Developed the idea of organic/romantic nationalism
This is a form of ethnic nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy from historic cultural or hereditary groups
- This means that every ethnic group should be politically distinct
Promoted the theory of Volkgeist
- This theory maintained there was only one class in the state; the king and the peasant are the same
Believed in the importance of patriotism: "he that has lost his patriotic spirit has lost himself and the whole worlds about himself"
The nation is also individual and separate; distinguished by climate, education, foreign relations, tradition and heredity