The document discusses nationalism and its role in the unification of Italy and Germany in the 19th century. Political nationalism sought to unite all members of a national group into a single nation-state. Factors like Austrian opposition hindered Italian unification initially, but the movement was led by Cavour and Garibaldi united northern and southern Italy. German unification faced challenges like opposition from Austria and France as well as the failure of the 1848 Frankfurt Assembly, but Bismarck was able to use Prussian military strength to defeat Denmark, Austria and France to unite most German states by 1871 under Prussian leadership.