Question

How did nationalism play a part in the rise of italy and germany

Answer 1

Nationalism played a significant role in the rise of Italy and Germany by fostering a sense of shared identity and heritage, which led to the unification of the nations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Nationalism played a significant role in the rise of Italy and Germany in the 19th century. In Italy, the nationalist leader Giuseppe Mazzini founded Young Italy, which advocated for the sovereignty and independence of the Italian people. This movement spread beyond Italy, with young nationalist groups emerging in Germany and Ireland. In both Italy and Germany, the sense of shared identity and heritage fostered by nationalism laid the groundwork for the unification of the nations.

Answer 2

Before unification, both Italy and Germany were collections of states: Germany was the German Confederation, with Austria(-Hungary) claiming southern parts of that land, and Italy was much the same situation. Nationalism inspired Otto von Bismarck of Prussia to consolidate the German states under Prussia in wars against Denmark, Austria, and eventually France. Of course, before Bismarck utilized force, there were the popular uprisings in 1848, which led to the formation of a diplomatic party (the Frankfurt Parliament) aiming to create a unified Germany, and unified German peoples. However, the Parliament was dissolved without success, leading to Bismarck's unification of Germany under Prussia, which declared itself the German Empire in 1871. Italy was in much the same situation, with multiple kingdoms divvying up the land. Count Cavour, acting with the support of the Kingdom of Sardinia, began to occupy and conquer land in the Italian peninsula, eventually leading to Italian unification in 1871 (A coincidence, I believe.) In both of these unification wars, nationalism was what drove the two leaders to consolidate individual states (Although Bismarck's adherence to that belief is disputed.)