Assertion and reason by the last …

Sentiment of Nationalism in the first half of the 19th century:

1. Towards the end of the 19th century, nationalism became a narrow belief with inadequate ends. Nationalism could not retain its idealistic liberal-democratic sentiment of the first half of the century but became a narrow belief with inadequate ends. 
2. This period saw nationalist groups becoming increasingly prejudiced of each other. Nationalist groups became increasingly intolerant leading to war,
3. Major European powers manipulated the nationalist aspirations to further their own imperialist aims.
4. Source of nationalist tension in Europe was the area called Balkans. Balkan states became jealous of each other and entered into a conflict to establish more control and power in the region at the cost of others.
5. The idea of romantic nationalism in the Balkan together with the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire made this region very explosive.
6. The chief European authorities saw this as an opportunity and manipulated the nationalist desires of the subject peoples. ‘
7. One by one, European nationalities broke away from its control and declared independence.
8. The Balkan people based their aims for independence or political rights on nationality to prove that they were once independent but were subjugated by a foreign power.
9. As the different, Slavic nationalities struggled to define their identity and independence, the Balkan area became an area of intense conflict.