish Movement for the first time in its history with a mass base.

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