Origin and history of nationalism

by 1841, "devotion to one's country, national spirit or aspirations, desire for national unity, independence, or prosperity;" see nationalist + -ism; early use often in reference to Ireland. In some usages from French nationalisme.

NATIONALISM and PROVINCIALISM — how pregnant with meaning are these terms! With the former, we see associated public spirit, independence, self-reliance, fortitude : with the latter there is habitually identified cringing servility, abject helplessness, domestic treachery, cowardice and bondage. ["South Australian Register," Adelaide, March 11, 1850] 

Earlier it was used in a theological sense of "the doctrine of divine election of nations" (by 1836). In 1830s nationalism was frequent in U.S. in reference to the doctrines and principles of the National Republican party and in 1850s sometimes used of political anti-immigrant nativism in the U.S. (the Know-Nothings) and Australia (anti-Irish). Later it was used in a sense of "doctrine advocating nationalization of a country's industry" (1892). An earlier word for "devotion or strong attachment to one's own country" was nationality (1772).

To place the redemptive work of the Christian Faith in social affairs in its proper setting, it is necessary to have clearly in mind at the outset that the consciousness of "the nation" as the social unit is a very recent and contingent experience. It belongs to a limited historical period and is bound up with certain specific happenings, theories of society and attitudes to life as a whole. [Vigo A. Demant, "God, Man and Society," 1933]