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At the beginning of the XIX century, Germany was not a united nation,
but a conglomeration of duchies and principalities, perhaps with a
common purpose, and a common language and culture, but separated
politically.
When Otto von Bismarck attained power in what became a united
Germany following the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, the Germans were
seemingly not concerned with anything more than some sort of economic
power over their part of Europe.
It was in the 19th century that nationalism became a widespread and
powerful force. During this time nationalism expressed itself in many areas
as a drive for national unification or independence. However, the
nationalism that inspired the German people to rise against the empire of
Napoleon I was conservative, tradition-bound, and narrow rather than
liberal, progressive, and universal. And when the fragmented Germany
was finally unified as the German Empire in 1871, it was a highly
authoritarian and militarist state.
After many years of fighting, Italy also achieved national unification
and freedom from foreign domination.
In the United States, where nationalism had evinced itself in the
doctrine of Manifest Destiny, national unity was maintained at the cost of
the Civil War. Nationalist conflicts had much to do with bringing on World
War I.
THE UNIFICATION OF ITALY
19th Century Nationalism