Both as an idea or ideal and as a political practice, nationalism has had a profound influence on the course of modern world history. discuss the impact of nationalism in three periods: 1776-1815, 1860-1914, and 1945-1960. where did it become politically influential in these periods? whom did it appeal to? what were its consequences?

The period of 1860-1914 would see the nationalist ideas become politically influential.

Explanation:

Nationalism as a political ideal was rationalized in the late XVIII century. With the French Revolution, the idea of an autocrat embedded with the will of the State was challenged by that of a State represented by its citizens, taking the idea from the old Roman Republic, but with the philosophical basis of the Enlightenment. Thus, between 1776-1815, nationalism was related to the notion of a citizen State against the monarchies, but not with the idea of territory and common language or history.

This would be dealt at the second period, 1860-1914. In Europe, this period would see the unification of Germany and Italy, while in the rest of the world (Asia, Latin America, the Middle East) saw the Meij Restoration in Japan, and the consolidation of the Latin American nations (the unification of Argentina, the struggle against French intervention in Mexico, the Triple Alliance war between Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, the Pacific War).

In this period nationalism become a key political factor, and in Europe, it would trigger the "armed peace" between the newly formed German Empire against France and Great Britain, that would lead to the creation of the Entente, the prelude to the Alliance that would enter the war against Germany in 1914. The aftermath of this period, that is the two World Wars, would see national extremism getting to power, and also the blending of nationalism with right-wing factions, that would emerge as fascism and nazism.

In the aftermath of 1945, and to 1960, nationalism would boom in the former European colonies in Africa and Asia, and prove to be a leading factor in the decolonization movements.

In can be concluded that nationalism was politically influential in the period 1860-1914, that it appealed to a commonality of language and history (this was also the Romanticism period culturally speaking) of the people, and that is consequences would be the World Wars, the breaking of the old empires of Austria-Hungary, Russia, Germany, and the Ottomans.

the expansion of the rule of empires over other territories took place as a result of several reasons including economic, ethnocentric, political, and religious, and exploratory purposes.

in terms of economic purposes: imperial governments aimed to maximize profits and with that purpose they neeeded cheap labor, access to or control of markets to sell or buy products. they also desired to find natural resources (precious metals and land). in the awake of   industrial revolution, dependent colonies provided the necessary raw materials that european factories and market needed to manufacture products.  

ethnocentric: many territories were conquered by imperial territories in an attempt to spread their cultures, values and belief as they considered them to be superior. in the late 19th century, for example, european powers held   the racist belief that inferior races should be conquered in order to “civilize” them.

political: another reason that drove conquer and expansion was patriotism and growing imperial power. it refers to national prestige, pride, and security. empires sought strategic territory to ensure access for their navies and armies around the world.

religious: the aim of converting new member of other religions was another factor that prompted expansion.   christian missionaries from europe established churches in conquered territories during the nineteenth century. thus, they spread western cultural values. furthermore, the imperial nation’s language was spread as well, through educational and religious interactions.

exploratory: imperial nations or their citizens aimed to explore territory that was unknown to them,   for different purposes including medical or scientific research, however, at the very   beginning, they did it to embark on adventure. furthermore, imperial explorers sought to discover, map, and claim territory before their imperial competition did, for national and personal glory as well as to realize the imperialist goal of expansion.

the two colonies had the earliest laws mandating religious tolerance.