Introduction“Nationalism” is defined as “A social and political vision which insists that the state should embody a national community united by some or all of the following elements: history, ethnicity, religion, common culture and language". Essentially, nationalism is an intense pride in one's country caused by a drive for national unity. Nationalism was fomented due to the sense of loss of national origin. During the 1800s, a dominant, often imperialist power imposed its culture, language, and history on its empire. An example of this is Austria's rule over Bohemia, with the official language in Prague being German, not Czech. To regain their identity and preserve their culture, countries under imperial rule promoted conversation in the native language and the teaching of the country's history in schools. Nationalism had a profound effect on the music of the Romantic period due to revolutions, wars, and historical events that ignited national pride that led to unity among those under imperial rule. The Romantic Period The Romantic period is chronologically defined by the 19th century. It was a time of great turmoil. With the French Revolution, the American Civil War, the Franco-Prussian War, the Crimean War, the Spanish-American War, and various revolutions throughout Europe, a great sense of upheaval was felt by the bourgeoisie and upper class fighting for maintain their affluent lifestyle. during this period of time. Revolutionaries who fought for their rights and independence felt a great sense of freedom, pride, and other intense emotions. These intense emotions helped identify the Romantic period. The characteristics of the Romantic period help to define it as a whole and allow for a general appreciation for the music... middle of paper... rint.Kamien, Roger. "Part VI: The Romantic Period." Music: an appreciation. 10th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2008. 257-350. Print.King, Neil. The Romantics: English literature in its historical, cultural and social contexts. New York: Facts on File, 2003. Print.Schmidt-Jones, Catherine. Music of the Romantic Era. Connections. September 19, 2008.Miller, Michael. "The Romantic Period." The complete idiot's guide to the history of music. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha, 2008. 81-98. Print.Halsall, Paul. "Internet history books." Internet history manuals. Np, August 1997. Web. December 31, 2012. Fuller, Richard. "Romantic Music (1850-1900)." Romantic music (1850-1900). Np, 15 February 2010. Web. 31 December. 2012. .