What is Nationalism?

Nationalism is basically backing up your country or belonging to the country while defending or supporting it through anything. The US is a nationalist country because we are united to defend this country. What also makes a country a nationalist country is a common language, a common currency, our borders, a symbol that defines us, etc. Nationalism mostly represents independence, which allows a nation's identity to develop. Nationalism was the most powerful ideals 1800's and it still influences people today, and because of its influence it affected many lives in many ways.
What mostly makes me a nationalist is the fact that I really treasure freedom and I never take it for granted. I also am a citizen of The United States and I support my country in any decisions that the people make for it. I respect the way people use their freedom here to help make the economy better, but mostly those people because some take their freedom for granted and decide to do whats mostly best for them and their desires. What also makes me a nationalist is I respect this country but I respect my own country, where I was born, and the people I care about there and the family living with me here.
Before Italy became an independent nation it was under the rule of Austria, which led to the Italians becoming tired of foreign rule and form from the territory of crumbling empires because of nationalism. Eventually, amid growing discontent, two leaders appeared to lead Italy into nationalism. Both men had their differences in personalities and goals-one being practical and the other idealistic-in which they both concentrated in the unification of Italy.