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True or false: French nationalism caused tensions in Europe because they considered Alsace and Lorraine to be a part of the British nation, rather than Germany

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Final answer:

The statement is false because French nationalism was focused on the Alsace and Lorraine regions as part of France, not Britain, and their annexation by Germany caused tensions in Europe. French and German nationalism differed in their definitions, contributing to the growing animosity that led to World War I.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement is false. French nationalism caused tensions in Europe because France considered the regions of Alsace and Lorraine to be part of the French nation, not the British nation, and these territories were annexed by Germany after the Franco-Prussian War, leading to long-standing animosity between France and Germany. Nationalism in Europe during the 19th and early 20th centuries was marked by a strong association with ethnicity in Germany, while France defined nationality more by allegiance to the state. The annexation of Alsace-Lorraine and the resulting drive for revenge were major factors contributing to the hostilities that ultimately led to World War I, as the European powers formed a web of alliances based on their nationalist aspirations and territorial disputes.

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