Nationalism and the Creation of Italy

In the 1800's, Nationalism became a very accepted thing in countries across the world. Nationalism is when the people have support and are devoted to their country. Nationalism makes a country strong. In more advanced terms, Nationalism is the belief that one's loyalty should not be to a king or an empire but to a nation of people who share a common culture and history.

The United States of America is arguably the most powerful nation in the world. The reason for the United States being so powerful is because of Nationalism. Many things contribute to the nationalist society we have today. We all have defined borders and speak English. We all live under the same sets of laws and rules. Everywhere we go, we can see American flags, license plates, and we can even see American clothing and music that make up part of our culture. In school, to show how I am Nationalistic, I pay taxes, sing the national anthem and even read the Pledge of Allegiance.

Before for 1800's, there was no Germany, Poland, or Italy. This was because there were no clear, separate borders. Instead of countries, the land was just made up of different kingdoms and it was hard to see what was what. Eventually, people realized that they all had different cultures and decided to separate. They made different countries (and separated from the Austro-Hungarian emipire).

Simon Bolivar and Latin American Revolutions

Simon Bolivar was a hero to many people in South America. Nicknamed "The Liberator," Bolivar set independence for Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Bolivar was born on July 24, 1783. His story is truly an inspiration to people around the world today.

Simon Bolivar, as a young boy, inherited a large fortune when his parents passed away. When he grew up, he got married to Maria Teresa Rodriguez. After a year, she died of the yellow fever. Brokenhearted, Bolivar traveled to Europe and studied the teachings of Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke and Jean Jacques Rosseau. Through his studies, he saw how the French and United States gained independence. He was inspired to do the same.

Simon Bolivar was not always successful. Many times, Bolivar was forced to retreat out of a country. Over time, he would gathered troops and gained independence from Spain. By the early 1820's, many countries were freed and were independent from Spain. They had democracy at last. After obtaining democracy, Bolivar was made president of Colombia. Unfortunately, he was not a good political leader. He wanted to unite into "Grand Colombia." Other countries did not like this idea and went against it.