Why did nationalism contribute to the rise of an empire in this period?

there are more but this is what i can come up

new york- english

new orleans- french

new hampshire- english

new mexico- spanish

new jersey- english

peasants’ war, (1524–25) peasant uprising in germany inspired by changes brought by the reformation, peasants in western and southern germany invoked   divine law to demand agrarian rights and freedom from oppression by nobles and landlords. as the uprising spread, some peasant groups organized armies. although the revolt was supported huldrych zwingli and thomas müntzerits condemnation by martain luther contributed to its defeat, principally by the army of the swabian league. some 100,000 peasants were killed. reprisals and increased restrictions discouraged further attempts to improve the peasants’ plight.

i think it would be " a" i might be wrong tho