Question

Explain the role of nationalism in the unifications of Italy and Germany in one paragraph. Use specific details from the lesson and assignment to support your answer.

Answer 1

Nationalism gave people a shared identity.  

Cavour used nationalism to mobilize Italians to fight off Austrian rule.  

Mazzini spread nationalism throughout Italy.  

Otto von Bismarck used wars to heighten nationalist sentiment.  

Bismarck believed unification would increase Prussian security.

Answer 2

Nationalism was important because both countries consisted of numerous smaller states where the people of same ethnicity lived except in different states. That meant that foreign forces could easily ally themselves with one against the others. What they all had was that they all shared ethnicity and religion which was enough to give them an idea of a country for all Germans or all Italians, which is what they did and they gave up their smaller states for the idea of one grand nation.