The Rise of Nationalism H ow did nationalist movements contribute to the outbreak of World War I?

Nationalism is a strong feeling of loyalty to the country where one was born or raised. Before the 1800s, most Europeans gave their loyalty to a religious group or certain political leaders. They did not feel a great attachment to their countries of birth. Many European countries suffered from conflict within their borders. The borders themselves often changed.

Then, in the 1800s, a shift began. Many Europeans began to think that a nation or a country should be made up of one ethnic group. An ethnic group shares cultural qualities such as language and ways of life. They also felt that members of a nation’s ethnic group owed more loyalty to their fellow citizens than to a king or a religion. As a result, the power of kings and queens began to fade. The Roman Catholic Church also began to lose its power. Nationalism led to the growth of more democratic ideas.

Unity and Division Nationalism can create a spirit of patriotism. Patriotism means a love of one’s country. It can also help form cultural ties. It can inspire people to work together and to make sacrifices for others. In the late 1860s, nationalism helped unite Italians to fight for freedom from Austrian rule. A decade later, Otto von Bismarck used German nationalism to unite the German states as one nation. Nationalism can help bring together people. However, it can also drive people apart.

Nationalism can lead to an “us versus them” way of thinking. Although it brings together people with a shared ethnic identity, it also separates them from people with different ethnicities. One ethnic group might come to view members of other ethnic groups as flawed or less worthy than them. During the Age of Imperialism, many Europeans believed that their nation was better than other nations in Europe. They also believed that their culture was more important than those of less developed nations and their colonies. Some people viewed others who were unlike them as less human. To support these claims of supremacy, European leaders attempted to control the most territory possible. They wanted to have the strongest military. European leaders felt that they had the right to rule other lands and peoples. This feeling of superiority gave rise to more conquest and competition. Nationalism also led to conflict within empires. Multinational territories such as the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary combined many ethnic groups under one rule. In 1867, the countries of Austria and Hungary combined to form a new nation, Austria-Hungary. The former emperors of Austria and Hungary joined forces to rule Austria-Hungary. Several different ethnic groups lived in Austria-Hungary. These groups were ruled by distant leaders, who belonged to a different ethnic group.

Inspired by nationalism, some ethnic groups wanted to gain independence. They wanted to form and rule their own countries. This is what happened in the Balkans.

Nationalism in the Balkans The Balkans is a region of southeastern Europe where many ethnic groups make their home. Slavic groups, like the Serbs and Croats, live near or with Albanians, Romanians and Turks. For centuries, large empires controlled the Balkans. Leaders from the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary held absolute power. They used military strength to keep these other ethnic groups under control.

Then, in 1878, Serbia became an independent country. Serbs living in Austria- Hungary and other ethnic Slavs in the Balkans wanted independence, too. They wanted to throw off Austro-Hungarian rule. In 1914, nationalist struggles in the Balkans became the spark that ignited World War I.

4/24/2020 The United States Enters the Great War | Discovery Education