How Nationalism affects countries As time progressed more and more countries became a democracy. However, before democracy there is another crucial step, which is nationalism. Before a nation government can rely on the people, the people must believe in themselves. Nationalism is the belief that the people should be loyal to their nation and their culture, not just to their rulers. Nationalism affects a lot in a country. A nationalist country usually begins to think what is best for the whole nation, not just the pocketbook and reputation of one ruler.
The citizens fared better because economic decisions benefited them. Many Americans had a rough start in the late 1700’s after they separated from the British. Without a proper government America did not prosper well. However, when American citizens became more involved in the government and more people had the right to choose the way they lived, the people had a better chance of a prosperous life.
This was true in many other countries as well. Many large family dynasties and powerful rulers like Napoleon were defeated because of nationalism. A nation’s relationships with other nations are affected by Nationalism a well. Nationalism creates strong pride in one’s country, therefore starting fierce rivalries over which country is stronger or which country deserves a piece of land.
When Americans began to be very proud of their country they were more eager to go to fight for what they thought they deserved, like all the times the Americans attacked Native Americans for their land. Although Nationalism created a better life for citizens in many countries, it also helped fuel many wars. Nationalism has also helped extinguish many wars as well. Nationalism in country’s like Germany, France, and Russia helped citizen lose faith in rulers like Hitler, Napoleon, and Stalin who used the people of a country to get what men with power what they wanted, which was always more power. When the people of those countries lost faith in their rulers and gained faith in their country then the threat of a ruler trying to conquer the world was over. If the people of a nation during wartime do not have pride in their country or what they are fighting for, then they probably never won the war.
If the British were not determined to defend themselves during Germany’s attacks during World War 2 then they would probably have never lived through the attacks to later defeat Nazi Germany. If the American colonist did not have very strong pride in what they were fighting for, then they probably would have never defeated British in American Revolution, or again in the War of 1812. Nationalism affects a country in more then wartime, in times of peace a nation is heavily affected as well. If the people are proud of their nation then in times of peace they thrived, wanting to build a bigger, better, and more prosperous country to enrich the lives of the citizens and to be prepared if a war comes. There are many ups and downs to Nationalism. It can spark wars with a nation’s pride but it also enriches the lives of the people.
However, since the French Revolution Nationalism has thrived and spread from one country to another.