19th-Century Nationalism & US Expansion
The Birth of Nationalism
In the Middle Ages and the modern nation, the word designating the group of people born in the same place and were under the power of a single monarch. In the 19th century, the term “nation” acquired a political dimension, and many began to claim that state borders should coincide with racial, linguistic, and historical borders. States launched nationalist policies.
The Unifying Movements: Italy and Germany
Nationalist movements led to the union of populations that were divided, most notably in Italy and Germany. The Italian peninsula was divided into several states, but the existence of a common language forged a sense of unity among Italians. The process of unification of Italy was led by Piedmont and ended in 1861.
For Germany, Prussia, starting in 1862, King William I of Prussia and his Prime Minister Bismarck accelerated unification by military means. In 1871, the German Empire, the Second Reich, was born and became a great power.
The American Westward Expansion
Between 1800 and 1850, the U.S. population increased from 5 to 23 million. New territories were incorporated at the beginning of the 19th century, which brought the U.S. to the Pacific coast, which was quickly settled. The westward expansion provided land and forged the identity of the American people.
Three major regions differed:
- The Northwest, with large industrial and urban development.
- The South, whose economy was agrarian.
- The West, which was dominated by small independent farmers.
The Problem of Slavery and the Civil War
The U.S. Constitution left it to each state to abolish slavery. The confrontation between abolitionist states and slave states intensified in the mid-19th century. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln, who opposed the extension of slavery, was elected President. President Lincoln and the U.S. Congress maintained that no state had the right to secede and opposed it by force. The Civil War lasted four years (1861-1865) and ended with the victory of the North.
Reconstruction
The post-war period is known as Reconstruction. It was a time of great economic prosperity. Slavery was abolished after the war. But after the Northern army retreated, the South abolished laws favorable to the black population. Political life was organized around two parties, Republicans and Democrats, which lasts until today.