The History of Modern Nationalism

Paper Summary:

This paper traces the roots of modern nationalism back to the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars and describes how its ideologies affected Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries. The writer of this paper defines nationalism as the right of every citizen and every nation to exist in freedom and to develop its own singularity. The strongest catalyst for European nationalism emerged in the 19th century with the industrial revolution. This paper examines the pros and cons of modern nationalism and discusses how the central European revolution of 1848 sparked a bonfire of nationalism. This paper also explores the effects of nationalism during Hitler's reign.

From the Paper:

"For modern nationalism was born in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Effectively controlled by the French republic during the Reign of Terror, nationalism helped repel France's foreign foes. Meanwhile, all across Europe, patriots tried to kindle nationalist flames in the war against Napoleon. So by 1815 there were already clues of how nationalism could spread and quickly develop. During this early age of nationalism, its proponents usually believed that every nation, like every citizen, had the right to exist in freedom and to develop its singularity."

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