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Origins of Nationalism

Driving Question: How did notions of sovereignty lead to nationalism around the world?

Nationalism emerged alongside the revolutions of the late eighteenth century. People everywhere began demanding a nation of their own and imagining what it should look like. Who was included in these new nations differed from place to place.

Learning Objectives

  1. Understand the origin and effects of nationalism on human communities and political revolutions.
  2. Analyze how nationalism affected different societies and ethnic groups during this era.
  3. Assess the connections between political revolutions and nationalist wars of unification.

Vocab Terms:

  • ethnic
  • identity
  • ideology
  • nation
  • nationalism
  • nation-state
  • self-determination
STEP 1

Opener: Origins of Nationalism

Teaching Tools

Our online teacher community External link is a great resource for suggestions on prompting students to explore their different identities.

Zoom in to a personal scale in this activity as you think about identity. This will set the stage for this unit, in which we’ll examine developments in identity that led to nationalism.

STEP 2

Inventing the Nation

Teaching Tools

Looking to differentiate, modify, or adapt this assignment? Check out our Differentiation Guide Locked .

Today, we live in a world of nation-states. Ideas of nationalism underpin our personal and community identities. The materials in this lesson will help you understand what nationalism is and how it emerged.

Nationalism External link

Nationalists make historical claims that help them achieve their political goals. It’s time for you to test those claims. Is nationalism good or bad?

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 3

Nations Rise

Teaching Tools

See how this activity fits into the overall OER Project writing approach in our Writing Guide.

The revolutionary ideas of this period got their start around the Atlantic Ocean, but they didn’t stay there. Soon, a new sort of identity emerged in some of Europe’s old empires, one based on ethnic identification.

STEP 4

Closer: Origins of Nationalism

You’ve considered how you think about your identity, and you’ve learned about the origins of nationalism. Now, think about where your loyalties lie.

Extension Materials
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The primary sources below, which include the words of those who experienced the events in this lesson, will help you extend what you’ve learned about revolutions and nationalism.